Colony railroad set to get an upgrade

The current owners of the hundred-year-old railroad leading into Colony is planning to upgrade the line. The county commissioners have offered their support for the project, which is expected to cost around $84 million and will include 80 miles of new rail and upgraded bridge structures.

Jerry Vest, Assistant Vice President of Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad, approached the commission last week to explain the project and request a letter of support for the company’s $22 million grant application. The railroad carries three primary commodities, he said: bentonite from Wyoming, cement from Rapid City and grain along the way.

All three of these commodities are heavy load, bulk products that would benefit from the larger freight cars that are the modern standard. However, along much of the line, it isn’t possible to use them.

The line was upgraded by its previous owners from Pierre to the eastern gateway in Tracy, Minnesota, said Vest. However, between Pierre and Colony, only pieces have been upgraded.

Some of the remaining pieces are limited to just 10 miles per hour and 265,000 tons of carry weight per freight car, Vest explained. This is because the line is, in places, a century old and has never been replaced, so, “The rail is worn out.”

In addition, the subgrade underneath much of the line is Pierre Shale, which is very soft and actually moves, Vest said.

“We’re constantly putting that rail back in alignment,” he told the commission.

The project in question will introduce 80 miles of new rail that will allow the more modern 286,000 ton cars and speeds up to 25 mph. Most of the track to be replaced is 100 years old.

However, some of the rail is newer at an estimated 60 years old, and is still serviceable, Vest said. Those pieces are to be removed, improved and used to replace track between Colony and Rapid City.

“It still has plenty of serviceable life in it,” said Vest, explaining that this is the “logical and efficient” way to get the whole line upgraded.

The State of South Dakota is putting $20 million into the project, according to Vest, and the company is looking for a $22 million grant. Vest’s reason for addressing the commission was to request a letter of support for the grant to match the ones he is hoping to obtain from every county the rail line passes through.

“I’m fully in support of that, myself,” responded Commission Chairman Kelly Dennis. “The bentonite is important to us in Crook County and getting it out and to market is very important.”

This view was echoed by Commissioner Fred Devish and the commission willingly agreed to sign a letter of support for the grant.