CMA, LRIW set Railway Interchange 2013 agendas

Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief

The Coordinated Mechanical Associations—comprising the Air Brake Association (ABA), International Association of Railroad Operating Officers (IAROO), Locomotive Maintenance Officers Association (LMOA), Mechanical Association Railcar Technical Services (MARTS)—and the League of Railway Industry Women (LRIW) have announced the agendas for their 2013 Technical Conference, to be held in Indianapolis, Ind., in conjunction with Railway Interchange 2013, Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 2013.

The ABA technical sessions, which will be held in Room 132 across from Railway Supply Institute (RSI) Exhibit Hall, will take place on Monday, Sept. 30 and Tuesday, Oct. 1. Proposed sessions will include presentations from representatives from BNSF, AAR, Union Pacific, Kiwi Rail, Wabtec, GE, New York Air Brake, Transportation Technology Center, Inc., and Inter Swiss. Issues covered in the ABA sessions will include Cold Weather Braking, Troubleshooting, Leak Detection, Wheel/Rail Wear, Life Cycle Cost, Improving Brake System Reliability, and more.

IAROO technical sessions will be held in Room 133, and will include joint IAROO-ABA presentations prior to the ABA opening ceremony on Sept. 30. Topics covered in the Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 sessions will include Managing Wheel/Rail Interaction Using Smart Locomotive Systems, Fuel Conservation Wireless Monitoring, Locomotive Cab Design, Ethernet over Multiple Units, and Using Computer Simulation to Assist in the Analysis of a Coal Train Runaway.

The LMOA technical sessions, which will be held in Room 134, will feature reports and papers from the Shop Safety, Processes & Equipment Committee, the Diesel Material Control Committee, the Diesel Mechanical Maintenance Committee, the Fuel, Lubricants and Environmental Committee, the New Technologies Committee, and the Diesel Electrical Maintenance Committee. Topics will include Proper Shop Torque Procedures, Latest Developments in Bar Coding, Logic Traps in Problem Solving, Standardized Fuel Testing Procedures, and Natural Gas Locomotives. In addition, LMOA President Brad Queen of BNSF will give a State of the Association Address.

MARTS sessions, held in Room 135, will cover a variety of topics during its technical sessions on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, including a NTSB Rail Division Overview, Interchange Rules Panel, Update on CEPM, New Safety Appliance Rules and Revisions, Protective Coatings Committee Presentations, Wayside and On- Board Health & Performance Monitoring, AAR Technical Standards, MID & Research, Canadian National Cushion Units, and Pipe Load. Speakers will represent NTSB, AAR, Railinc, TTCI, Union Tank Car, Amsted Rail, CN, Miner Enterprises, GATX, Sherwin-Williams, Williams Hayward Protective Coatings, CSX, BNSF, US DOT, and others. The complete MARTS agenda is available by clicking HERE.

For the first time in 2013, the LRIW will hold its educational seminar on Monday, Sept. 30 in conjunction with the CMA sessions. Speakers at the sessions, located in Room 136, will include Lisa Stabler, President, TTCI; Diane Baca, Publisher, Trains Magazine; Tamara Mathews, Director of Safety, Health and Environmental, Rail Works; David Cackovic, Chief, Technical Standards and Inspection, TTCI; and Nicole Brewin, Vice President Government Affairs, RSI.

The CMA 2013 Technical Conference Registration Fee is $200 for CMA members signing up by Aug. 21; after Aug. 21, registration is $250. Access to the Railway Interchange 2013 Exhibition is complimentary with CMA registration. All CMA technical conference attendees are invited to the AREMA/CMA opening general session on Monday, Sept. 30. Full CMA registration details are available by clicking HERE.

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