ASLRRA Briefs

ASLRRA’s Mobile Technical Training Center (left) can bring two FRA Type II locomotive simulators and a six-station classroom to any location in the continental United States. (Photographs Courtesy of ASLRRA)

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) and Iowa Northern Railway (IANR) officially launch the Short Line Training Center. Also, ASLRRA makes staffing changes.

The new Short Line Training Center, funded by a Federal Railroad Administration grant, combines an online Learning Management System (LMS) and a Mobile Technical Training Center, with two locomotive simulators, to deliver regulatory, compliance, and safety courses and materials to short line railroad employees anywhere in the continental United States, according to ASLRRA.

The LMS provides, and tracks, interactive coursework and assessments, and allows railroads to assign courses to employees, manage team reports, and upload training records, ASLRRA said. Among the existing courses included are ASLRRA’s 22 Part 243 Model Programs and FRA drug and alcohol reasonable suspicion and post-accident toxicological testing training videos. ASLRRA is also developing new programs, including designated supervisor of locomotive engineer (DSLE) and General Code of Operating Rules (GCOR) training.

The Mobile Technical Training Center is equipped with not only two FRA Type II locomotive simulators, but also classroom space for six students and an instructor.

“The training center includes generic profiles to match all types of railroad topography to run simulations that closely resemble a railroad’s territory without the need to build custom track, enabling railroads to meet a wide range of training and regulatory requirements,” ASLRRA reported.

Training is also available at IANR’s Training Center in Waterloo, Iowa, where participants can access four FRA Type II locomotive simulators and classroom facilities for up to 30 students.

ASLRRA has made the following personnel changes:

• Zach Radford has been elevated to Vice President, Congressional Affairs, succeeding Tom Lynch, who is leaving the association to take on a senior position at The Fertilizer Institute. Radford, who served previously as Assistant Vice President, Congressional Affairs, will be responsible for leading engagement with House of Representatives and Senate offices as well as advancing key advocacy efforts on short line legislative and policy priorities.
• Danialle Lovik will now focus on business process management and the association’s technology systems as Manager of Membership and Technology; she was most recently ASLRRA’s Manager of Membership and Marketing.
• Wayne Whitaker has joined the association as Manager of Design, Marketing and Education. With nearly 25 years of experience in creative services, including audio and video production for non-profit industry associations, Whitaker will be responsible for designing and producing marketing and communications materials and managing ASLRRA’s website.