It may be nice and summery outside, but we’re already planning our editorial calendar for next year and I’d like your help on part of it. You’ll notice in the August issue (which will be hitting your mailbox any minute) that I attended three technical conferences in six weeks and came back with a smorgasbord of ideas for technology columns for next year — actually more ideas than I can fit in an entire year.
So I’m asking if you’d let me know which of the options interest you most. Please let me know which of these ideas you like best, or even rank your top five. I appreciate the help!
First, from the Joint Rail Conference held in Philadelphia:
A warning system worn on track workers’ arms that alerts them when a train enters their work zone
A digitized train horn that uses soundwave research to direct the sound to the crossings but away from sleeping residents
A new procedure for making axles less susceptible to fatigue
An idea to reclaim locomotive fuel vapors and return them to a liquid state to be used as fuel rather than evaporate
Wayside monitoring of brake effectiveness (hot when they’re supposed to be, cool when they’re not)
Vertical split rims on wheels: This bizarre defect (part of a wheel breaks off like a steel arc) happens only under very specific circumstances, but researchers have been thus far unable to figure out the cause
Just what does it take to get a patent on a new technology? A consultant walks us through the process
Second, from the Wheel/Rail Interface Seminar in Chicago:
What is rail milling and how does it differ from grinding? When do you mill and when do you grind? What’s the difference between grinding as a preventive measure and corrective?
How are transit agencies addressing noise and vibration?
Basics of roller bearings: What’s inside the enclosure, how do they work, what happens when they
I don’t think you are going to get more than two answers no matter how many respond. Either they want the tech stuff or they don’t. But new tech stuff is what makes railroading happen either for today or for tomorrow. Let the past be reflected in Classic Trains but the present and future in Trains.
While it may seem like Trains is about the present and future, and Classic Trains is about the past, the editor of Classic Trains once told me that is not the case. Classic Trains is about a relatively narrow slice of history, while Trains is for past, present, and future.
That is why an article about Casey Jones appeared in Trains, but could not appear in Classic Trains. That subect is too early for Classic Trains.
There are several regular members around these Forums who are current on what is going on in the industry. I would suggest that Mudchicken, Paul North, PigFarmer, are several that spring to mind right off the bat. Railwayman is another, but not sure if he has the time. Some pretty potent resources for starters.
There was a recent Thread on Concrete Ties that got some action from the poster around here. For one area. For my part, the MOW area is fascinating in its own rights. The mechanical equipment seems to always be adding new functions to improve the Plant/Track maintenance aspects of railroads. It is amazing to see how far those activities have come from its manual aspects to the mechanical work that takes place. [2c]
This railroad business is adapting, changing and getting better at what it does. Just yeaterday, I saw a Herzog Ultra sound test rig, on the highway. (Are Sperry Cars around still?) Around here there are all kinds of truck mounted stuff moving to, and from jobs. There is a UPRR Diesel Maintenance rig that lives up in Mulvane, BNSF’s Brant trucks moving around, Trucks with Track gangs, and a veritable plethora of pick-ups both hi-rail and regular. I have not see any speeders, except on NARCOA runs on the SKOL. [:-^]
The Big Tent of railroading has got room for all kinds of interests, and hobbyists as well as the guys who operate in that scale world of 12" = 1’.[:-,]
Just thought about it. Some time back there was a rather long Thread that involved Locomotive Cab Construction and its effects on the Train Crew aspect of their protection. It was pretty technical and covered a broad spectrum of issues.
My feeling is TRAINS is more of a general interest type of publication, as opposed to a technical journal or trade magazine. Personally, I would like to see you generate a few paragraphs each on all of the above topics, as opposed to one article each month on a specific topic. I like what is being done now. with short items on a number of topics, that appear in the front pages of the magazine. Just so long as they are not simply repeats of press releases, as I suspect a few items were a while ago.
The sixth item on your list about the “vertical split rims on wheels” would interest me greatly.
