Signal engineers meeting at RSSI Expo

On May 18, 2009, the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers-North American Section (IRSE-NAS) will hold its Annual General Meeting at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn., in conjunction with the Railway Systems Suppliers, Inc. (RSSI) 2009 Exposition.

“This year’s program complements other activities at the RSSI Expo, and promises to be one of the more important industry meetings of the year,” said IRSE-NAS Chairman Kendrick Bisset of Safetran. “As in previous years, it is highlighted by a mini-conference that will discuss two very important industry issues: filling the gap in systems engineering professional talent, and the recently enacted legislation on Positive Train Control. Our program includes presentations and Q&A with universities, academic professionals, representatives from the FRA, and other industry leaders.”

The Annual General Meeting begins at 1:00 pm on Monday, May 18. Immediately following the final presentation, the IRSE-NAS will hold its formal meeting to review business for 2009, and adjourn in time for all attendees to be at the RSSI reception at 5:30 p.m. IRSE-NAS activities are free of charge and open to all interested parties. The Institution of Railway Signal Engineers is an international organization, based in England, of professionals in the railroad communications and signal field. The organization was chartered in 1912, and presently has over 4,500 members worldwide. The IRSE sponsors technical papers at section meetings such as the NAS and general conferences throughout the world. Each year the papers are published in the Annual Proceedings, provided free to all IRSE members, along with a summary of the discussions. In addition, the IRSE publishes a monthly magazine for members, IRSE News, with technical articles and other information. The NAS was formed in 2002 to support the IRSE’s goals in North America. The NAS presently has over 50 members, and is encouraging railroad C&S professionals to join. NAS members must also be members of the IRSE, and the NAS Local Committee can help facilitate that. NAS membership at present is free. IRSE membership is available at several levels, from Associate to Fellow, with appropriate membership fees. Information on IRSE and NAS membership can be found at www.irse.org.

North American Section officers are:

Kendrick Bisset, FIRSE, Chairman,Senior Systems Engineer, Safetran Systems Corp., 2400 Nelson Miller Parkway, Louisville, KY 40223 USA Tel: (502) 253-3851 or, (800) 626-2710 x 851 E-mail: [email protected]

 
David Thurston, P.E., FIRSE, Vice Chairman, Principle Technical Consultant, Systems, Parsons, 1601 Market Street, 9th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103, Tel: (215) 606 3465, E-mail: [email protected].

The IRSE-NAS has also recently published a book, Introduction to North American Railway Signaling (210 pages, softcover, $50), a comprehensive and useful reference. Published by Simmons-Boardman Books, Inc., it covers the basics of signaling philosophy and techniques, and presents the underlying principles behind modern day signaling practices for the many integrated systems that keep railroads running safely and efficiently. Introduction to North American Railway Signaling is ideal for signal designers and engineers, locomotive engineers, signal managers, operating supervisors and managers, or anyone wishing to learn more about the application of various signaling systems employed in today’s railroads. It can ordered on line at www.transalert.com, or by calling 800-228-9670. IRSE members receive special pricing; please call the toll-free number.