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April 2017
Part 1 : 2017 MOW Spending Report
Part 2 : 2017 MOW Spending Report - Class Is
Part 3 : 2017 MOW Spending Report - Regionals/Short Lines
Part 4 : 2017 MOW Spending Report - Passenger Railroads
2017 track and structure budget: $124 million (overall), $119 million (same railroads)* 2016 track and structure budget: $109 million* Reason for budget increase: Work includes track and bridge upgrades in Central and Northeast regions* Typical North American capital program scope: Work on 150 lineal miles of rail; install 750,000 ties and 40 switches; surface 2,000 track miles; construct 12,000 track feet of new sidings; and rehab 75 grade crossings.** Bridge work: Budgeted at $20 million in typical North American capital program; about 80 percent of typical program focuses on timber repairs, including new tie decks, cap and stringer replacements, pile posting and bent framing. Three new bridge construction projects are in the pipeline for 2017. In addition, some select steel repairs will be performed for section loss.** * Information from G&W’s fourth-quarter 2016 earnings presentation ** Information from G&W’s presentation Jan. 11 at the NRC’s 2017 conference
2017 capital spending: Estimated at $59.7 million (involves 151 projects)* 2016 capital spending: Estimated at $67.5 million (involved 194 projects)** Note: The 2017 budget reflects projects submitted to the company’s Capital Committee for approval and doesn’t include routine or regular maintenance work.* Combined budgets for work segments in three divisions: About $24.9 million for tie projects; $7.1 million for surfacing projects; $14.9 million for bridge projects; $8.4 million for rail projects; and $4.4 million for other work, such as crossing surfaces, switch ties and turnouts.* * Information from Watco’s presentation Jan. 9 at NRC’s 2017 conference ** Information from Watco’s presentation at NRC’s 2016 conference
2017 MOW budget: $35 million 2016 MOW budget: $35 million Rail: Replace or install 14 miles of mixed rail. Rail projects are performed in conjunction with defective and curve rail replacement. Major rail projects: Borger Yard rehab for Panhandle Northern Railroad; mainline rehab for the Great Western Railway of Colorado LLC, including 10,000 ties and 200,000 feet of surfacing; and mainline rail, turnout and crossing work for the Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railway, including 5,000 lineal feet of relay rail and 3 to 4 turnouts. Grinding/surfacing: 260 miles. Surfacing projects are usually less than 25 miles of track by railroad. Ties: Install 75,000 ties, including 10,000 ties for the Georgia and Florida Railway, 7,500 ties for the Nebraska, Kansas & Colorado Railway and 5,000 ties for the Kettle Falls International Railway. Ties are the primary focus, with projects varying in size from 1,500 to 20,000 ties. Ballast: Install 50,000 tons. Bridge work: Priority work and upgrades for 286,000-pound cars. Bridge repairs and upgrades continue as a significant part of the capital program.
2017 MOW budget: $34.5 million 2016 MOW budget: $39 million Reason for decrease: Budget is consistent with planned capital spending forecast. Rail: Replace or install 9.80 track miles with new 136-pound, relay 130-pound and relay 115-pound rail, all continuous-welded rail (CWR). Major rail project: National Docks secondary track capacity improvements associated with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s Greenville Yard project. Sidings: Build 10,000-foot National Docks secondary from Johnson to Linden Ave. in Jersey City, N.J.; 4,800-foot siding in Paulsboro, N.J.; and 1,660-foot run around in Hainesport, N.J. Grinding/surfacing: Grind 20 track miles and surface 41 track miles. Ties: Install 35,000 wood ties. Ballast: Install 11,600 tons of No. 3 stone ballast. Bridge work: Rehab bridge on P&H Line involving bearings and trunnions/drums, $1.75 million; rehab pier on moveable P&H Line bridge, $700,000; replace bridge spans with box culvert on P&H Line, $400,000; rehab moveable bridge in Sayreville involving bearings and gears, $250,000; replace stringers and mechanics on moveable bridge in Penns Grove, $500,000; rehab piers on bridge in Camden, $75,000; rehab concrete piers on bridge in Lincoln, $400,000; and rehab counterweight steel bracing on Detroit Line moveable bridge, $375,000. Facilities: Replace Port Reading Yard office; replace pad tracks at Ridgefield auto terminal; install digital radio repeater system at Port Newark Yard; replace yard air compressor at Morrisville Yard; replace communication backup generator at Paulsboro Yard; enhance lead in Marcus Hook, Pa.; enhance Stoney Creek Yard; replace yard air compressor at Sterling Yard; install 5 steel turnouts at Oak Island Yard in Newark; and install 2 steel turnouts at North Yard in Detroit. MOW equipment or purchase or lease: Mark IV tamper. Unusual MOW project: Flash-butt welding rail joints to generate CWR in yard and branch lines; continue to install and test PTC; replace 3 59-degree crossing frogs (diamonds) in Marcus Hook; and perform remote control of Delair Moveable Bridge.
