Harsco acquires Protran Technology
Harsco Corporation has acquired Protran Technology, which designs and produces safety systems for transportation and industrial applications. Protran will be operated as a unit of Harsco Rail.
Track Machinery
University of Delaware conference aims to help railroads deal with big data
A railroad track geometry vehicle regularly collects a terabyte or two of data every month. How to store that much data is one challenge, but a much more pressing challenge is how to turn the raw material into useful information.
Simmons-Boardman Rail Group awarded Railway Interchange 2015 event guide contract and electronic media partnership
Simmons-Boardman Rail Group, which consists of Railway Age, Railway Track & Structures (RT&S) and International Railway Journal (IRJ), has been awarded the event guide contract and emedia partner for Railway Interchange 2015.
Ned Snead, founder of GREX, 1929-2015
Edwin de Steiguer (Ned) Snead, the founder and chairman emeritus of Georgetown Rail Equipment Company (GREX), passed away January 22, 2015 in Georgetown, Texas, at the age of 85.
Holland promotes two; Madderom retires
Holland LP promoted Gerry Coyne to general manager RMSS and Russ Gehl to vice president maintenance of way sales.
President Obama signs legislation extending shortline tax credit extension and enacting omnibus spending bill
President Obama signed two key pieces of legislation last week that will impact the rail industry.
L.B. Foster and Tracksure sign distribution agreement
UK-based Tracksure and L.B. Foster Company have concluded an exclusive distribution agreement, which authorizes L.B. Foster to sell the Tracksure fastener range throughout North America.
How rail fares in spending bill
The House and Senate’s effort to keep the federal government operating through the end of fiscal year 2015 was revealed late Tuesday in the form of a trillion-dollar-plus spending bill, Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015.
Testing begins on Foothill Gold Line Pasadena to Azusa section
The first light-rail vehicle traveled on the Foothill Gold Line December 9, kicking off the testing phase of the line, which will connect Pasadena and Azusa, Calif.
MTA preps network for winter wallop
As the season for cold and snowy weather approaches, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit (NYCT) is ready for winter operations. NYCT said it is leaning on lessons from the 2013-2014 winter that brought 14 significant storms and more than 50 inches of snow.
Metra readies for winter
As the temperature drops, Chicago-area Metra has taken a variety of steps this year to be better equipped to deal with cold and snowy weather and better prepared to deliver critical information to its passengers.
Strukton installs POSS pilot project in Detroit
In late July 2014, Strukton Systems installed a POSS switch monitoring system in Detroit, Mich., which involved Canadian National Railway switches at the Moterm junction. At the end of the six-month period, CN will decide whether or not it will be acquiring the system.
Nordco names president of rail
Nordco Inc. hired Jeff Roschyk as president of rail, where he will oversee the entire rail business, including new equipment, rebuild and aftermarket, rail inspection services and rail sales.
Harsco partners with MRail to market vertical track deflection measurement technology
Harsco Rail signed an agreement providing the company with exclusive worldwide sales and marketing of MRail’s vertical track deflection measurement technology.
Loram acquires majority stake in RVEL
Loram Maintenance of Way, Inc., has acquired a majority stake in Railway Vehicle Engineering Ltd. (RVEL) in Derby, United Kingdom.
UNITRAC hires new VP of operations
UNITRAC Railroad Materials, Inc., has hired Scott Arnold as the vice president of operations at UNITRAC’s headquarters and manufacturing facility in Knoxville, Tenn. Arnold comes from Yale Locks, where he served as the director of operation and brings with him more than 20 years of manufacturing experience.
UP plans Iowa trackwork; celebrates best-ever derailment safety performance
Union Pacific will strengthen Iowa’s transportation infrastructure by investing $6 million in the rail line between Burt and Goldfield, Iowa. The project, funded entirely by Union Pacific, began July 25 and is scheduled to be completed by mid-October.
Harsco appoints Grasberger CEO; Everitt elected non-executive board chairman
Harsco Corporation completed its transition of the appointment of F. Nicholas Grasberger to president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. The company originally announced the transition in April.
Harsco secures Switzerland rail contract worth more than $100 million
Harsco Corporation received its second major railway track and infrastructure maintenance equipment award from Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) in Switzerland. The award, valued at more than $100 million, calls for 59 high-speed catenary vehicles that will be used for the construction, maintenance and repair of overhead catenary systems throughout Switzerland. Deliveries will begin in 2016 and continue through 2017.
Auto Truck opens new facility
Auto Truck opened a new work truck upfitting and manufacturing facility June 23, located at 3699 N. Booth Avenue, Kansas City, Mo.