RT&S December 2017 by Railway Track & Structures

December 2017 | www.rtands.com

REDUCING RAIL WEAR:

BEAD BY BEAD

PLUS HAND-HELD TOOLS SWITCH STANDS, SWITCH MACHINES AND ALSO AREMA NEWS P.31

Contents

RAILWAY TRACK AND STRUCTURES

December 2017

News

Features

Industry Today 5 Supplier News 7 People

Columns

Husqvarna Construction Products

Switch stands and switch machines Manufacturers are incorporating greater intelligence into switch machines and switch stands continue to improve in safety and ergonomics.

Hand-held tools Features to increase safety, as well as production are being included in new tooling developments.

Vossloh Signaling, Inc.

Friction management Newly developed equipment, capable of distributing various modifiers, is helping customers tap into the benefits of an optimized friction management program.

22 Departments 12 TTCI R&D 31 Arema News 35 Products 36 Calendar 37 Advertisers Index

The TrackSafe Lube system from Orgo-Thermit, Inc. Story on page 16

On Track The year in engineering and construction news

37 Sales Representatives 38 Classified Advertising 39 Professional Directory

NRC Chairmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Column Saying goodbye to 2017

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RBL, Inc.

Railway Track & Structures

December 2017 1

On Track

RAILWAY TRACK AND STRUCTURES

Vol. 113, No. 12 Print ISSN # 0033-9016, Digital ISSN # 2160-2514 EDITORIAL OFFICES 20 South Clark Street, Suite 1910 Chicago, Ill. 60603 Telephone (312) 683-0130 Fax (312) 683-0131 Website www.rtands.com Mischa Wanek-Libman/Editor, mischa@sbpub.com Kyra Senese/Managing Editor ksenese@sbpub.com CORPORATE OFFICES 55 Broad St 26th Fl. New York, N.Y. 10004 Telephone (212) 620-7200 Fax (212) 633-1165 Arthur J. McGinnis, Jr./ President and Chairman Jonathan Chalon/Publisher Mary Conyers/Production Director Nicole Cassano/Art Director Maureen Cooney/Circulation Director Michelle Zolkos/Conference Director Railway Track & Structures (Print ISSN 0033-9016, Digital ISSN 2160-2514), (USPS 860-560), (Canada Post Cust. #7204564; Agreement #40612608; IMEX P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2, Canada) is published monthly by Simmons-Boardman Publ. Corp, 55 Broad St. 26th Floor, New York, NY 10004. Printed in the U.S.A. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY, and additional mailing offices. Pricing: Qualified individual and railroad employees may request a free subscription. Non-qualified subscriptions printed and/or digital version: 1 year Railroad Employees (US/Canada/Mexico) $16.00; all others $46.00; foreign $80.00; foreign, air mail $180.00. 2 years Railroad Employees US/Canada/ Mexico $30.00; all others $85.00; foreign $140.00; foreign, air mail $340.00. Single Copies are $10.00 ea. Subscriptions must be paid for in U.S. funds only. COPYRIGHT © Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation 2017. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced without permission. For reprint information contact: PARS International Corp., 102 W 38th St., 6th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10018 Phone (212) 221-9595 Fax (212) 221-9195. For subscriptions and address changes, Please call (800) 895-4389, (402) 346-4740, Fax (402) 346-3670, e-mail rtands@omeda.com or write to: Railway Track & Structures, Simmons-Boardman Publ. Corp, P.O. Box 3135, Northbrook, IL 60062-3135. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Railway Track & Structures, P.O. Box 3135, Northbrook, IL 60062-3135.

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The year in engineering and construction news

er what is now tradition, I will again use my last column of the year to look back at the news that grabbed readers attention on our website and social media channels in 2017. By far, the most engaging stories (those with the highest number of hits, shares and pageviews) during 2017 surrounded politics. The industry went through, and some would argue continues to go through, a transition period where every proposal was looked at to see if it would be the spark in the tinderbox that turned “potential” into something more. However, due to the lack of development, it turned out many of these stories had a short shelf life and, therefore, are not included in this write up. Our first two stories published in 2017 covered the opening of the muchanticipated Second Avenue Subway in New York City. This was immediately followed by an announcement that the head of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority at the time, the man responsible for delivering such a huge project, Tom Prendergast, who also happened to be the 2017 Railway Age Railroader of the Year, would be retiring. In other rail transit news, the publishing of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Long Island Rail Road third track expansion project in April, following more than a year of data collection, analysis and public outreach was well read. Other top stories in this categor y included the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s decision to take a phased approach to the South Coast Rail project, beginning with the Middleborough Route to provide service sooner and the government of Canada’s commitment to funding the GO Transit Regional Express Rail project with CA$1.8 billion (US$1.35 billion) through the New Building Canada Fund. In popular Amtrak related news, the Federal Railroad Administration’s

issuance of a Record of Decision for the Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel captured readers attention as it recommended four new single-track tunnels to be bored to replace the existing two-track tunnel and, once completed, should relieve a significant bottleneck along the Northeast Corridor. Moving over to the freight side of the industry, shortline railroads notched a big safety milestone achieving of a fatality-free year. While an accomplishment like that deserves recognition, the shortline stories with the most reads concerned the situation along the Hudson Bay rail line in northern Manitoba. An extreme synopsis: A 200-year flood event left the rail line in need of cost-prohibitive repairs, a debate followed with the line’s owner, OmniTRAX saying the line should be viewed as a public utility. The government of Canada disagreed. There are now lawsuits from both parties. The situation is not pretty nor is it close to being resolved. This will be a story we will continue to follow into 2018 and possibly beyond. It may shock no one that our coverage of rumors, followed by proposals and the eventual installation of E. Hunter Harrison as the head of CSX topped our coverage on Class 1s. A close second place went to our annual capital program coverage of the top railroads. It’s hard to believe we’re getting ready to cover these types of stories again in the new year. No matter what you choose to read next year, we hope you’ll find our coverage of the industry valuable and informative. From the RT&S team, we wish you a happy holiday season and a safe New Year.

Mischa Wanek-Libman, Editor

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INDUSTRY TODAY Safety lapses blamed for Chester, Penn., accident; Amtrak lays out safety improvement plan The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said ignored safety procedures and a fractured safety program are to blame for the April 3, 2016, derailment of Amtrak train 89 near Chester, Penn. NTSB says the accident, which killed a backhoe operator and a track supervisor and left 39 people injured, was caused by “deficient safety management across many levels of Amtrak and the resultant lack of a clear, consistent and accepted vision for safety.” The NTSB also determined allowing a passenger train to travel at maximum authorized speed on unprotected track where workers were present, the absence of shunting devices, the foreman’s failure to conduct a job briefing at the start of the shift, all coupled with the numerous inconsistent views of safety and safety management throughout Amtrak, led to the accident. The NTSB also noted the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) failure to require redundant signal protection, such as shunting, for maintenance-of-way work crews contributed to this accident. As a result of this investigation, the NTSB issued 14 safety recommendations including nine to Amtrak, two to the FRA and three to the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division, American Railway and Airway Supervisors Association, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers

and Trainmen, and Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen. In a statement regarding the NTSB findings, Amtrak said: “Safety is a core value – for our passengers and our employees – and we are committed to operating our nationwide network of services safely, effectively and efficiently. We’ve been in the process of transforming our safety culture since this incident. In the 19 months since the Train 89 event, we have taken a series of actions to improve workplace safety at Amtrak – including the implementation of many of the actions discussed by the NTSB. “We have a deep sense of obligation to our customers and employees. When a customer buys a ticket from us, or when an employee chooses to come work for us, we have a responsibility to keep them safe. Day in and day out, we work hard to live up to this obligation. We have a team of 20,000 employees who understand that safety is our No. 1 priority, and together we safely operate more than 500 trains across our 21,000-mile network every day.” The railroad also outlined several steps it had taken since the accident and continues to take to improve its safety program including improved communication, training and compliance initiatives. Amtrak explains that a team is in place to review the NTSB recommendations and look at how to implement them.