Also interesting would be the development of a hand-carried, personal fatigue detector to warn railroad workers against the sudden onset of sleep-inducing fatigue resulting from nightshift sleep disorders.
" There are several regular members around these Forums who are current on what is going on in the industry. I would suggest that Mudchicken, Paul North, PigFarmer, are several that spring to mind right off the bat. Railwayman is another, but not sure if he has the time. Some pretty potent resources for starters." -Throw in Steve14 and you have an AREMA meeting quorum. (Kat has decided we are already nuts, and some of the issues/choices raised above were “stolen” from AREMA meeting presentations. We still have to get her and Matt to visit some more committee meetings and see where the future is heading!)
Most of the Sperry Cars (11+) are hiding in the weeds in E. St. Louis in the ruins of the Armour Plant because they are not flexible enough and can’t set off. (Dispatchers and operating bubbas hate them). Sperry is largely Hi-Rail now.
The historical aspect photo essay would be good. Find somebody other than ENSCO, a little more legitimate and into the industry.
A warning system worn on track workers’ arms that alerts them when a train enters their work zone.
A digitized train horn that uses soundwave research to direct the sound to the crossings but away from sleeping residents. (Especially in light of the continuing push for quiet zones.)
Just what does it take to get a patent on a new technology? A consultant walks us through the process. (Particularly if you walk a specific invention through the process.)
Basics of roller bearings: What’s inside the enclosure, how do they work, what happens when they fail? (And why do we carry Tempil sticks?)
Basics of three-piece truck: What are all the parts and what do they do? What’s a yaw damper?? How do the parts work together? (Basic background information - the stuff one never really considers.)
Wayside detectors are now sending volumes of information to railroads, but who’s available to study it and make sense of all the data? Ensco has introduced a system to compile and compare the information, then prioritize the work that n
The ongoing challenge to improve safety for tank cars hauling hazmat
Concrete ties are wearing out much faster than expected. What’s causing the premature wear and rail seat abrasion, and what can be done about it?
Pictorial histories: Wheels and rails have changed a great deal from railroading’s early days. See how they’ve evolved in the past 150 years
Basics of three-piece truck: What are all the parts and what do they do? What’s a yaw damper?? How do the parts work together?
What is rail milling and how does it differ from grinding? When do you mill and when do you grind? What’s the difference between grinding as a preventive measure and corrective?
3 through 5 kinda interchangeable, #1 and #2 have, for me, are of a more personal/professional concern.
Would love to see a tech column, info junkies would too!
Mudchicken, you mean she didn’t kwon you guys were nuts to start off with?
She knew that right away when she saw we weren’t into playing with the shiny toys and instead saw a bunch of us playing in the mud in near impossible conditions.
A warning system worn on track workers’ arms that alerts them when a train enters their work zone.
A digitized train horn that uses soundwave research to direct the sound to the crossings but away from sleeping residents. (Especially in light of the continuing push for quiet zones.)
Just what does it take to get a patent on a new technology? A consultant walks us through the process. (Particularly if you walk a specific invention through the process.)
Basics of roller bearings: What’s inside the enclosure, how do they work, what happens when they fail? (And why do we carry Tempil sticks?)
Basics of three-piece truck: What are all the parts and what do they do? What’s a yaw damper?? How do the parts work together? (Basic background information - the stuff one never really considers.)
Wayside detectors are now sending volumes of information to railroads, but who’s available to study it and make sense of all the data? Ensco has introduced a system to compile and compare the information, then prioritize the wo
I am asking for news on a device that will protect workers from spontaneous loss of consciousness when suddenly falling asleep due to being subjected to the unpredictable onset of fatigue as predicted by the NTSB. This is a very difficult problem to resolve; much worse, for example, that this item #1 on Kathi’s list:
Be cheaper to hire a bunch of railfans to follow RRers around and poke them with sticks. They’d probably work for free (just for the chance to get in the engine cabs).
