Interesting Times for the Mechanically Inclined

This article will discuss how railroad mechanical department executives are sharpening their multi-tasking skills so that they can help lay the foundation for railroading's next level. A slow-to-grow economy is taking its' toll on railroad budgets, requiring agencies to do more for less. A federally mandated positive train control (PTC) requirement will impact almost all of the country's rolling stock. During a series of interviews, mechanical executives from three Class Is, a regional and three transit agencies discussed current and near-term plans to purchase or rehabilitate rail cars and locomotives, employ new strategies and tweak old ones to ensure rolling stock is operating as efficiently as possible, as well as to implement new technology while coping with economic, budgetary, workforce and other issues.