NTSB data shows rail fatalities increased in 2016; ASLRRA celebrates fatality-free year in 2017 Two different years produced two different safety stories in the rail industry. Railroad fatalities were up in 2016 as compared to 2015, following the overall trend upwards for total transportation deaths, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Highway fatalities at 37,461, accounted for 95 percent of all transportation deaths in 2016. Deaths attributed to the rail sector accounted for 733 with 266 grade-crossing deaths. NTSB explains that while grade-crossing fatalities are tracked as a separate category, they are included in the overall highway and rail numbers. The number of rail deaths represents a 3.5 percent increase over 2015 numbers, 733 from 708, with 487 deaths or 66.4 percent the result of trespassing. Of the total rail numbers, 660 fatalities occurred on freight, passenger and commuter rail property while 73 occurred on rail transit systems. “Unfortunately, we continue to see increases in transportation fatalities,” said NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt. “We can do more, we must do more, to eliminate the completely preventable accidents that claim so many lives each year. Implementation of the 315 open safety recommendations associated with the NTSB’s Most Wanted List 4 Railway Track & Structures

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of Transportation Safety Improvements has the greatest potential to reverse this alarming trend.” Meanwhile, the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) marked a significant safety achievement as the industry’s 603 shortline railroads operated for a full year fatality-free. “Our shortline members focus every day on ‘making it a safe one.’ Safe operations are good for our customers, good for the public interest, good for our employees, and good for business,” said Linda Bauer Darr, president of ASLRRA. “ASLRRA is proud to partner with shortlines, supporting a safety focus through compliance audits, training opportunities, the Jake Award program and committees that advance safety initiatives and technology that drives safety. All of us working in partnership can take pride in today’s industry achievement.” Darr also credited the work of the Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) and its influence on the industry. “Focusing on safety culture, the behaviors surrounding and supporting safe practices, will continually raise the bar in our industry on successful, sustainable and safe operations,” said Tom Murta, executive director of SLSI. ASLRRA says shortlines operate 47,500 rail miles in 49 states, or 29 percent of freight rail. One in five cars are handled by member shortlines, providing the first or last mile of the journey. www.rtands.com

INDUSTRY TODAY Georgia Ports Authority approves rail, gate expansion projects The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has approved rail and gate expansion work that is expected to boost capacity at the Garden City Terminal, which GPA notes is the largest container terminal in North America. The GPA Board approved the allocation of $42.27 million on Nov. 13 as part of the GPA’s $128 million Mason Mega Rail Terminal project. The project is intended to expand the Port of Savannah’s on-dock rail capacity by 100 percent and help Savannah, Ga., to increase service to inland markets from Memphis, Tenn., to Chicago. The Port of Savannah handled 8.5 percent of containerized cargo volume in the U.S. and 10 percent of all national containerized exports in fiscal year 2017, according to the GPA. So far, $90.7 million has been budgeted to the project, with construction set to start in December and wrap up by the end of 2020. “What makes Georgia and the [GPA] a continuing success story is the relentless

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effort to stay one step ahead of the curve and the competition,” said GPA Board Chairman Jimmy Allgood. “The projects approved...will do exactly that.” The GPA board approved a $13.2 million project to expand the Gate 8 at the Garden City Terminal. The GPA said the planned work includes new pre-check lanes that will cut down on truck congestion while the Mega Rail Terminal will reduce or eliminate rail crossings. “A strong Southeast U.S. economy, on-terminal expansion and investment by private logistics fir ms throughout the region have resulted in phenomenal growth for Georgia,” GPA Executive Director Griffith Lynch said. “These record volumes could not have been possible without the tireless dedication of the men and women responsible for moving this cargo. From the GPA and the International Longshoreman Association, to the stevedores and logistics community, thank you for a job well done.”

Supplier News The California HighSpeed Rail Authority Board of Directors has approved a contract for early train operator services to DB ENGINEERING & CONSULTING USA. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors approved a contract with SEPULVEDA MOBILITY PARTNERS to study options for its Sepulveda Pass Corridor. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority selected the joint venture of GLX CONSTRUCTORS to serve as the design-

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INDUSTRY TODAY Supplier News build team for the Green Line Extension project. The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority awarded RailWorks Corp. subsidiary L.K. COMSTOCK & COMPANY INC. two contracts for underground electrical substations on the New York City Transit Canarsie “L” line. PARSONS began providing technical advisory services for Metrolinx’s Enhanced Train Control and Conventional Signaling project, part of GO Transit rail expansion program.

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Metra holds groundbreaking ceremony for Fox River Bridge replacement A long-anticipated project to replace a 136-year-old bridge over the Fox River on Metra’s Milwaukee District West Line kicked off with a groundbreaking ceremony Nov. 17 with U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Elgin Mayor David Kaptain joined Metra officials at the ceremony. The project, also referred to as Z-100, will replace the 500-foot single track bridge with a double track bridge, to help alleviate a choke point on a line that sees 54 Metra trains and up to eight Canadian Pacific freight trains each weekday. “Replacing this bridge will improve the reliability, performance and operational flexibility of the Milwaukee District West Line,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Don Orseno. Metra credits the efforts of U.S. Sens. Duckworth and Dick Durbin (D-IL) in helping to secure a $14-million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant, which was awarded in 2015 following six unsuccessful

December 2017

TIGER grant applications. In addition to the TIGER grant, Metra is contributing $14 million and CP is contributing $6 million toward the $34 million project. In September, the Metra Board awarded a $21.6 million contract to Elburn-based Illinois Constructors Corporation (ICC) to build the new bridge. The contract covers the bridge structure. Metra forces will build and install the track and signal elements. Metra says that service impacts for Milwaukee District West Line riders during the three-year project will be minimal. The new bridge will see one track rebuilt on the existing bridge’s alignment with the second track built immediately west. The new bridge will have a ballasted deck and of the five stone masonry piers, two will be eliminated and three will be rebuilt using concrete, which will garner greater resistance to longitudinal forces and improved water flow in the river below. Additionally, all signal components near the bridge will be replaced with modern equipment.

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INDUSTRY TODAY PEOPLE

T h e A M E R I CA N P U B L I C T RA N S PO RTAT I O N ASSOCIATION appointed Paul P. Skoutelas as president and CEO, effective Jan. 8, 2018.

Mike O’Malley will become president of the RAILWAY SUPPLY INSTITUTE beginning Feb. 1, 2018, following Tom Simpson’s retirement.

Joseph Parsons took on the newly-created title of g e n e r a l m a n a g e r a t t h e IOWA INTERSTATE RAILROAD in early November, concurrent with the retirement of Jerome Lipka as president. Al Satunas was named chief operating officer.

Ronald L. Batory was named as a special assistant on railroad matters for the U.S. DEPARTMENT of TRANSPORTATION, reporting to Secretary Elaine Chao.

The NATIONAL RAILROAD CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE ASSOCIATION appointed Russ Gehl, vice president of Sales and Marketing (Maintenanceof-Way), at Holland LP to its Board of Directors. Andy Byford will join the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority as president of NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT in January 2018. Michael Walters was elected as chairman of the NORTH CAROLINA RAILROAD COMPANY’s Board of Directors during a September meeting, succeeding Franklin Rouse.

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Obituary

Helmut Schroeder, 78, founder of RAILQUIP INC., a supplier of rail and maintenance-of-way equipment, died Oct. 30 following an illness.

correction In the November 2017 edition of Railway Track & Structures, Figures 2A and 2B on page 30 within the article, “Big data in railroad engineering: The challenge of vast amounts of data,” should have included the below citation: Galván-Núñez, S. 2017. Hybrid Bayesian-Wiener Process in Track Geometry Degradation Analysis. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Delaware.

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NRC CHAIRMAN’S COLUMN

Saying goodbye to 2017

The National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association, Inc. 410 1st Street, S.E. Suite 200 Washington D. C. 20003 Tel: 202-715-2920 Fax: 202-318-0867 www.nrcma.org info@nrcma.org

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As 2017 comes to an end, we look back at a wild roller coaster of a year. From President Obama signing off and President Trump taking the stage, to Neil Gorsuch as the newest Supreme Court justice, to a lot of Obamacare talk and little action, to the infamous United passenger dragging, to the ongoing sexual harassment scandal taking down powerful men left and right, to confederate statues and Charlottesville, to James Comey, to another long list of mass shootings culminating in Las Vegas, to the solar eclipse, to NFL national anthem protests, to the growing dominance of the country’s big 5—Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft—technology firms, to Roy Moore, the tax reform bill and so much more; it really has been a year for the ages. It’s all certainly enough to make your head spin! Luckily, the NRC is here to help you start 2018 on some familiar footing and bring comfort and order to this crazy world: the NRC Conference and NRC/REMSA Exhibition is Jan. 10 through Jan. 13 at the JW Marriott at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles. The conference begins with the exhibit hall opening at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday January 10. On Thursday morning, the general sessions will start at 7:30 a.m. The full schedule is available to view at: www.nrcma.org/2018conference. On that same site you can also register for the conference, book a last-minute exhibit booth, find available sponsorships and get hotel information. If you haven’t registered yet, no problem, but do it now! It’s easier in advance than on-site. And get that hotel room booked, too! For any conference questions or for help registering, call Matt Bell at 202-715-1264 or contact him via e-mail at mbell@nrcma. org. For exhibit-related questions, please contact Urszula Soucie with the Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA) at 202-715-2921 or soucie@remsa.org. As always, the NRC Conference will feature great speakers from Class 1 railroads, shortline and regional railroads, major

transit agencies and other industry experts on upcoming capital plans and expected opportunities for contractors and suppliers. This is a great way to see how you can provide more services to your customers and create new business opportunities for your company. I always leave these speeches with an anxious excitement for the new year. This year’s program will feature senior eng ineer ing and procurement executives from major rail transit agencies such as Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit, and Seattle Sound Transit, Class 1 railroads including the BNSF Railway Company, Union Pacific, CSX Cor poration, Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway and shortline and regional railroad holding companies such as Watco Companies, Genesee & Wyoming Inc., and OmniTRAX. Another great part of the annual conference is the NRC/REMSA Exhibition. Every year the exhibition hall gets better. There will be more than 140 Exhibitors this year. A big thank you to REMSA, Urszula Soucie and the entire REMSA staff for the hard work to make this event such a success every year. The exhibit hall is nearly sold out, so if you still need a booth, now is the time to get it booked. Go to www.nrcma.org for more information. It is the best event to show off your products and services to existing and potential new customers. Also at the conference, we will be awarding our annual NRC Safety Awards, Field Employee of the Year Award and Small and Large Project of the Year Awards. It is always great to recognize companies and people for their hard work. We are lucky to be part of this industry with so many great people and companies. I look forward to seeing everyone in Los Angeles next month and wish everyone a safe and successful holiday season. by Chris Daloisio, NRC Chairman

