TTC: 50 Years of ‘Safety Research and Innovation’
May 20, 2021
TTC: 50 Years of ‘Safety Research and Innovation’ Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
More than 50 miles of railroad track and specialized laboratories for testing locomotives, vehicles, track components and signaling devices comprise the FRA Transportation Technology Center facilities, where TTCI is headquartered. (Photo by William C. Vantuono)
The Federal Railroad Administration’s Transportation Technology Center (TTC) has reached a service milestone: 50 years of railroad research, testing and training.
After the High-Speed Ground Transportation Act of 1965 authorized TTC’s development, U.S. Secretary of Transportation John Volpe inaugurated the Pueblo, Colo., site on May 19, 1971.
TTCI R&D: Effects of Braking on Wheels
May 12, 2021
RCF tread surface damage on a wheel removed from a car with disabled brakes. (TTCI picture)
RAILWAY AGE MAY 2021 ISSUE: As part of the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) Strategic Research Initiatives program, Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) investigated the effects of tread braking on wheel wear and tread surface damage by monitoring the performance of three articulated five-unit well cars and five coal hopper cars with disabled brakes operating in otherwise normal revenue service conditions.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) granted an enforcement discretion for these eight cars to operate with disabled brakes in revenue service between 2016 and 2020. Trains moving these cars were required to contain enough cars to maintain at least 95% operational brakes. This requirement provided sufficient safety precautions as evidenced by the fact that no accidents, incidents or injuries occurred due to opera
Rail Roundup: Ports and people
Union Pacific, Port of South Louisiana, SMBC Rail Services and TTCI share news
0 101 4 minutes read A Union Pacific train. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)
Union Pacific to open intermodal terminal in Southern California
Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) announced Tuesday that it will open an intermodal terminal in Southern California’s import distribution region near the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The terminal, which will open in the second quarter of 2021, will give customers expanded access to the Chicago market and other major areas.
The terminal will start as a pop-up terminal at the West Colton rail yard. It will offer domestic intermodal service between Southern California and Chicago. The railroad also expects to expand the service to Dallas and southeast markets.
Karen Carriere as Executive Director of Technical Services, TTCI; Jim Raffa, head of market development, RBMN
The Transportation Technology Center, Inc., (TTCI) has appointed Karen Carriere as Executive Director of Technical Services; Reading & Northern (RBMN) welcomes back Jim Raffa, who will be charged with market development.
Carriere will be overseeing the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) technical committees that develop, maintain and enforce North American railroad interchange rules, mechanical standards and component specifications.
With more than 25 years of experience, Carriere served most recently as Vice President Technical Services for Wabtec Corp. She has also participated on multiple AAR technical task force and waiver committees, and held the position of President for both the Air Brake Association and the Canadian Air Brake Association. Carriere is based in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The workforce housing issue for nearby ski resorts is a continuing problem as clearly stated in the guest opinion from Hilary Cooper, a San Miguel County Commissioner, and Kelly McNicholas Kury, a Pitkin County Commissioner, that ran in the April 10 edition of the Vail Daily. Real estate is going to find its highest and best value and the Vail Valley is certainly a testament to that. Somehow it just seems that affordable employee housing in Vail and Avon is like putting a square peg in a round hole it’s not a good fit.
Former Vail Town Council member Greg Moffet states that he feels remote locations is not an answer to employee housing. As a five-year seasonal employee faced with a 70-mile commute to work, I would agree with him as things are currently remote commuting can be problematic.