2017 MOW budget: $12.9 million 2016 MOW budget: $13.7 million Ties: Install 25,000 wood ties. Ballast: Install 14,000 tons of 2-inch and 8,000 tons of 1-inch ballast. Bridge work: Replace Thornton Road bridge in Riverdale, Ill., $6 million, started in March. MOW equipment or purchase or lease: Leased complete tie gang equipment for 2017 tie work.
2017 MOW budget: $12,872,000 2016 MOW budget: $13,744,000 Reason for decrease: Reduction in capex requirements. Rail: Replace or install 2.8 miles of patch rail with 136-pound CWR. Grinding/surfacing: Surface 35 miles. Ties: Install 20,000 wood ties. Ballast: Install 18,000 tons. Bridge work: Repair bridge, $3.5 million; renew bridge deck ties at Calumet-Saganashkee Channel; and renew bridge deck at Chicago Avenue. Facilities: Install water backflow preventer and renew vehicle fueling facility. Unusual MOW project: Install fiber optic cable.
2017 MOW budget: $8,992,260 2016 MOW budget: $5,624,965 Reason for increase: The 2017 budget includes $3 million in TIGER 7 funding. Rail: Replace or install 5 track miles with 80-foot, 115-pound bolted rail. Major rail project: (TIGER 7-funded project) Install 30,000 feet of rail, 52,000 ties, 32 turnouts and 17,000 tons of ballast, and surface 115 miles. Work to be spread over 2017 and 2018, with $3 million in federal funding each of those years. Grinding/surfacing: Surface 90 miles. Ties: Install 40,000 wood ties. Ballast: Install 23,000 tons. Bridge work: Repairs to culverts and bridges at various locations, $400,000. Facilities: Reopen 7,000-foot passing track at Birchton, Quebec, includes turnouts, ties and ballast. MOW equipment or purchase or lease: Lease 3 crew trucks and 1 boom material handling truck.
2017 MOW budget: $8 million 2016 MOW budget: $5 million Rail: Replace or install 30,000 linear feet with new 141- and 136-pound CWR. Sidings: Build 4,000-foot siding in Mohrsville, Pa.; 4,000-foot siding in Jim Thorpe, Pa.; and 3,000-foot siding in Hazelton, Pa. Grinding/surfacing: Surface more than 60 miles. Ties: Install 15,000 wood ties. Ballast: Install 15,000 tons. Bridge work: Plan to start construction on a new bridge over the Lehigh River in May. Facilities: Build new shop facility at Port Clinton to work on MOW equipment and trucks, and construct a passenger station/transload facility in Reading, Pa. MOW equipment or purchase or lease: Spiker and brush cutter.
2017 MOW budget: $7 million 2016 MOW budget: $7.5 million Rail: Replace or install 2.5 miles in cut-and-slide project, which calls for converting jointed rail to CWR. Grinding/surfacing: 7 miles. Ties: Install 40,000 wood ties. Ballast: Install 15,000 tons. Bridge work: Rebuild 5 timber, ballast-deck bridges in Illinois, $5 million, half-funded by Illinois DOT. Facilities: Extend yard tracks, install intermodal ramp lighting and install drainage infrastructure at Senate Avenue Terminal in Indianapolis. MOW equipment or purchase or lease: Purchase welding truck. Unusual MOW project: Undercut 15,000 feet of track.
2017 MOW budget: $6.7 million 2016 MOW budget: $7.6 million Reason for decrease: State of good repair. Ties: Install 20,000 ties. Bridge work: Phase 2 replacement of 1,250-foot timber trestle with steel, start in third quarter.
2017 MOW budget: $6,382,000 2016 MOW budget: $4,572,000 Reasons for increase: An increase in business and receipt of Pennsylvania and New York grants. Rail: Replace or install 1.2 miles with CWR, weld in place. Sidings: Build 400-foot sidings in Meadville and Union City, Pa. Grinding/surfacing: Surface 30 miles. Ties: Install 17,000 wood ties. Ballast: Install 9,000 tons. Bridge work: Re-face 3 1915-era concrete bridges in Jamestown and 1 in Salamanca, N.Y., $1.1 million, start in August; replace 1 concrete bridge deck in Olean, N.Y., $250,000, start in August; and replace 4 timber bridge decks at various locations. Facilities: Install 8 new No. 115 turnouts and 6,000 yard ties in Olean. MOW equipment or purchase or lease: New Jackson 6700 tamper, 2 new equipment trailers, new profile grinder, new mini-excavator and 2 new hi-rail inspection trucks.