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TTCI R&D Up North:

Exploring the effects of cold climates on heavyaxle-load operations TTCI evaluates how the cold seasonal weather can affect heavy-axleload operations in collaboration with Canadian National Railway at the northern megasite. by Richard Joy, Principal Investigator II Benjamin Bakkum, Senior Engineer II Colin Basye, Principal Investigator I Stephen Wilk, Senior Engineer I Transportation Technology Center, Inc.

anadian National Railway (CN) and Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI), have established a northern megasite located near Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on main lines of the CN system to study the effects of cold climates on heavyaxle-load (HAL) operations. This work is being performed as part of the Association of American Railroads’ Strategic Research Initiative on HAL Implementation. The site has been divided into two locations: a pred o m i n a n t l y t a n g e n t t r a c k l o c at i o n o n t h e R i v ers Subdivision, beginning on the western edge of Winnipeg and running to the west; and at a location with heavier curvature on the Redditt Subdivision approximately 130 miles east of Winnipeg, near Kenora, Ontario. The Rivers Subdivision is double-track territory, with premium rail, timber ties and cut spikes. The first 50 miles west of Winnipeg are more than 90 percent tangent track. Based on records from a nearby wheel impact load detector, the site accumulated approximately 55 million gross tons (mgt) per track in 2016. The Redditt Subdivision is single-track territory with premium rail, concrete ties and elastic fasteners. Between milepost 90 and 140, approximately 50 percent of the track consists of curves between 1 and 5 degrees. Based on records from a nearby wheel impact load detector, the site accumulated approximately 45 mgt in 2016. The climate at both locations is typical for midcontinent conditions, with both experiencing about 50 days annually 12 Railway Track & Structures

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Figure 1: Rail profiles were measured at the premium rail test site.

when temperatures are below -4 °F and six to 12 days per year when minimum temperatures fall below -22 °F. Tests that have been established at the northern megasite include a premium rail performance test installed on a 5-degree curve and a top-of-rail (TOR) friction control materials evaluation on the Redditt Subdivision; as well as a premium insulated joint (IJ) performance test and a seasonal substructure evaluation on the Rivers Subdivision.

Premium rail performance test

Installed in December 2014, the premium rail performance test quantifies cold weather performance of premium rails www.rtands.com

Figure 2: The figure (left) shows six-bolt insulated joints at the northern megasite in February of 2017. Figure 3: Also in February of 2017, the photo (right) displays an eight-bolt insulated joint at the northern megasite.

(see Figure 1). Test rails were installed on a 1,000-foot, nominal 5-degree curve with 4 inches of superelevation. Concrete ties with elastic fasteners are installed throughout the curve. Nominal train speed is 35 mph (close to balance speed). The test site is subject to rail grinding one to two times per year and has gauge face lubricators installed. As of August 2017, the rail test had accumulated approximately 130 mgt. Initially, rail performance results were predominantly driven by rolling contact fatigue (RCF) at this site. Visual comparisons at approximately 60 mgt since installation and 30 mgt since grinding indicated that all the test rail types exhibited less severe RCF on the high rail than on the control rail. In comparison, three of the six test rail types exhibited less severe RCF on the low rail than on the control rail. Measurements of rail wear (including material removed by rail grinding) indicated that on the high rail, all of the test rails exhibited statistically less wear than the control; while on the low rail, only Test Rail 6 exhibited statistically less wear than the control. Subsequent inspections indicated significantly improved RCF performance of all rails â&#x20AC;&#x201D; possibly due to improvements and/or repairs to the gauge face lubricators. Participating rail manufacturers from North America, Japan and Europe were asked to provide premium rails that would perform well throughout the cold conditions anticipated at the northern megasite. Test rails were welded at the CN plant in Winnipeg into two 1,000-foot strings for installation. Each string has three repeats of each test rail type distributed evenly in the curve, as well as seven CN control rail positions also distributed evenly in the curve. Additional CN rails were installed on the ends of both strings to facilitate field welding. Each test rail type was positioned at least once on each side of a CN control rail. The same sequence was used for high and low rail. CN installed the rails in December 2014.

Premium insulated joint test

In November 2014, a premium insulated joint performance test was initiated with eight premium IJs. Test joints include two sixbolt IJs and each premium joint was paired with a standard CN www.rtands.com

joint as a control. All joints are center-supported. As of August 2017, the IJs had accumulated between 145 and 170 mgt. As of February 2017, the premium IJs are performing comparably to the controls with the exception of one joint, which began to show signs of rail movement at approximately 60 mgt since installation, which could potentially be due to the joint being installed with improper support.

Effects of seasonal freeze/thaw

In June 2016, TTCI and CN installed instrumentation to monitor soil pressure and soil temperatures at various depths on the Rivers Subdivision. The test objective is to characterize seasonal degradation of subgrade support due to cycles of freeze/thaw in different subgrade materials. Instrumentation includes rail strain gauges to measure vertical wheel loads; lateral earth pressure transducers at various depths, soils and distances from the track to measure subgrade response to train forces; earth thermocouples from the surface to a 5-foot depth to monitor the freeze/ thaw cycle and a 10-foot-deep piezometer to monitor groundwater depth. The ratio of the lateral earth pressure response (LPR) to applied vertical loads was monitored throughout an entire freeze/thaw cycle. Higher LPR levels indicate higher lateral pressure. An analysis is underway to investigate the responses of various soil layers, and compare them with measured track geometry changes, and potentially, to recommend remediation techniques for reduced subgrade strength during spring thaw periods.

TOR friction control test

This test was initiated to evaluate the effectiveness of TOR friction modifiers in cold-climate applications. A series of three TOR friction modifier systems are being evaluated in both warm and cold weather conditions. Friction control effectiveness will be evaluated by load station measurement of reduction in lateral wheel loads with the friction modifier applied. As of August 2017, warm weather testing was complete for two of the three TOR systems. Railway Track & Structures

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TTCI R&D

Figure 4: The photo (left) shows TOR applicators. The TOR test was intended to study the effectiveness of TOR friction modifiers in cold-climate applications. Figure 5: The photo (right) depicts a load station installation for a TOR test.

Planned future northern megasite work includes field evaluation of bridge approach remediation methods for cold weather and potential improvements for cold climate performance of switches. Additional work will be planned and implemented based on the prioritization of cold weather HAL operation issues, feasibility, benefits of implementing field experiments and

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input from the host railroad and the AAR HAL/Engineering Research Committee.

Acknowledgement

The authors wish to thank Canadian National Railway for its extensive support of this effort; particularly Tom Edwards, Gary MacLean and Dan Voelkerding.

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slick solution to

friction management Suppliers are developing versatile equipment to offer customers a wide selection of friction management options for nearly every railroad environment. by Mischa Wanek-Libman, editor

ompanies that operate in the fr iction management market are offering precision solutions that distribute a minimal amount of material without sacrificing rail wear reduction. They have developed equipment capable of handling various greases and friction modifiers for either top-of-rail (TOR) or gauge face applications.

L.B. Foster Company

Steve Fletcher, director global friction management, explains that the goal of L.B. Foster Co. is to become more customer centric by providing value-added product and service solutions. “Over the past year we have focused on increasing system robustness and improving uptime and reliability by providing an all-in service model. We are also introducing new consumable materials, new equipment designs and a broader deployment of our Remote Performance Monitoring (RPM) technology,” said Fletcher. The company is introducing a line of on-board solid stick locomotive wheel flange lubricants that Fletcher says provide the same level of lubricity as current wayside product offerings. “Field testing has shown that our products can last up to 17 times as long, 16 Railway Track & Structures

providing maximum benefits by minimizing the chance that the stick applicator will run empty. Our patented interlock design also significantly reduces stick wastage,” according to Fletcher. The company plans to introduce several new products in 2018 including the next generation water-based TOR KELTRACK® ER Plus friction modifier, which can also be bundled with the company’s INFINITRACK® TOR lubricant. Per John Cotter, senior global product manager, “This all-season product is designed to provide our customers with optimal total cost of ownership, that is, the cost of rail conditioning per mile of track, while maintaining effective friction management on the railhead.” Cotter anticipates that the company will significantly expand its Gauge Face (GF) portfolio of greases as it works to develop new, optimally formulated products. He notes the company’s SYNCURVE ® grease is durable enough to handle a heavyhaul environment while the BIOCURVE ® premium quality biodegradable grease has found acceptance among industrial, shortline/regional and transit customers. Fletcher also mentions enhancements on the equipment side includ-

December 2017

ing the redesigned PROTECTOR® IV tanks, which maximize product flow and consumable application and a new control box, which ensures more consistent consumable output given varying environmental conditions. He continued, “L.B. Foster has also pioneered the all-in service model with the North American Class 1 railroads, as well as offering specific service contracts. This model has allowed our customers to optimize the value of their friction management system investment by maximizing equipment uptime to apply friction management consumable materials. The industry has really begun to embrace this model as their way to lock-in the long-term benefits of friction management – such as improving fuel economy and increasing the life of the rail.” Fletcher concluded, “2017 has been a much better year than 2016, when the industry scaled back, but still relatively flat when compared to prior best years. The NA heavy-haul market has moved from the growth phase to a more stabilized, mature phase. Despite that we expect continued improvement in our business conditions into 2018. And we anticipate opportunities to evolve in the industrial, shortline/regional and transit markets. To take advantage of these situwww.rtands.com

friction management OPPOSITE PAGE: L.B. Foster’s SYNCURVE being applied on track. THIS PAGE: Loram has revamped both its TOR and gauge face (shown) equipment.

ations, we continue to invest in people and facilities to deliver new solutions to our customers. Our success will be tied to becoming a more customer centric organization to drive demand for our various product and service solutions. Our goal is to be recognized as solutions experts combining our expertise and materials capabilities to fulfill our customer’s needs.”

