The Railway Tie Association staged its 89th Annual Conference October 16-18 in the sunshine at
Ft. Myers, Fla., offering valuable information, networking, socializing and plenty of time to take
advantage of opportunities to relax and enjoy the warm Florida atmosphere.
At the Tie and Track Research session, Carmen Trevizo updated the group on the latest
research at the Transportation Technology Center, Inc., while Michael Sanders and Terry Amburgey
of Mississippi State University talked about alternative crosstie preservative treatments. Dr. Allen
Zarembski of ZETA-TECH Associates discussed modern crosstie inspection and planning tools.
The next three speakers gave details of the trials and tribulations of the hardwood industry.
Luncheon Speaker Dr. Allan Houston of the Ames Plantation told the attendees how his
institution is educating the public about wood as a sustainable resource.
Peggy Wilhide Nasir of the Association of American Railroads and Keith Hartwell of Chambers,
Conlon & Hartwell delivered the news from Washington on legislative happenings, including the short
line tax credit.
At the Engineering Session, Larry Etherton, president of AREMA, addressed the group before
representatives of BNSF, CN, Canadian Pacific Railway, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern and
Union Pacific described major projects and engineering plans for their railroads.
At the Class 1 Purchasing Session, railroaders from BNSF, CPR, CSXT, NS and UP laid out their
railroads’ plans to purchase crossties over the next several years.
The Wood Preserving Research Session covered Creosote Issue and Alternative Wood
Preservatives. At the former, speakers discussed world creosote supply, new creosote treating
guidance, and issues leading to and arising from the recently-passed law in New York State.
Dr. Poo Chow of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana discussed accelerate weathering
tests on treated oak ties and Dr. Lou Honary of the University of Northern Iowa updated the group
on the current status of soybean oil-based wood preservatives. Attendees also heard about
treatments for limiting the risk of pest introduction in untreated wood ties moving across state lines
and new research initiatives into alternative wood preservation for wood ties.
RTA honored Bill Wimmer, vice president engineering of Union Pacific, with its Branding
Hammer Award, Mark Frank, Koppers Inc. retiree, with the Broad Axe Award, and sawmiller Samuel
Dunaway of Dynaway Timber Co. in Kentucky with the Silver Saw Award.
Janet Seaman, Seaman Timber Company, became the first woman to hold the office of RTA
president, as she succeeded George Caric, Tangent Rail Corp., at the conclusion of the
conference.
RTA returns to the South next year when its will stage its 90th Annual Conference, October
29-31, 2008, in Savannah, Ga.
