(The following appeared on the Progressive Railroading website on June 15, 2009.)
On Saturday, Union Pacific Railroad crews began a trackwork project on the Class I’s Altoona-to-Humbird, Wis., line.
The more than $9 million project calls for removing and installing about 25,000 ties, upgrading rail, spreading 15,600 tons of ballast, renewing road surfaces at 50 grade crossings and replacing 12 switches. Work is scheduled to be completed by October’s end.
This year, UP plans to spend $1.7 billion to improve infrastructure along its more than 32,000-mile system.