Loram

Loram Maintenance of Way, Inc., says it has revamped its TOR and gauge face equipment for improved efficiency. “Significant developments have been invested and tested to work

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with smarter algorithms to meet any railroad requirement. This includes developments in controllers that are remote monitoring capable for both cellular and wi-fi systems. Loram has invested substantial efforts into

advancing its friction modifiers, as well,” said the company. Loram explains that it has added “depth and breadth” to its Friction Management Division to provide custom solutions to a wide spectrum of

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RBL, Inc., is testing its Robolube “Linear” Wayside Lubricator at TTCI.

needs. Product innovations have been developed and tested to focus on addressing customer demands, as well as providing value. Additionally, all of its track-mounted equipment has received improved engineering to create cost-effective and maintenance-friendly equipment. Loram is expanding its modifier product offerings in 2018 and says it will continue to provide advanced modifications to existing friction modifiers and equipment. “Combining knowledgeable personnel, advanced equipment, intellectual property and proprietary designs, give Loram an unparalleled product portfolio to offer our customer industry leading products, services and maintenance for a complete friction management solution,” said the company.

Orgo-Thermit

Orgo-Thermit, Inc., has introduced TrackSafe Lube, an automated lubrication system designed by the GoldschmidtThermit Group. The company installed the system on various transits in 2017 and expects more in 2018. “With the demands for reduction of rail and wheel wear, quieter ride and comfortability, transits have gained the most benefit out of our system. Due to its size and flexibility, it can be applied to almost any rail situation. To date, we have installed lubricators on main lines, elevated structures, dispatch yards and tunnels,” said GeorgeAnne Tutunjian, director of Business Development at Orgo-Thermit. The solar-powered gauge face lubrication system has the capability of being connected to the grid and can pump almost all market available greases, including those with metal powder. Orgo-Thermit says the eight-gallon grease tank is good for a minimum of 500,000 axles. A sensor mounted on the field side of the rail sends a signal to the control unit, which then dispenses a uniform and precise dosage of grease on the gauge face of the rail. The company says its manifold guarantees the grease is distributed evenly among the grease bars to ensure sufficient distribution while reducing waste. “Technology advancements and increasing efficiency has been driving the demand for our units. The TrackSafe Lube establishes a cellular connection and transmits a daily status report of the unit including the voltage level of the back-up battery, the axle count, the level of grease in the tank and whether the cabinet has been accessed in the past 24 hours. This data has proven to be beneficial to users and will give them the important information they need without them having to physically access the unit in the field,” explained Tutunjian. 18 Railway Track & Structures

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friction management RBL, Inc.

RBL, Inc./Robolube’s new wayside lubrication technology, the Robolube “Linear” Wayside Lubricator, was introduced at Railway Interchange 2015 and is currently undergoing testing at Transportation Technology Center, Inc., in Pueblo, Colo. “We have seen much more activity in the top-of-rail friction management area,”said Rober Pieper, president of RBL. “Robolube has developed a Combination Hyrail Lubricator that is capable of both standard gauge face lubrication, as well as applying topof-rail friction modifiers in a hi-rail configuration.” The company has also developed a new, smaller Model MR-50 Hyrail Track Lubricator in response to customer requests for a lighter vehicle capable of hi-rail lubrication. Pieper says the unit will fit into a 30” x 30” x 18” envelope, weighs 275 lbs. and is capable of holding between 50 and 100 lbs. of grease. Pieper explains that with this addition to RBL’s product line, the railroads have more options for weight

reduction and unit capacity based on the size of their territory. “We had steady orders for 2017, but with restricted budgets this past year, we did not see the activity we are accustomed to experiencing. We are optimistic that 2018 will be a much more active year for track lubricators,” said Pieper.

SKF/Lincoln

Eric Nieman, SKF product manager, railway products, at SKF/Lincoln, explains that the company has expanded its options for wayside lubrication system monitoring following customer interest in tapping the benefits surrounding the remote monitoring of lubricant levels and equipment uptime. “Another significant development for SKF/Lincoln is the expansion of our knowledge base for customers inquiring about drilling channels in rail for lubrication holes,” said Nieman. “Drilling lubrication channels has been a common practice in some areas of Europe for many years. Through close work with our Euro-

pean application engineers, we now can assist customers that may be interested in drilled lubrication channels. The main advantage of drilled lubrication channels versus applicators is the ability to apply lubricant directly to the area of rail where it is needed.” Nieman says the company sees a clear trend toward minimizing lubricant consumption while keeping the level of wear-reduction up. “Waste and spillage reduction is a driver and we are currently examining this, making use of our large portfolio of lubrication technologies,” explained Nieman.

Whitmore Rail

Whitmore Rail recently introduced an electric trackside applicator, AccuTrack® 2.0, which the company says includes enhancements such as a new remote monitoring add-on option. The option allows the user to track unit activity from anywhere at anytime and provides self-diagnostics, which aides in on-site troubleshooting. The company notes its mechanical track-

friction management LEFT: Whitmore Rail’s AccuTrack allows users to track activity anywhere and at any time. RIGHT: SKF/Lincoln has expanded its offerings of wayside lubrication system monitoring.

side applicator LubriCurve® provides an affordable alternative with outstanding results. Whitmore Rail says its wiping bars were designed with ease of installation and maintenance in mind and can be paired with trackside applicators for precise product distribution. Its gauge face wiping bars are available in 16 to 48 port configurations, these, and its TOR wiping bars are suitable for freight and transit applications. The company points to its TOR Armor® as a solution to reduce noise, wear and lateral forces, but mentions its full line of rail curve and switch plate lubricants all promote reduced wheel flange and rail wear, extended

rail and wheel life, reduced fuel consumption and wheel squeal. Whitmore Rail explains it continues to create and improve on its lubricants and application equipment with input from its railroad customers. “Our customers continue to demand robust and reliable products that provide value and performance.

The global rail market remains brisk and Whitmore Rail is positioned to meet our customer’s challenges. We expect 2018 business to remain strong for our overall product offering while our heavy freight and transit customers focus on products and services that reduce their total cost of ownership,” said the company.

Switch stands remain popular for certain applications while switch machines continue their “smart” evolution. by Mischa Wanek-Libman, editor

the switch up T

he switch stand and switch machine segment of the industry is one example of the polarity found within railroading. As one supplier explains, a switch stand originally developed in 1922 continues to be a best seller. On the flip side, switch machines are being developed with more intelligence that includes better automation, the ability to predict failures and the capability to be submerged.

Full yard solution

South Hampton Yard in Boston, Mass., is one of Amtrak’s busiest terminals averaging more than 800 train movements per day and serving as a railcar maintenance facility for both Amtrak and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. The complex switching plant allows for 22 possible routes among its movable frog section with four interconnected switches and five single switches and rail crossings. The location has been referred to as “Wally World” due to its intricate rail intersections. 22 Railway Track & Structures

Amtrak turned to Vossloh Signaling, Inc., and its Modular Yard Automation (MYA) solution to provide automation to the South Hampton Yard. As Vossloh Signaling explains, prior to the implementation of MYA in August, yard utility crews worked around the clock to ensure switches were aligned throughout the busy and complex yard. “MYA provides remote switch control and monitoring in flat yards through a combination of Vossloh product modules, including switch machines, radio remote controls and control software,” said Dan Whiteley, North American marketing manager at Vossloh. “With MYA, rail operators can easily transform manual flat yards into highly efficient, automated terminals without a significantly changing the underlying infrastructure.” According to Whiteley, Amtrak required a remote switch control solution that was intuitive and user-friendly where train crews could route themselves without the dispatch of a centrally located yardmaster.