2017 MOW budget: $6,234,130 2016 MOW budget: $5,099,685 Reasons for increase: Expected 14 percent increase in carloads in 2017 versus 2016; carloads were 18 percent higher in 2016 versus 2015. Rail: Replace or install 7.5 miles with 115-pound CWR. Sidings: Build 7,200-foot siding between Mertzon and Barnhart, Texas. Grinding/surfacing: Surface 100 miles. Ties: Install 9,600 hardwood ties for maintenance and 5,000 hardwood ties for capex. Ballast: Install 200,000 tons. Bridge work: Work to maintain and comply with bridge management program, $400,000. Also expect to start reconstruction of the Presidio Ojinaga International Bridge between Presidio, Texas, and Ojinaga, Mexico; the railroad is responsible for the U.S. side of the bridge and Ferromex is responsible for the Mexican portion.
2017 MOW budget: $6.02 million 2016 MOW budget: $5.52 million Rail: Replace or install 3.5 miles with 115-pound CWR. Grinding/surfacing: Surface 72 miles. Ties: Install 25,000 mixed hardwood ties. Ballast: Install 38,000 tons. Bridge work: Routine repairs to 8 bridges. Facilities: Possible construction of a shop. MOW equipment or purchase or lease: Boom truck and 10 ballast cars. Dakota, Missouri Valley & Western Railroad Inc. 2017 MOW budget: $5,750,000 2016 MOW budget: $5,750,000 Rail: Replace or install 33.5 miles, including 28.5 miles of 112- and 115-pound jointed rail and 5 miles of 115-pound CWR. Grinding/surfacing: Surface 46 miles. Ties: Install 3,500 ties. Ballast: Install 24,000 tons. Bridge work: Rehab 8 bridges, $250,000, May start.
2017 MOW budget: $4 million 2016 MOW budget: $7.2 million Reason for decrease: Budgets are reduced to normal historical levels versus a more aggressive expenditure in 2016. Rail: Replace or install 1.2 miles with CWR. Grinding/surfacing: Surface 20 miles. Ties: Install 15,000 hardwood ties. Ballast: Install 8,500 tons. Bridge work: Rehab and maintenance work on 21 bridges in various locations, began in January and was slated for completion in March.
2017 MOW budget: $4,000,000 2016 MOW budget: $3,350,000 Reasons for increase: Train control and signal work, plus remote-control switch machines. Rail: Replace or install 1,750 track feet with CWR. Sidings: Total of 65 miles at ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif. Grinding/surfacing: Surface 14 miles. Ties: Install 500 wood ties. Ballast: Install 750 tons. Unusual MOW project: Train control and signal work, and install remote-control switch machines.
2017 MOW budget: $3,474,264 2016 MOW budget: $3,405,653 Reason for slight increase: Expect 2017 to be a very similar to 2016 with regard to maintenance budget. Rail: Replace or install 2 miles with 80-foot jointed, 115-pound rail. Grinding/surfacing: Grind 30 miles, surface 75 miles. Ties: Install 24,400 ties. Ballast: Install 40,000 tons. Facilities: Excavation work, drainage improvements and track realignment at the Bryant Maintenance Facility, $165,210. MOW equipment or purchase or lease: 2 section trucks, $346,000, and 1 hi-rail inspection truck, $58,000.
2017 MOW budget: $3 million (plus $1.5 million capex) 2016 MOW budget: $2 million (plus $200,000 capex) Reason for increase: Increased tie program from previous 7,500 to 20,000. Major rail project: Install 20,000 ties plus build new 9,000-foot siding in the Shaunavon Subdivision in Saskatchewan, Canada. Sidings: Add 9,000 feet to a siding near Assiniboia, Saskatchewan. Ties: Install 20,000 wood ties. MOW equipment or purchase or lease: Last year, purchased a Cat 320 track hoe with hytracker cart and a mobile all-terrain 20-ton crane. Unusual MOW project: Increasing tie program by more than 200 percent to ensure the railroad stays ahead of future requirements.
