“With thermal detector technology, we can gather more data about the health of brakes on a moving train than can be collected from a visual inspection,” BNSF EVP and COO Matt Igoe reported.

Watch: BNSF Brake Health Pilot Program

BNSF is conducting a pilot safety program approved by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to evaluate the effectiveness of thermal detector technology for monitoring brake health.

STB Approves CSX-Pan Am Combination

All five Surface Transportation Board members on April 14 signed off on CSX’s proposal to acquire Pan Am Systems, Inc., and its short line railroad subsidiaries, effective May 14.

Railway Age 2022 Short Line and Regional Railroads of the Year: VTR, SKOL

Railway Age’s 2022 Short Line of the Year is the Vermont Railway (VTR). Our Regional of the Year is the South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad (SKOL), a Watco subsidiary.

Suspect in NYC Subway Shooting Apprehended (UPDATED)

Frank R. James, the suspect initially considered a “person of interest” in connection with the April 12 Brooklyn, N.Y. subway shooting that sent 23 people to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries (10 were shot and 13 were injured in the rush to get out of the 36 Street N Line station in Sunset Park or suffered from smoke inhalation or panic attacks) has been captured.

Commentary

Point/Counterpoint: STB Annual Rail Rate Index Study

Editor’s Note: The following is the conclusion to a respectful exchange of ideas between former Surface Transportation Board Director and Chief Economist Dr. William Huneke and Jay Roman, President of Escalation Consultants, Inc. about the

25 UNDER 40

RAILWAY AGE FEBRUARY 2022 ISSUE: Railway Age is proud to recognize 25 “Fast Trackers” Under 40 in 2022.

Pictured: Parallel’s prototype railcar loaded with a shipping container. (Photo courtesy of Parallel Systems)

Parallel Testing Autonomous Battery-Electric Freight Cars

Culver City, Calif.-based Parallel Systems is testing autonomous battery-electric railcars for short-haul freight operations, and has raised $49.55 million in Series A funds to help build a fleet, continue testing and grow the company, it reported on Jan. 19.

For NS, Changes at the Top

Norfolk Southern (NS) on Dec. 2 reported that Chairman and CEO Jim Squires will retire in May 2022; he will be succeeded by Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Alan H. Shaw, a 27-year NS veteran.

Small-Road Honorable Mentions: GRYR, BIPR

Railway Age has not one but two Honorable Mentions for our 2021 Short Line and Regional Railroads of the Year awards: the Grenada Railroad (GRYR), nominated by President and CEO Barbara Wilson (one of our Women in Rail judges); and the Belpre Industrial Parkersburg Railroad (BIPR), nominated by several customers. Here are their stories, as submitted to Railway Age.

Regional of the Year: Lake State Railway

Railway Age’s 2021 Regional Railroad of the Year is the Lake State Railway (LSRC), which won the Railway Age 2018 Short Line of the year award. During the presentation of that award, CEO John Rickoff ended his remarks by saying, “Now we need to come back and win it again as a regional railroad.” Here’s how LSRC achieved this goal, as told by Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Mike Stickel.

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