December 2017

The MYA solution for South Hampton Yard features nine Vossloh TS-4500 hydraulic switch machines, a DTMF (radio remote) control system, and Vossloh RailMaster™ yard control software, while providing all of the equipment and electronic modules that link together to form a turnkey control system. Whiteley says installation of the MYA system was underway in March 2017 and by Aug. 15, the automation was commissioned at South Hampton Yard allowing all train moves to be directed by the train crew via radio (DTMF Routing). “With remote switch control and monitoring, the throughput of railcars into and out of the maintenance facility is much more efficient,” noted Whiteley. “The Vossloh MYA solution provided what Amtrak was looking for in terms of functionality and flexibility.”

Switch monitoring system

Strukton Rail combined data collection with its rail maintenance knowledge to www.rtands.com

switch stands and machines opposite page: A voestalpine Nortrak Unistar-HR switch machine installed on a commuter project in Canada in 2017. this page: Vossloh Signalingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Modular Yard Automation solution.

develop the POSS switch monitoring system nearly 15 years ago in an aim to reduce switch failures. The company says with the integration of algorithms and its POSS monitoring data, it can now predict certain switch machine failures two weeks in advance with 95 percent certainty; a statistic it is working to further improve upon. The company explains that its solutions improve safety and efficiency, while increasing the availability of a network. This is done by utilizing predictive switch monitoring and measurement tools to reduce manual switch inspections and by implementing monitoring and measurement data into smart maintenance plans. Strukton Rail North America Inc. recently installed its remote controlled

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ZKL 3000 RC shunting devices on a New York area commuter railroad. The ZKL 3000 RC is a preinstalled shunting device from Strukton’s technology partner Dual Inventive. Strukton Rail says the devices will further improve safety of track workers, reduce downtime of the network and minimize interruptions to train operations. Once installed, a smartphone or tablet app is used to activate/deactivate the device, eliminating the need to enter track to place or remove shunting devices. Concerning an outlook for 2018, Strukton Rail recognizes the maintenance backlog that has resulted from financial stress, primarily on passenger rail providers. “To explain that Strukton’s smart maintenance products, services and solutions eventually will save money and lower lifecycle costs can be difficult. ‘If it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ used to be the motto for decades. That contradicts somewhat with Strukton’s aim to sell failure predictions,” said the company. “However, the mind-set in the industry is changing and one is opening up to new ways of working. Just like it affected our business positively in 2017, we certainly expect that to have a positive effect in 2018 and the years after.”

New product acceptance

Chris Nordstrom, regional sales manager, signaling for voestalpine Nortrak Inc., notes the two ends of the spectrum seen at the company with one of its consistent top sellers being the fully trailable Racor® 22 switch stand, originally developed in 1922, with the modular Unistar-HR switch machine, which gained acceptance among some large transit agencies and a heavy-haul mining railway in 2017. The Unistar HR is a modular switch machine system that can control switch points and moveable point frogs in a turnout, all from a single interface to the signal system. Nordstrom explains that following Superstorm Sandy, the company received requests to provide a submersible switch machine. “Our response was the CSV-24 in-street switch machine and its heavy rail counterpart, the Unistar-HR. Hurricanes Harvey and Irma this year were stark reminders why this is an important feature and provided real world testing of our products. We had Unistar-HR and CSV-24 switch machines completely submerged for days in Houston. When the water finally drained and the switch machines were tested, they all worked flawlessly,” said Nordstrom. Looking toward 2018, Nordstrom says there are encouraging signs for a healthy market concerning switch machines. “Although freight railroad capital envelopes saw doubledigit declines in 2016 and 2017, we are forecasting a slight increase in overall spending for 2018. We are encouraged by the continuing interest from Class 1 railroads in our Automater HT yard switch machine, the commuter market’s acceptance of the Unistar-HR and the adoption of the CSV-24 as the ‘Buy America’ standard for the streetcar market,” he explained.

Continued automation

Western-Cullen-Hayes, Inc. (WCH), believes affordability, dependability and versatility has helped its Model WCH-72 electro-hydraulic switch machine maintain its place within the market year after year. WCH notes it has seen success working with radio suppliers to remotely control its machines and deliver on the requirements of its customers to increase productivity by automating switching operations. 24 Railway Track & Structures

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the time for

tools

Safety remains the top priority among railroads and hand-held tool manufacturers, with equipment that is also becoming easier to use and easier to maintain. by Mischa Wanek-Libman, editor

ew tools, as well as enhancements to existing tools, are helping increase production while providing new safety features. A handful of suppliers have jumped into the battery-powered market with others performing research into how best to incorporate the power option into their product lines.

Cembre

Cembre’s most recent hand tool for the market is the LD16BY battery rail drill. The company says the drill, which Cembre calls an Ecodrill, promotes a safe working environment, as it is zero emissions, has a reduced acoustic impact and low HAV levels. Chris Drew, vice president of sales at Cembre, Inc., explains that safety is always taken into consideration when company engineers design any new product. “With that said, there is even more effort on our side as a responsible manufacturer to develop zero emission products (battery) to preserve our environment for today and tomorrow. We only have one planet to leave our children and grand kids,” said Drew. Additional safety features found on the LD-16BY include an LED indicator that communicates ideal advancing speed for optimized effort, LEDs also light the work area, there is an interlocked switch to avoid accident activation and the battery takes 45 minutes to fully charge. Drew says all Cembre customers from Class 1 railroads to transits to shortlines are expressing greater interest in battery-operated track tools. He credits the ability to provide quality battery-powered tools to advancements in the available Lithium Ion battery technology.

Hougen

Hougen Manufacturing Inc. has developed two new products and is distributing a third. The first product is a new drill that utilizes carbide cutters, the RB35. Hougen says this gets two to three times more holes per cutter than the RB28 gets with its high-speed steel cutters. The result is a reduced cost per hole and, as Hougen explains, with the rail getting harder it’s a welcomed factor by most users. Although this carbide cutter 26 Railway Track & Structures

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OPPOSITE PAGE: Grinding out a SSC defect in track on a Swing Nose Frog with the Matweld 09200SSC Grinder, which is now part of the Pandrol brand. This page: Cembre’s LD-16B battery rail drill, which Cembre references as the Ecodrill, has zero emissions, as well as a reduced acoustic impact.

can be used in the standard drill, RB28, it will only get 10 – 15 more holes per cutter. The company now has adjustable rail shoes for its drills, which cover from 100 lb. RE to 141lb. RE (12 sections of rail). Last, Trak-Star® is selling the K1270, a new saw by Husqvarna, which Hougen says now has an easier to access decompression valve on the top of the machine, as well as a new starting procedure since there is no trigger lock capability. Hougen is also exploring the possibilities of battery-powered tools and believes they will play a role in the future of the industry, but for the time being, it is sticking with gas- and hydraulic-powered tools. “Safety has always been the largest factor when designing tools at Hougen Manufacturing,” said the company. “[We] make sure to use only approved items when designing and building them and always relay information from the field to the engineering department.”

Husqvarna

Husqvarna Construction Products Americas updated its K 1260 Rail hand-held power cutter with the new K 1270 model, which features the company’s patented X-Torq® engine that reduces emissions by more than 50 percent and fuel consumption by up to 20 percent. “Husqvarna has always been focused on ergonomics and ease of use for our operators, which is why the K 1270 Rail features a new ergonomic design on the filter cover to optimize user comfort,” said the company.

Pandrol

Alex Hellkamp, vice president equipment -North America at Pandrol, which recently brought Vortok, Pandrol CDM Track, Rosenqvist, Matweld and RSS under a single brand, explains that the company’s focus and goal is to help cuswww.rtands.com

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December 2017 27

hand-held tools tomers as they look for better, safer and efficient solutions to issues. “We have always partnered with our customers to evolve equipment to meet the ever-changing demands of this industry. We are specialists in the industry with our product line and have earned the respect by listening and reacting to needs,” said Hellkamp.

He points to a recent modification the company made to its Precision Frog Grinder in order to extend the target area that is needed to grind and blend out a surface defect. “This was accomplished by working directly with our customers to achieve the results merely by modifying the existing equipment components,” said

Hellkamp. “The result is now there is a way to grind out qualifying SSC defects in track and do it cost effectively. This avoids the replacement of the frog with the defect and provides a significant time and cost savings.” Regarding the power behind handheld tools in the rail market, Hellkamp says Pandrol’s expertise is in hydraulic tools and he sees innovation in the realm of battery technology. “There is still a significant gap in power delivered to cost effectiveness in the battery powered divisions of the world. With innovations continuing, I predict soon will come some opportunities,” he said.

PortaCo

PortaCo, Inc., says re-evaluating its existing tool line has delivered modifications to tools to better enhance their performance. The company re-designed its lag driver, Model DL-10-B1-2, to make it more user friendly by eliminating the need for a “kit” and allowing the user to change the socket, making it compatible with a variety of different lag screws. Additionally, PortaCo has incorporated slight changes to its E-clip installers, including Models EI-05-A3-2 and EI-05-A3-3, in order to give them more power and dependability. 28 Railway Track & Structures

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Husqvarna K1270 rail: This new model features Huszvarna’s patented X-Torq® engine that reduces emissions by more than 50 percent and fuel consumption by up to 20 percent.