2017 MOW budget: $2,631,000 2016 MOW budget: $2,461,000 Reasons for slight increase: Three capital bridge projects and received a New York state grant to upgrade switches and install ties in two classification yards. Rail: Replace or install 2.5 miles with CWR, weld in place. Ties: Install 2,000 wood ties. Ballast: Install 500 tons. Bridge work: Replace timber deck on 240-foot structure in Brighton, N.Y.; replace 100-year-old iron T-girder over highway with ballast deck T-girder in Avon, N.Y.; and participate with CSX on strengthening a 2-track through girder in Brighton. Facilities: Install 6 new No. 8 turnouts and 2,000 yard ties in Lakeville, N.Y., and install 5 new No. 8 turnouts and 2,000 yard ties in Avon. MOW equipment to purchase or lease: 2 tie inserters.
2017 MOW budget: $2.4 million 2016 MOW budget: $2.3 million Reasons for increase: Price increases and training costs for new hires. Rail: Replace or install 12.2 miles with 136-pound CWR. Grinding/surfacing: Surfacing/ballast on 120 miles. Ties: Install 20,030 IG ties. Ballast: Install 20,000 net tons. Bridge work: Renew steel on bridge in Ridgefield, N.J., $6 million; perform steel repairs and tie work on bridge in Tusten, N.Y., $300,000; and perform steel repairs on bridge in Deposit, N.Y, $150,000. Facilities: Develop Montgomery Street Yard in Binghamton, N.Y., $1.2 million. MOW equipment or purchase or lease: Purchased 6 MOW vehicles, $390,000. Unusual MOW project: Continue bridge ratings and inspections, $1 million, and perform drone bridge inspection in Tusten.
2017 MOW budget: $2,347,682 2016 MOW budget: $2,637,618 Reasons for decrease: Less contracted services, plus reduced equipment expenses. Major rail project: Complete industrial track replacement in Pleasant Gap, Pa., includes 842 feet of new rail, replacement of a No. 10 turnout with a new No. 15 turnout, replacement of sub ballast and ballast, and new box culverts for drainage, $345,000. Sidings: Build new 1,200- and 700-foot sidings along the Nittany and Bald Eagle Railroad in Lock Haven, Pa., for First Quality Tissue plant. Ties: Install 2,500 ties. Bridge work: Replace timber bridge with a new 20-foot through-girder span bridge on the North Shore Railroad main in Montour Township, Pa., $650,000. MOW equipment or purchase or lease: Buyout of lease to purchase a model 6700SJ2 tamper.
2017 MOW budget: $2,382,309 2016 MOW budget: $2,152,884 Rail: Install 6,000 track feet of new 136- and 115-pound RE, 78-foot rail. Sidings: A total of 700 feet of new siding construction at 3 locations. Grinding/surfacing: Surface 80,000 feet independent of tie project. Ties: Install 8,500 new and 2,500 relay ties, and 7,200 feet of new switch ties. Ballast: Install 20,000 tons. Bridge work: Replace 2 spans with fill and perform pier work and timber decking, $350,000. Facilities: Completed Geneva yard upgrade.
2017 MOW budget: $2,170,424 2016 MOW budget: $2,077,139 Reason for decrease: Similar budget. Rail: Replace or install 1 mile (plus or minus) with jointed 115-pound, head-hardened rail. Grinding/surfacing: Surface 2 to 4 miles. Ties: Install 2,000 hardwood ties. Ballast: Install 5,000 tons. Facilities: Begin engineering phase of locomotive fueling facility upgrade.
2017 MOW budget: $2.1 million 2016 MOW budget: $2.7 million Reason for decrease: Put a lot of extra resources toward maintenance of Cosgrove Yard in 2016, and the yard currently is in much better condition and free of FRA defects, so now on a regular maintenance schedule. Rail: Replace 500 39-foot sticks of rail totaling 19,500 feet with jointed rail in 10 tracks at Cosgrove Yard. Grinding/surfacing: Resurface about 5,000 feet of track on switching leads at Cosgrove Yard. Ties: Install 7,500 wood ties. Ballast: Install 1,000 tons. MOW equipment or purchase or lease: Purchase a new tamper.
2017 MOW budget: $1.8 million 2016 MOW budget: $1.7 million Reasons for increase: Improve operations and upgrade yard. Rail: Replace or install 1 mile with 115-pound CWR. Major track project: Rehab ties on 14 miles of track between Jefferson and New Orleans, La., $2.2 million (capital project). Sidings: France Yard phase I in New Orleans (capital project). Grinding/surfacing: Surface 6 miles. Ties: Install 16,000 wood and 6,200 steel ties. Ballast: Install 10,000 tons. Bridge work: Replace 2,500 bridge timbers and spot paint. Facilities: Upgrade 2 saws in the bridge timber mill and move France Yard office to new location. Unusual MOW project: Replace 3 pairs of expansion joints.
