Surfacing
Weekly Update #6
20
May 2004
CONTINUING ON SCHEDULE
As of 20 May, we have surfaced over 120 of
the 800 pass miles to be surfaced in 2004, scheduled to be completed by November
24th. As of now, it appears we will
meet and may very well exceed that schedule.
The surfacing is slightly ahead of
schedule.
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All
of the 53 new Ballast cars that were leased for 2 years have arrived on line
with over 48 already in service and receiving very good reviews from the
engineering forces.
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The
Brandt truck, operated by Ernie Lehmkuhl has been very instrumental in the
ballast unloading operation. This truck can pull up to 20 cars of ballast or
other material for MOW crews to unload saving on work train requirements.
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Surfacing
started March 17, 2004 and is progressing at nearly 20 pass miles per week.
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As
of 20 May 2004, over 50,000 tons (over 700 car loads) of ballast has been
delivered. This is over 25% of the
200,000 tons expected to be delivered this year.
§
The
Transportation Department continues to do an excellent job moving the loads and
empties to the needed locations.
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The
Owatonna sub was removed from the FRA “excepted” track status earlier this week
and we expect this area to start to be raised to FRA class 2 ( 25mph) as the
surfacing progresses northward. Currently first pass surfacing is 5 miles north
of Blooming Prairie with and expected arrival
in Owatonna about the 2nd week of June.