For PortaCo, boosting the E-clip installers’ dependability is important as the company has seen an increase in requests for the products. It credits the product’s popularity to its ability to easily install E-clip style elastic fasteners without having to “pre-set” the clip. “This is a big safety issue, as when “pre-setting” the clip, you are putting it under tension and if the workers hit it with a sledge hammer the wrong way, the clip can spring out and strike someone, causing possible injuries,” explained PortaCo. The company is also exploring battery-powered options for its tools and recognizes that there is potential in the technology. “We just have to figure out how to put all the puzzle pieces together in the proper way to make a robust tool that will do the job required in an efficient way,” said PortaCo.

Racine Railroad

Racine Railroad Products, Inc., says lithium battery technology has made batwww.rtands.com

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December 2017 29

teries lighter and more powerful and is currently looking into battery-powered impact wrenches, rail drills and grinding equipment, as well as other areas in its product line. Current new products include a new gasoline rail drill that uses the same annular cutter technology as past Racine drills, but with a quick disconnect cutter and 115RE/132RE “flip over” rail shoes, as well as a quieter engine that uses less fuel than previous models. Racine Railroad also offers the “Trak Jack;” a new 10-ton rail jack that offers the same benefits and quality as similar rail jacks in an affordable package. The company is also introducing the Hydraulic 10 gpm One-Inch Impact Wrench that Racine Railroad says offers a more durable and more economical product. “Safety is always the first priority. We always strive to make our equipment not only safer, but ergonomically better. This includes making tools quieter, lighter and faster, reducing operator fatigue,” explained Racine Railroad.

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AREMA NEWS Message from the President

Tinsel and ties

Dwight Clark AREMA President 2017–2018

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Save the Date

I recently had the oppor tunity to attend the Railway Tie Association’s (RTA) 99th Annual Symposium and Technical Conference in San Diego, Calif. I was asked to speak at the conference on behalf of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA). I appreciated the opportunity to present and the warm hospitality provided at the conference. My presentation was entitled “AREMA Update” and included recent AREMA activities pertinent and useful to the RTA. This was the first time I have attended the conference and I thought the association did a great job. AREMA has a strong working relationship with RTA. For AREMA members who are unfamiliar with what RTA is about, I thought it would be valuable to examine the association’s mission and purpose. From RTA’s website: • RTA’s mission is: “To provide the forum and direction for the continual improvement in the life-cycle of the engineered wood crosstie system.” • RTA ’s p u r p o s e i s : “ To p r o m o t e t h e e c o n o m i c a l a n d environmentally sound use of wood crossties. The association is involved in research into all aspects of the crosstie industry and ongoing activities dealing with sound forest management, conservation of timber resources, timber processing, wood preservation and safety of industry workers.” The most prevalent tie material for North American railroads is wood. The RTA meets an important need for the industry. They have great sources for research on wood ties that are available to the industry. A significant connection and source of collaboration between AREMA and the RTA is AREMA Committee 30 – Ties. The committee took advantage of the RTA Conference and held its meeting there. Committee 30 is a strong committee, responsible for the development and publication of recommended practices and information relating to: • Load environment and performance of crossties in track. • Specifications for design of concrete to be used in the manufacture of concrete ties or switch ties. • Design and use of concrete ties, including devices or systems for fastening rail to the ties. • Evaluation of rail seat deterioration of concrete ties. • Design, handling, preservation, inspection, and disposal of wood crossties and wood switch ties. • Maintenance of records and data pertaining to the service life and economic use of wood ties. • Design, material properties, and general considerations for engineered composite ties. • Evaluative tests for tie systems. This vital AREMA technical committee continues to contribute

Sept. 16–19, 2018 Chicago, IL The AREMA 2018 Annual Conference & Exposition is a dynamic arena in which industry professionals can present the most recent advances in the various disciplines within the field of railway engineering. Additionally, the event provides a networking opportunity for colleagues, from those at the student level to executives. The AREMA Exposition brings together a large and diverse group of railway engineering professionals who have the authority to buy products or advise their companies on which products and services to buy. The AREMA 2018 Annual Conference & Exposition is the premiere event for railway engineering professionals. Join AREMA this year in the Windy City, Sept. 16-19, 2018, at the Hilton Chicago.

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Upcoming Committee Meetings Jan. 23-24 Committee 15 - Steel Structures

2017 Dec. 12

Committee 33 - Electric Energy Utilization

Philadelphia, PA

Dec. 13 Committee 16 - Economics of Railway Engineering & Operations Teleconference 2018 Jan. 18

Committee 10 - Structures, Maintenance & Construction New Orleans, LA

Feb. 7

Scottsdale, AZ

Committee 9 - Seismic Design for Railway Stuctures

Spring, TX

Feb. 21-23 Committee 7 - Timber Structures

New Orleans, LA

May 15-16 Committee 15 - Steel Structures

New York, NY

May 24

Committee 9 - Seismic Design for Railway Stuctures

Chicago, IL

June 1

Committee 10 - Structures, Maintenance & Construction

St. Louis, MO

If you’d like to learn more about the AREMA Technical Committees and would like to get involved, please contact Alayne Bell at abell@arema.org. For a complete list of all committee meetings, please visit www.arema.org.

Negotiated travel discount information for AREMA Committee meetings can be found online at: arema.org under "Education and Events."

FYI… HAPPY HOLIDAYS AREMA would like to wish you and your family a very happy and safe holiday season. BOO K YO U R 2 0 1 8 A R E M A E X PO BOOTH NOW for the AREMA 2018 Annual Conference & Exposition in Chicago, IL, September 16-19! For more information and to book your expo space, please contact Christy Thomas at cthomas@ arema.org. ORDER THE 2018 COMMUNICATIONS & SIGNALS MANUAL. W i t h m o r e t h a n 5 0 n e w , r e v i s e d , r e a ff i r m e d o r e x t e n d e d M a n u a l Pa rt s , i t ’s t h e perfect time to get the 2018 Manual. Order online now at www.arema.org or contact mbruins@arema.org for more details.

to the industry by improving current guidelines and developing new ones for ties. If you have an interest in the important work of Committee 30, I encourage you to get involved. After returning from the RTA Conference, we held Board of Governors, Committee Chairs and Board of Directors meetings in Omaha. This was the first time one of these meetings has been held in Omaha. The AREMA team had the opportunity to see the Union Pacific Railroad Harriman Dispatch Center and Union Pacific Center. In addition, they had the opportunity to visit the J - B Railroad Museum at Beaver Lake in Nebraska. Bill Wimmer hosted us at the museum. Bill retired from Union Pacific as vice president of engineering and has carried his passion from railroading into building the amazing museum. We had a great time hosting the meetings. I hope you had a great and safe Thanksgiving holiday with your family and/or friends, celebrating with great food and your favorite football games as much as our family did. With December holding more time for celebrations, I encourage our members to evaluate all risks before acting and take a safe course. The goal is to return home safely! Looking forward to an exciting 2018.

CALL FOR ENTRIES for the 2018 Dr. William W. Hay Award for Excellence. The selection process for the 18th W. W. Hay Award has begun. Entries must be submitted by May 25, 2018. Please visit www.arema.org for more information. LEVERAGE THE POWER of your trusted association’s Railway Careers Network to tap into a talent pool of job candidates with the training and education needed f o r l o n g - t e r m s u c c e s s . V i s i t w w w. arema.org/career s to post your job today. Use code RailCareers to receive a 20% discount.

Not an AREMA Member? Join today at: www.arema.org 32 Railway Track & Structures

December 2017

AREMA 2018 Annual Conference & Exposition The AREMA Exposition brings together members from all segments of the industry, including Communications & Signals, Engineering Services, Maintenance-of-Way, Passenger & Transit, as well as Structures and Track.

AREMA on Social Media Stay up-to-date on the most recent AREMA information through all official social media outlets. Become a fan of the AREMA Facebook Page, join the AREMA LinkedIn Company Page and tweet, retweet and hashtag @AREMArail on Twitter!

