DM&E plan asks for Seventh South closing

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

Plans for a nearly $1 million railroad shuttle facility to be integrated into the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad siding near the Farmers Cooperative of Hanska's elevators in New Ulm were presented to the City Council during an informational meeting Tuesday afternoon.

The council set a public hearing date of Tuesday, June 1, at 7 p.m. to get input from residents who live near that area.

The project, which is a joint venture involving Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, DM&E and the cooperative, would add two tracks to the siding serving Valley Elevator and Farmers Cooperative.

The objective, according to Farmers Cooperative General Manager Randall M. Rieke, would be to make room for the BNSF's 110-car shuttle trains to be split into two 55-car segments that could be dropped at the siding for loading by the cooperative during its busy shipping season, which runs from December through July.

The key to the project's success is getting the city's approval to close off Seventh South Street for up to 24 hours at a time in order to complete the loading process and get the shuttle train on the road again.

"If we can't close off Seventh, then the project isn't going to work," Rieke said.

However, councilors seemed loathe to give the project its blessing without hearing from residents who would be most affected by the closing.

Rieke said the firm expects to move 10 million bushels this season which figures out to about 3,000 railroad cars' worth of grain.

"It takes a lot of time and maneuvering to fill that many cars with the way it is right now because we can only use 55-car trains now and that means moving smaller numbers of cars around at a time," Rieke explained.

Rieke said the clock would start ticking when the last car of the second 55-car shuttle is in place, and the firm has 15 hours in which to load the entire train. Then, BNSF has 24 hours (which overlaps the 15) to pick the train up. Seventh Street would need to be closed off for the entire process, he said.

Councilors also wanted to know who would be responsible for the upkeep of the crossings. Tom Jared, DM&E superintendent, said residents should be able to get a 12-hour notice of the street closing. Rieke estimated it might be closed "possibly two to three times a month."