2017 MOW budget: $1,764,866 2016 MOW budget: $2,208,816 Reason for decrease: Revenues are down. Rail: Replace or install 2.3 miles with jointed rail. Grinding/surfacing: Surface 30 miles. Ties: Install 1,000 wood and 1,000 steel ties. Bridge work: Convert a ballast deck bridge to an open deck bridge, includes frame 5 bents, the installation of 2 headwalls, and surfacing and aligning the bridge, $157,500.
2017 MOW budget: $1,428,864 2016 MOW budget: $1,407,721 Reason for increase: Higher labor and equipment costs. Rail: Replace or install 2,100 track feet with relay 115-pound, jointed rail. Major track project: Install 2 new 115-pound turnouts and 2,100 feet of relay 115-pound rail in Lake Wales, Fla., $200,000; and install 3,250 ties within 7 miles of main track in Ocala, Fla., $250,000. Grinding/surfacing: 7 miles as part of Ocala tie project. Ties: Install 4,200 wood ties.
2017 MOW budget: $800,000 2016 MOW budget: $200,000 Reason for increase: Installing 8,000 ties spread over 8 miles of mainline track. Ties: Install 8,000 6x8 and 8x6 oak and mixed hardwood area grade 3 ties. Bridge work: Routine maintenance and inspections.
2017 MOW budget: $558,000 2016 MOW budget: $955,000 Reason for decrease: Satisfactory condition of physical plant. Ties: Install 2,000 wood ties. Ballast: Install 300 tons. Bridge work: Install 2 60-foot timber decks.
2017 MOW budget: $500,000 2016 MOW budget: $450,000 Reason for increase: Beginning work on installing additional track on property. Looking at installing 1 mile of rail next year. Ties: Install 4,000 wood ties. Ballast: Install 120 tons.
2017 MOW budget: $374,800 2016 MOW budget: $374,800 Rail: Replace or install 2 miles with jointed rail. Sidings: Build 2-mile siding in Moss Point, Miss. Grinding/surfacing: 20 miles. Ties: Install 3,000 wood and 72 wood switch ties. Ballast: Install 3,000 tons. Bridge work: Rework electrical power cables to bridge in Moss Point, $10,000, started in February. Facilities:Build road to barge dock within yard limits in Moss Point. Unusual MOW project: Considering the purchase of a drone.
2017 MOW budget: $250,000 2016 MOW budget: $400,000 Reason for decrease: Have nearly completed a tie replacement program. Ties: Install 2,000 wood ties. MOW equipment to purchase or lease: A new hi-rail truck.
2017 MOW budget: Not provided 2016 MOW budget: Not provided Rail: Replace or install 18 miles, with 12 miles of new 115-pound RE CWR and 6 miles of relay 105-pound DY jointed rail. Sidings: Build 4,000-foot siding in Rutland, Vt. Grinding/surfacing: Surface 85 miles. Ties: Install 35,000 wood ties. Ballast: Install 15,000 tons.
2017 MOW budget: Not provided 2016 MOW budget: Not provided Note: Have increased the maintenance budget for brush cutting, ditching and subgrade repairs. Rail: Replace or install 7.57 miles with new 115-pound RE CWR. Grinding/surfacing: Surface 96 miles. Ties: Install 40,000 wood ties. Ballast: Install 61,000 tons. Bridge work: Replace 9 bridges and perform bridge maintenance, including scheduled component repairs, culvert replacements and deck upgrades. Facilities: Install 9 new turnouts and a new set of crossovers. MOW equipment to purchase or lease: Purchase a new Mark IV tamper. Unusual MOW project: Install 1 WILD and 2 high/wide clearance detectors.
2017 MOW budget: Not provided 2016 MOW budget: Not provided Bridge work: The 2017 program is budgeted at $3.5 million. New/replacement projects include installing a steel replacement span for a 27-foot I-beam bridge span over the Placer River; replacing a 168-foot timber bridge with 5 28-foot concrete ballast deck spans at the Luebner Lake drainage area; replacing a 123-foot open deck military pony truss bridge with a thru-girder ballast deck span at the Matanuska flood plain; and continuing construction on a new 70-foot bridge over Skookum Creek. Rehab/repair projects include replacing timber towers with steel towers on bridge over Sheep Creek and building retaining walls at erosion-prone locations in Healy Canyon. Other work: Budgeted $1.7 million to upgrade 5 grade crossings in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Work includes completely rebuilding the crossings with new track and concrete panels, and at one location, removing unused siding track and relocating the crossing signals.
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