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AREMA NEWS

Getting to know

William S. Stahlman, III

Each month, AREMA features one of our committee chairs or members. We are pleased to announce that the December featured member is William S. Stahlman, chair of Committee 18 Light Density & Short Line Railways. AREMA: Bill, why did you choose a career in railway eng ineer ing? STAHLMAN: I was one of those students who had to work nearly fulltime during college to pay the bills and buy books. One day, I noticed an advertisement for an assistantship at a local port on the Mississippi River. I applied and was offered the spot working on a variety of construction projects for the port, many of which were related to the rail operations of the port. My duties grew as we continued to develop a former military base that was originally built for logistics. Fifteen years later, I am the Director of Engineering & Construction for America’s Central Port and continue to work on growing the Port’s “transPORTunities.’’ AREMA: How did you get your start? STAHLMAN: I wasn’t that kid with a toy train set or over-the-top excitement when it came to anything railroad related. In fact, I really didn’t notice trains as a kid. However, my dad instilled in me a deep interest in the construction trades at a young age. I started to learn carpentry skills at around age 8 as we built out our deck and tree forts and a variety of home improvement projects. He got me my first “real” job at age 15 at a quarry cutting grass, which accelerated into participating in a variety of construction tasks on different road crews. In high school, my interest in construction began to produce a frustration with some of the plans we were using that did not lend toward an ease of practical application. I was encouraged to pursue engineering after high school to stay in the construction field, yet be able to focus on bridging the gap between engineers and those who actually need to get the work done. Getting into the rail industry was blind luck. When I took the position at America’s Central Port in college, the www.rtands.com

William S. Stahlman, III Director of Engineering and Construction America’s Central Port

rail side of my responsibilities were a fortunate bonus to the other hats I get to wear here. It is definitely my favorite and most rewarding hat I get to put on. AREMA: H ow d i d yo u b e c o m e i nvo l ve d i n A R E M A a n d w i t h Committee 18? STAHLMAN: Glenn Hay, with Design Nine, has been a resource to the Port over the years as we rehabilitated and built out our rail infrastructure. One day, he asked if I would be interested in attending a meeting a few hours away in Columbia, Mo. I am rarely one to say “no” to opportunities to learn more, especially when it comes to the rail industry. I attended and really enjoyed the work Committee 18 focuses on and the personalities of the people on the committee. I decided to join AREMA and Committee 18 to continue the opportunities of learning more about the industry. AREMA: Outside of your career, what do you do with your spare time? STAHLMAN: We camp, fish, hike and hunt. But of all things outdoors, I have really taken a liking to fly fishing. I enjoy heading back home to Arkansas to fish the White River. Otherwise, my family and I try to hit up some of the trout streams in Missouri; particularly

Bennett Springs State Park. AREMA: Tell us about your family! STAHLMAN: My family is everything to me. My wife, Stacey, is the fuel behind my drive; while the kiddos keep us happy and on our toes. We have three daughters, Lily, Leah (both 9) and Adia (7) and recently added Ethan (9 months) to the mix at the start of 2017. Stacey and I spend our time exploring nature with our kids and enjoy teaching them how to be a part of the world around them. I personally don’t think there is anything more enjoyable than watching your kids get dirty while they explore. A REMA : W h at i s yo u r b i g g e s t achievement so far? STAHLMAN: Hands down, my kiddos. I enjoy watching their personalities blossom. Kids are an amazing force and enable you to look at yourself in ways you never thought of before. While at times they may challenge your patience, they enable you to learn to be a better version of yourself simply by engaging with them. AREMA: What advice would you give to someone pursuing a career in the railway industry? STAHLMAN: When an opportunity presents itself to you, say “yes.” I have found that saying yes has led to more rewarding outcomes in my life than not.

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PRODUCTS Signal post grapple

Gater Grapples has introduced its model 18 Railway Signal Post Grapple.The excavator attachment is intended to simplify the removal and reinstallation of railway crossing signal posts. The company says the attachment will allow crews to avoid injuries while dealing with signal posts. The grapple rotates hydraulically around two axis, enabling the operator to have control of the post while aligning it with the mounting base. The model 18 also includes a hydraulic valve in the head and controls for the cab. Other components include a variable flow control to adjust the grapple speed and adjustable power controls for the jaw open and close functions. The grapple also features a mechanical safety lock to prevent it from accidentally releasing the post. This unit is designed for excavators in the 5 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 12 ton class. The grapple is a certified lifting device with a rated capacity of 1,000 lbs. Website: www.gatergrapples.com

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Rail switch heating system

Pentair has added an ERICO Rail Switch Heating System designed to prevent snow and ice buildup and assist passenger and f r e i g h t t r a ck operations. Pentair said the system is designed to to melt snow and ice using a low-voltage 24v solution. The heating system is selfregulated and capable of automatically adjusting the power output to accomodate temperature changes. The company notes the system enables savings as it does not operate constantly throughout the season and does not rely on a control sensor. Pentair also said the systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s use of a low voltage faciltates a safe working environment by eliminating the risk of hot spots or overheating. This system is used with ERICO RAILCLIPS and Conductor Management Solutions, which are required to safely hold the system in position on the rail to optimize heat transfer. Website: www.erico.pentair.com

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December 2017 35

CALENDAR DECEMBER 9. All Aboard Arizona Fall Passenger Rail Summit. Riverpark Inn. Tucson, Ariz. E-mail: rogerclark68802@ gmail.com. Website: www.allaboardarizona.org/ summit-registration.html. 14-15. Big Data in Railroad Maintenance Planning 2017. University of Delaware Newark Campus. Newark, Del. Contact: Dr. Allan M. Zarembski. E-mail: dramz@ udel.edu. Website: www.outreach.engr.udel.edu/ conferences/big-data-2017/. JANUARY 7-11. Transportation Research Board 97th Annual Meeting. Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Washington, D.C. Website: http://www.trb.org/ AnnualMeeting/AnnualMeeting.aspx. 10-13. 2018 NRC Conference & NRC-REMSA Exhibition. J.W. Marriott LA LIVE. Los Angeles, Calif. Contact: Matt Bell. Phone: 202-715-1264. E-mail: conference@nrcma.org. Website: www.nrcma. org/2018conference. 15-18. 2018 Midwest Association of Rail Shippers

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December 2017

Winter Conference. The Westin Lombard Yorktown Center. Lombard, Ill. Contact: Bill Schauer. Phone: 630513-6700. E-mail: mars@mwrailshippers.com. 17-19. 2 018 A nnua l Ke ntuck y Tr a nsport at i o n Conference. Lexington Marriott Griffin Gate Resort. Lexington, Ky. E-mail: katie@kbtnet.Website: https:// www.kbtevents.org/. 18-19. 14th Annual Southwestern Rail Conference. Magnolia Hotel. Dallas, Texas. Contact: Bernie R o d r i g u e z . P h o n e : 4 6 9 - 5 6 9 - 01 3 6 . E - m a i l : bernie@texasrailadvocates.org. Website: www. texasrailadvocates.org/2018-southwestern-railconference/. 23-25. Association of American Railroadsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 30th Quality Assurance Auditor and Industry Conference. Historic Hilton Fort Worth Texas. Forth Worth, Texas. E-mail: QA@aar.com. Website: www.regonline. com/2018qaconference 29-31. 2018 NIT League Transportation Summit. InterContinental Dallas. Dallas, Texas. Phone: 703-5245011. Website: http://www.nitl.org/events/.

www.rtands.com

Ad Index Company

Phone #

Fax#

e-mail address

Page #

American Track Services

817-439-5693

888-700-6393

Bill.Bush@ATGContractor.com

AREMA Marketing Department

301-459-3200

301-459-8077

marketing@arema.org

Cover 3

Atlantic Track & Turnout Co.

973-748-5885

973-784-4520

stacyw@atlantictrack.com

Auto Truck Group

816-412-2131

816-412-2191

eschoenfeld@autotruck.com

Cover 2

Danella Rental Systems Inc.

610-828-6200

610-828-2260

pbarents@danella.com

Delta Railroad Construction, Inc.

440-994-2997

440-992-1311

info@deltarr.com

Diversified Metal Fabricators, Inc.

404-875-1512

404-875-4835

sales@dmfatlanta.com

HIPPO Multipower

800-844-0624

816-474-7447

ncooper@hippomultipower

HiRAIL Corporation

800-274-7245

319-455-2914

info@hirail.com

Holland LP

708-367-2987

708-672-0119

ptenhoven@hollandco.com

Hougen Manufacturing Inc.

866-245-3745

800-309-3299

info@trak-star.com

Husqvarna Construction Products

800-288-5040

800-825-0058

hcpcustomer.service@husqvarna.com

L.B. Foster Co.

412-928-3506

412-928-3512

glippard@lbfosterco.com

Lewis Bolt & Nut Co.

800-328-3480

952-449-9607

dbarry@lewisbolt.com

Loram Maintenance of Way, Inc.

763-478-6014

763-478-2221

sales@loram.com

Moley Magnetics Inc.

844-M-MAGNET (844-662-4638)

716-434-5893

sales@moleymagneticsinc.com

Neel Company, The

703-913-7858

703-913-7859

jlewis@neelco.com

NRC

202-715-2920

202-318-0867 info@nrcma.org

Progress Rail, A Caterpillar Company

256-505-6402

256-505-6051

info@progressrail.com

Racine Railroad Products, Inc.

262-637-9681

262-637-9069

custserv@racinerailroad.com

Railway Education Bureau, The

402-346-4300

402-346-1783

bbrundige@sb-reb.com

35,36

RailWorks Corporation

866-905-7245

952-469-1926

ksimpson@railworks.com

20-21

Taimi Hydraulics

voestalpine Nortrak Inc.

307-778-8700

307-778-8777

gord.weatherly@voestalpine.com

Western-Cullen-Hayes, Inc.

773-254-9600

773-254-1110

cp@wch.com

Willamette Valley Company

541-484-9621

541-484-1987

alisha.barrowcliff@wilvaco.com

Cover 4

Reader Referral Service This section has been created solely for the convenience of our readers to facilitate immediate contact with the RAILWAY TRACK & STRUCTURES advertisers in this issue. The Advertisers Index is an editorial feature maintained for the convenience of readers. It is not part of the advertiser contract and RTS assumes no responsibility for the correctness.

