Hans von Lange, an iconic figure in the global railway maintenance-of-way supply industry, died Nov. 16, 2020. He was 97. Son Michael Lange, one of nine children and head of Exton, Pa.-based Globe-Connect LLC, provided the following memorial for his father, who he says “lived a life full of adventure, challenges, dangers, failures and successes”:
Chicago-based Amsted Rail has appointed Michael Carter President, succeeding John Wories.
Sometimes it seems like lightning strikes and we see a significant jump in the capabilities of technology. Such is the case with PS Technology’s Precision Train Builder™ (PTB), a suite of abilities
The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) has launched an online program for hazardous materials (hazmat) training. Five stand-alone educational videos, ranging from four- to seven-minutes long, provide an overview of key elements of hazmat regulations.
Five major rail industry companies—Trinity Industries, Norfolk Southern, GATX, Genesee & Wyoming and Watco Cos.—have entered into a joint venture called RailPulse that is “expected to accelerate rail modal transformation through the advancement of GPS technology and other telematics across the North American railcar fleet.”
Railway Age is now accepting entries for its 2021 “Fast Trackers” 20 Under 40 awards, in which we will profile 20 individuals under the age of 40 who have made an impact in their respective fields or within their company. For our fifth annual awards, we have increased the number of honorees from 10 to 20, due to a growing number of entries and outstanding candidates. Once again, Michigan State Center for Railway Research & Education Director Nick Little will judge the entries. Those representing the “best of the best” will be featured in Railway Age’s February 2021 issue. The deadline is Jan. 7, 2021.
Harry Zander, former TrinityRail Senior Vice President, has been named Executive Director-Strategic Market Development for Birmingham, Ala.-based VeriPhase.
FreightCar America (FCA) has reported its third-quarter 2020 results, including consolidated revenues of $25.2 million on deliveries of 163 railcars—a 38% drop from the year-earlier period’s $40.7 million on deliveries of 467 railcars—as the industry “remains in a cyclical downturn, which was intensified by the pandemic.” The company continues to move all railcar production to its new Mexico facility by early 2021.
RAILWAY AGE, NOVEMBER 2020 ISSUE: Industry 4.0 (also known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution) is a reality. Railroads, including their partners in the transportation supply chain, are at the beginning of their journey to establishing true end-to-end digital continuity. For example: Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT); Positive Train Control (PTC) and Enhanced Train Control (ETC); and AI (artificial intelligence)-based automation such as expanding autonomous inspection to include predictive analytics for track data.
Wabtec Corp. reported it has been notified of an unsolicited “mini-tender offer” by TRC Capital Investment Corp., a private Canadian investment firm, to purchase up to two million shares of Wabtec’s common stock at a price of $59.25 per share in cash.
