IAROO: Technical conference is shaping up to be one of the best
Written by Mischa Wanek-Libman, Editor, Railway Track & Structures; and Engineering Editor, Railway AgeI have been honored to serve as president of the International Association of Railway Operating Officers (IAROO) throughout the past year and I am pleased to welcome you to this year's Railway Interchange event in Minneapolis.
The combined technical conferences of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) and the Coordinated Mechanical Associations (CMA), paired with the indoor and outdoor exhibits of Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA), the Railway Supply Institute (RSI) and Railway Systems Suppliers, Inc. (RSSI) will showcase the newest technology, services and research in the rail supply industry.
This year’s IAROO session at Railway Interchange is shaping up to be one of the best ever. Our program will begin on Monday, October 5 after the Railway Interchange general opening session with a joint session with the Air Brake Association (ABA). We will cover topics of interest to both ABA and IAROO members such as BNSF’s 90 CFM Test Waiver Update, with BNSF’s Jeff Garrels and Steve Zuiderveen of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). Another joint session will explore the status of Positive Train Control with presenters from the FRA and BNSF. After lunch, IAROO will hold its own technical sessions with topics such as Distributive Power efforts on Union Pacific, Short Line Safety Institute, Locomotive Cab Standards, Effective Operations Testing (a panel discussion with multiple railroad speakers), LNG update, Preventing Human Factor Incidents, and Tractive Effort improvements.
One of the biggest benefits from attending any Railway Interchange is the opportunity to connect and network with peers and vendors throughout the industry. Railroad representatives from large and small properties benefit from benchmarking opportunities as they attend multiple sessions from other presenting organizations.
About the IAROO
The primary objective of the International Association of Railway Operating Officers is to provide its members with pertinent operating and technical information that will allow them to provide superior railroad management for the future. The Association was founded in 1892 and we are quite proud of this fact, since this makes IAROO the oldest of the railroad professional associations of the CMA.
The organization has broadened its base to include a membership of road foremen, trainmasters, general managers, superintendents, master mechanics, fuel and diesel supervisors, motive repair distributors, dispatchers, research and test personnel, training managers, supervisory management of the Association of American Railroads, and others. IAROO also has Associate Members drawn from various federal and state authorities and managers of supply organizations, including the FRA, Regional Transportation Authority, Canadian Transport, EMD, GE, New York Air Brake Company, Westinghouse Air Brake Company, and many more. For more information on membership, I invite you to visit www.iaroo.org.
Looking forward to seeing you all in Minneapolis!
Aaron T. Ratledge
President, International Association of Railway Operating Officers
General Director – Operating Practices, BNSF Railway