Advertising Sales general sales OFFICE AL, KY Jonathan Chalon Group Publisher (212) 620-7224 55 Broad St., 26th Fl. Fax: (212) 633-1165 New York, NY 10014 jchalon@sbpub.com CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, PA, RI, SC, VT, VA, WV, Canada - Quebec and East, Ontario Jerome Marullo Business Development Manager 55 Broad St., 26th Fl. (212) 620-7260 New York, NY 10014 Fax: (212) 633-1863 jmarullo@sbpub.com AR, AK, AZ, CA, CO, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, LA,

www.rtands.com

MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NE, NM, ND, NV, OK, OR, SD, TN, TX, UT, WA, WI, WY, Canada -ÂAB, BC, MB, SK Heather Disabato (312) 683-5026 20 South Clark St. Fax: (312) 683-0131 Ste. 1910 Chicago, IL 60603 hdisabato@sbpub.com

Louise Cooper International Sales Manager Suite K5 &K6 The Priory +44-1444-416917 Syresham Gardens Fax: +44-1444-458185 Haywards Heath, RH16 3LB United Kingdom lc@railjournal.co.uk

Responsible for advertisement sales in all parts of the world, except Italy, Italian-speaking Switzerland, Japan and North America.

Michael Boyle International Area Sales Manager Dorfstrasse 70, 6393 St. Ulrich, Austria +011436767089872 mboyle@railjournal.com

Suite N2, The Priory, Syresham Gardens, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 3LB, UK

Italy and Italian-speaking Switzerland Dr. Fabio Potesta Media Point & Communications SRL

Corte Lambruschini Corso Buenos Aires 8 +39-10-570-4948 V Piano, Int 9 Fax: +39-10-553-0088 16129 Genoa, Italy info@mediapointsrl.it Japan Katsuhiro Ishii Ace Media Service, Inc. 12-6 4-Chome, +81-3-5691-3335 Nishiiko, Adachi-Ku Fax: +81-3-5691-3336 Tokyo 121-0824, Japan amskatsu@dream.com Classified, Professional & Employment Jeanine Acquart (212) 620-7211 55 Broad St., 26th Fl. Fax: (212) 633-1325 New York, NY 10014 jacquart@sbpub.com

Railway Track & Structures

December 2017 37

NEW & USED EQUIPMENT

R. E. L. A. M., INC.

E-Mail: RelamCFE@aol.com Tel: 440-439-7088 Fax: 440-439-9399 Visit our website at: www.relaminc.com

PARTS • SALES • SERVICE

EQUIPMENT FOR SHORT OR LONG TERM LEASE HARSCO AND NORDCO TAMPERS 6700S, SJ, SJ2, Mark IV Switch and Production Tampers 3300 and HST Chase Tampers 3000 Tampers w/Raise & Line or Chase Tampers 2400 Tampers w/Raise & Line HYDRAULIC STABILIZERS HARSCO TS-30HDs TIE INSERTERS/EXTRACTORS Nordco TRIPPs 925 S/Ss, Standards, KTR-400s KNOX KERSHAW PRODUCTS KBR-860-925-940 Ballast Regulators & Snow Fighters KBR-940 Dual Head Brush Cutters KTC-1200 Tie Cranes KKA-1000/1050 Kribber-Adzers KPB-200 Plate Brooms NORDCO ANCHOR APPLICATORS, SPIKERS & GRABBERS Model F Anchor Machines and BAAMs Models CX and SS Spikers Model SP2R Dual Grabbers RACINE RAILROAD PRODUCTS Dual Anchor Spreaders, Squeezers, Knockers (Anchor Removers), Anchor Applicators, DAACs (Dual Anchor Adjuster Cribber), Dual e-Clip Applicators, Ride-on Regauge Adzers, TPIs, Tie Straighteners, OTM Reclaimers, SAFELOK IIIs (SAR IIIs) HI-RAIL CRANES, SPEEDSWINGS & RAILHEATERS Pettibone Model 445E/F Speedswings w/Multiple Attachments (F’s with Tier 4 Engine) Geismar 360/360-Tronic Hi-Rail Excavators, (Cold Air Blower, Brush Cutter, Grapple, Heel Boom, Train Air & Knuckle available) Badger 30 Ton Cranes w/Hi-Rails Propane and Diesel Railheaters - Single & Dual Sided, Selfpropelled w/Vibrators HI-RAIL TRUCKS, EXCAVATORS, & CARTS Hi-Rail Gradalls, XL3300 Series III w/Digging Buckets & Brush Cutters Hi-Rail Rotary Dumps, Various Hi-Rail Pickups Hi-Rail Grapple Trucks (available w/Magnet, Rail Racks & Creep Drive) 25-ton Hudson Ballast Cars 25-ton Rail and OTM Carts, 5-ton Tie Carts

NEW & USED Grapple Trucks, Roto Dumps, Mechanics Trucks and Pickups. WE ALSO RENT! Call Rob Wiskerchen at 715-897-2619 Toll Free: 888-405-0110 e-mail: rob@wisktrucks.com • www.wisktrucks.com

Hi-Rail Trucks Work Ready or Custom Built to Order www.omahatrackequipment.com

MOW Equipment Lease & Sale Brushcutting Specialized Hauling Track Surfacing Low Boys with Rail

www.RailwayEquipmentServices.net “A full service company with over 25 yrs exp!”

• New-Used-Rentals • Work ready trucks available for immediate delivery • Custom Builds - yours specs or ours • Parts & Services • Hi-Rail & Crane Inspections

Grapple Trucks Mag & Creep Drive

Hi-Rail Rail & Tie Carts

Available for Lease 3000 cu ft Covered Hopper Cars 4650 cu ft Covered Hopper Cars 3600 cu ft Open Top Hopper Cars 4480 cu ft Aluminum Rotary Open Top Gons 65 ft, 100-ton log spine cars equipped with six (6) log bunks 60 ft, 100 ton Plate F box cars, cushioned underframe and 10 ft plug doors 50 ft, 100 ton Plate C box cars, cushioned underframe and 10 ft plug doors Contact: Tom Monroe: 415-616-3472 Email: tmonroe@atel.com

38 Railway Track & Structures

December 2017

Section Trucks

Rotary Dump Trucks

John Gallo • Business Development Manager 402-990-9385 • Johng@omahatrack.com

www.rtands.com

NEW & USED EQUIPMENT 100 S Paniplus Drive Olathe, ks 66061 main: 913.764.1315 Mobile: 913.972.1013

Sales

aspenequipment.com/railroad

Rentals

Service Parts

PARTS • SALES • SERVICE • RENTALS

New and Used Hi-Rail Trucks Available OLATHE, KS • HOUSTON, TX • BRIGHTON, CO • BRANCHBURG, NJ • SAN MARCOS, CA • CALGARY

www.colliscw.com

TAKE A LOOK AT QUALITY Kenworths, DMF Gear, Moley Magnets & Serco Loaders

Nationwide DELIVERY

- Pickup Trucks - Service Bodies

- Flatbeds - Bucket Trucks

- Welding Trucks - Section Trucks - Grapple Trucks

Grapple Trucks

- Track Inspector Trucks - Boom Trucks

CAll Bruce Harrod: 877-888-9730 BHarrod@aspeneq.com Rotary Dumps

Professional Directory

LEASE or BUY

Tunnel Trucks

Custom Build New or Used Chassies. Also: Hirail Boom Dump Trucks NOW a Hirail Mechanics Trucks SERCO Crew Cabs DEALER Hytracker for moving equipment Hudson Ballast Cars DMF & Harsco parts, service and installation

RAILROAD SERVICES

Est. 1910

Ph: 315-455-0100 • Fax: 315-455-6008 • Syracuse, NY • www.franktartaglia.com

Employment

Project Engineer – Railroad Design & Construction Industrial Railways Company – Benicia, California E-mail resumes to: cstotka@indrailco.com SEE THE FULL JOB POSTING AT RAILWAYAGE.COM JOB BOARD

www.rtands.com

Railway Track & Structures

December 2017 39

Products and services

ERIC HEADRICK President

REESE

205 N. Chestnut/PO Box 404 Arcola, IL 61910 Ph217-268-5110 cell217-259-4823 Fax217-268-3059 email eric@rrcri.com

WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU?

Exchange Units/Related Tamper Parts and Assemblies To purchase parts, contact: New & Rebuilt sales@rrcri.com Electromatic/Hydraulic Units available for same Workheads day shipping

• Track construction and maintenance • On-track ditching and rotary dump service • On-track tree trimming and brushcutting • Storm and flood cleanup and debris removal • Tie distribution, removal and disposal

K. W. Reese, Inc.

Box 298 • Mercersburg, PA 17236

(717) 328-5211 • fax (717) 328-9541 • www.kwreese.com

RTandS.com

2016 NRC PlatiNum Safety awaRd wiNNeR

Get the inside scoop on and off the track

Rail BRief: The Weekly RT&S Email Newsletter SubScribe at: www.rtands.com/RailBrief

40 Railway Track & Structures

December 2017