Bridges Monthly Update #9

13, September, 2006

MAJOR YEAR FOR BRIDGWORK GETS EVEN BIGGER!!

The two properties had originally been scheduled to spend over $5 million on bridge improvements in 2006, but with the new influx of additional capital, the dollar amount is now over $8 million. There are several major projects on both railroads that will be highlighted below:

· Bridge 1500, The Missouri River Bridge in Pierre, and Bridge 1659 near Nowlin SD are two major projects that have had complete rebuilds. The Pierre bridge had a complete deck and rail change and 1659 was a complete repair.

· Bridge 1703, near Philip is also a complete rebuild and will be completed in October.

· Bridge #K716 on the north end of the Marquette sub was completed earlier in the year and all slow orders removed from the area. Inspections indicate the repair was a complete success and the bridge is now rated for 286,000 #.

· Another major project on the IC&E that was completed by the E-80 contracting crew in late March was bridge # S-542 at MP 8.5 on the Owatonna sub. This repair also has enabled us to remove a slow order and has enabled 286,000# loads to be handled in the area.

· The last big project on the IC&E is on the Truman bridge north of Kansas City. This project will involve all new deck ties plus new rail and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter this year, or early in the first quarter of 07.

· The added capital has allowed us to schedule the complete or partial rebuild of 1845 and 1851 near Owanka, bridge 1904 near New Underwood and bridges H313 and H 308 near Belle Fourche.

· There have been seven bridge fills so far this year, all west of Pierre, and the new capital will allow us to fill 4 more in the same areas.

· So far this year the bridge crews have used over 5,000 bridge ties, 1,000 stringers and 150 caps. The added capital will add 4,000 more bridge ties, 1,000 more stringers and 150 more caps. The bridge projects will continue through the winter and into the first and second quarters of 2007.