INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., September 6, 2017 – The leaders of the Coordinated Mechanical Associations (CMA) offered a preview of the agendas for their technical and educational conferences, which will take place in conjunction with Railway Interchange 2017, the combined rail industry exhibition/conference to be held September 17-20 at the Indiana Convention Center. Organizers expect robust attendance for the biennial event, which drew more than 9,000 registrants in 2015.

The CMA includes the Air Brake Association (ABA), the International Association of Railway Operating Officers (IAROO), the League of Railway Industry Women (LRIW), the Locomotive Maintenance Officers Association (LMOA) and Mechanical Association Railcar Technical Services (MARTS). The CMA sessions begin on Monday, September 18.

The technical sessions of the Coordinated Mechanical Associations will begin following the general session and keynote address by speaker and communications expert Ken Schmidt on Monday, September 18, which includes the presentation of LRIW’s “Outstanding Woman of the Year Award.”

The ABA program will feature a joint session with IAROO on the morning of September 18 with sessions on what happens when the NTSB investigates and railcar securement using DP remote locomotives. The afternoon sessions will include discussions of wayside temperatures, brake systems committee issues, stability testing of suspect brake valves, signal system requirements and impact on braking, preparing for winter, and ASCTD for passenger rail. Tuesday’s ABA agenda highlights include end hose glad-hand dimensions and separation forces, hot and cold wheel detection, and tracking air brake components.

The IAROO agenda includes the joint morning session with ABA on September 18; afternoon sessions that day will feature sessions on event recorders, LNG and locomotive operations, and updates on the rail industry and positive train control. Tuesday’s session topics include advanced slack action testing, analysis and mitigation, railroad fuel efficiency, cold weather operations, locomotive design and system exceptions, and analytical methods to determine safe train make-up.

LRIW’s schedule on Monday includes sessions on how to break barriers and excel in the rail industry, regulatory and government affairs in Canada and the U.S., using tools and influence to succeed, a panel discussion by women business owners in the rail industry, and an LRIW/AREMA #WomenInRail reception celebrating 20 years of LRIW. The September 19 schedule includes a two-part workshop on secrets to career advancement and a technical tour of the Indiana Rail Road intermodal terminal.

The LMOA agenda on Monday includes the latest research and findings including presentations from the Mechanical Maintenance Committee, Fuel, Lubricants & Environmental Committee and the Locomotive Software and Systems Committee. Tuesday’s schedule will include papers from the Electrical Maintenance Committee and the Facilities, Material and Support Committee.
The MARTS conference Monday sessions include panel discussions on guidelines to a successful mechanical Railcar audit, the evolution of tank cars and the Bureau of Explosives, an a presentation on Rule 1 gages with hands-on practice. Tuesday will feature an interchange rules panel discussion, Transportation Technology Center, Inc. presentations on drones and hot bearing detection, and a talk on Class D wheel performance in Canadian heavy haul service.

The ABA welcomes the opportunity to share our program with our membership and prospective new members. – ABA President Robert LeBlanc.

As part of our full slate of sessions, our members look forward to the joint morning sessions on September 18 with the Air Brake Association, which will cover topics of interest to both ABA and IAROO members. – IAROO President Mike Mattson.

We are always excited about the presentation of LRIW’s “Outstanding Woman of the Year Award” during the Railway Interchange opening general session. Our full conference schedule includes topics and sessions of interest to men and women. – Added LRIW President Jodi Heldt.

The joint meetings of AREMA and the CMAs, along with the combined exhibitions of REMSA, RSI and RSSI offer unparalleled networking and learning opportunities for the thousands of expected attendees. – LMOA President Jeff Cutright.

We have a full agenda of current issues critical to every railcar maintenance professional, presented by professionals on the leading edge of today’s technology and regulations. – David Cackovic, president of MARTS.

In addition to the CMA sessions, Railway Interchange also features technical presentations and discussions by members of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association AREMA). AREMA is also offering additional educational seminars in conjunction with their conference; for additional information visit www.arema.org.

Along with the AREMA and CMA meetings, the North American Institution of Railway Signal Engineers (IRSE) will hold its annual general meeting in conjunction with Railway Interchange 2017 on Tuesday, September 19. There will also be an IRSE-sponsored meeting of the IEEE on Wednesday, September 20.