Loram, a maintenance-of-way equipment and services provider based in Hamel, Minn., has announced its acquisition of the rail business unit of Sentient Science. The products, team and intellectual property will be managed by Loram Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of Loram.
Loram has announced that CEO Phil Homan will retire in May 2023 following 30 years of service. Bradley Willems, current President and COO, will succeed him.
Norfolk Southern (NS) recognizes 15 customers and suppliers for leadership in energy efficiency, innovation and environmental stewardship. Also, Union Pacific (UP) reports the Mexican government’s extension of the Carta Porte grace period.
RAILWAY AGE NOVEMBER 2022 ISSUE: High-production machines and attachments, as well as computerized inspection vehicles, are built by (and sometimes operated under) multiple suppliers to help dump, spread, tamp, profile and clean ballast, helping to keep track in its place.
“Examining Freight Rail Safety” was the theme of a June 14 hearing of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials. The aim: for members “to hear from government and stakeholder witnesses about the state of freight rail safety and issues pertinent to keeping rail operations, rail workers and communities safe.” Railway Age provides a roundup.
RAILWAY AGE, NOVEMBER 2021 ISSUE: The three most important words to a railroad chief engineer are (pardon the alliteration; I’m sure you’ve heard this before) drainage, drainage and drainage.
RAILWAY AGE, MAY 2021 ISSUE: Regular steel rail maintenance not only extends service life, but also helps ensure safety. That’s why suppliers of grinding, milling and welding equipment and services are always fine-tuning and introducing new offerings to meet railroad needs. They discuss those, and today’s market.
RAILWAY AGE, JULY 2020 ISSUE: Friction management improves safety, serves as a cost reduction driver, reduces noise pollution and extends rail life. Curving physics involving the wheel/rail interface are basic: When a train passes through a curve, it generates forces that want to push the rails out of gauge. The magnitude of the force is directly related to axle loads.
RAILWAY AGE, JUNE 2020 ISSUE: Geometry—for many, one of the least-favorite school subjects (“When are we ever going to actually use this stuff?!”)—is imperative to the rail industry. Finding faults, on the other hand, is a preoccupation for some people. But for railroads, it’s also critical. Safety depends upon both.
RAILWAY AGE, MAY 2020 ISSUE: There’s a reason why Superman is referred to as the Man of Steel. The high-tensile alloy is strong yet modifiable. It serves as the foundation of Clark Kent’s alter ego, as well as the foundation of the rail industry. So it doesn’t take a railroader X-Ray vision to see that extending the life of steel rail by as much as 10 times is a solid idea. Rail grinding, milling and welding all can do just that. In addition, they’re excellent ways to reduce surface defects, increase fuel savings, move heavier loads and support faster train speeds.
