TTCI-AAR Research Review Set for March

Just received my mailing for the 11th Annual AAR Research Review. It will be held in Pueblo, Colorado on Tuesday March 14th and Wednesday March 15th.

After AREA and Roadmasters merged, and combined with other organizations as well, the Annual Technical Conference held by AREA was moved to September by its successor, AREMA (American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association). Years and years of meeting in March left a void in many railroaders' schedules that needed to be filled with the results of updated railroad engineering research.

The TTCI (Transportation Technology Center, Inc.) has done just that, and very admirably, too. This Annual Review has now become the March event that AREA used to be. Attendance has been significant, and is growing.

The AAR Review concentrates on research findings of Heavy Axle Load (HAL) experiments on track and car components, Wheel/Rail Profile Design and Maintenance, and more specific results involving Special Trackwork and Bridges. The first full day happens at the Pueblo Convention Center. The second half-day is spent walking the FAST/HAL Loop east of town.

Part of the fun of the track walk is never knowing what weather will occur. It has been anything from a near white-out blizzard to a balmy seventy degree beauty, depending on the year.

If you have any interest in railroad research, you can register here.