Research & Development Committee

  • Chair: Stacey McKinney, Koppers Inc.
  • Vice Chair: Jeff Thomas, Viance
  • Sheila Gudenrath, Union Pacific (Board Liason)
  • Bill Behan, Koppers
  • Brad Crawford, Stella-Jones
  • Chris Barber, Timber Products Inspection
  • Dave Webb, Webb Consultants Inc.
  • Lisa Roberts, Omaha Track
  • Gord Gilmet, Rain Carbon
  • Greg Grissom, Loram Technologies Inc.
  • Jason Faegans, Blackwood Solutions
  • Jeff Lloyd, Nisus
  • Jeff Broadfoot, Natural Wood Solutions
  • Kevin Conn, Norfolk Southern
  • Kevin Coker, Koppers
  • Mark Manning, Nisus
  • Shane Kitchens, Natural Wood Solutions
  • Stephen Smith, Stephen Smith Consulting
  • John McDonald, Koppers

Committee Assignments:

  • Focus on the recommendations that will be presented to the R&D Committee by the Strategic Planning Task Group. Continue to monitor and report to the Railway Tie Association (RTA) on the crosstie test track programs that are sponsored by the Association. These are listed briefly here:
    • FAST Test Center, Pueblo, CO (Heavy Axle Load [HAL] test in cooperation with AAR). The ongoing test includes several different wood species for crossties and engineered wood crossties
    • Continue to monitor the Mississippi State/RTA Alternative Wood Preservative Research Project (AWPRP)
    • Continue to monitor the performance of concrete crossties at several locations which include FAST and those other sites on major Class 1 railroads
  • Continue to provide support to the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association (AREMA) Committee 30 for the development of their crosstie material standard
  • In cooperation with AWPA, studies will continue to determine the treatability of various hardwood species and composite materials that could be used as crossties material
  • Monitor and report any significant developments concerning new preservative treatments for crossties.
  • Keep abreast of information and studies relative to the environmental impacts of treated crossties - new and used
  • Conduct appropriate field trip, possibly in conjunction with other RTA committees, and/or related associations; i.e., AAR, AREMA, and AWPA
  • Prepare a feature article for publication in Crossties magazine concerning areas of interest to the crosstie and railroad industries
  • Report to the upcoming conference on the committee's activities and give an up-to-date summary of the more important research and development projects in progress