Rail Engineering Studies Still “On Track” at UK
and Gaining Momentum for the Future
INAUGURAL RECOGNITION
CEREMONY
For the past several years civil engineering students at the University of Kentucky have had
the opportunity to select one or two technical elective classes in the area of Railway
Engineering and Operations. This re-establishment of railway emphasis emanated from a 1979
national contest sponsored by the National Asphalt Pavement Association and the Asphalt
Institute. An advanced Materials class, under the direction of Dr. Jerry G. Rose, submitted the
winning entree in a national contest documenting the applications and benefits of using asphalt
in railway trackbed construction and maintenance.
Soon thereafter an initial class entitled “Railroad Facilities Design and Analysis” was
established by Professor Rose. A second course related to Railway Operations and Intermodal
Transportation soon followed. Civil Engineering students, particularly those interested in
Transportation Engineering, can select these for senior technical electives or graduate classes.
In addition, during the past 12 years research funding from several agencies has supported
over 35 graduate students and 20 undergraduate students for rail-associated research
projects. Approximately 50 technical publications documenting the research studies have
been produced and a similar number of technical presentations have been delivered at
conferences and meetings.
UK has established itself as a lead university in the area of Railway Engineering and
Operations, therefore, railroad companies typically participate in active recruiting of our
graduates. This fall semester, all four of the large railroad companies in the U.S. – BNSF, UP,
CSX, and NS – recruited during the job fair on campus. Consulting engineering firms catering
to the rail industry are frequent participants as well. Numerous former UKCE students are
employed by railroad companies, railway consulting engineering firms, railway contractors, and
rail-associated governmental agencies.
A portion of the class instruction is devoted to outside speakers. For example, this fall’s class
included KBT member Tom Garrett, President of the Paducah & Louisville Railroad and Jack
Burgess, Director of Coal Facilities & Origin Sales for CSX Transportation. In addition, John
Harms, Sr. Vice President Engineering for Hanson Professional Services documented the
award winning P&L Railroad Bridge Relocation at Kentucky Dam. Field trips also are frequently
arranged for the students. This fall semester, the students were treated to an excellent visit to
the TTI Railroad headquarters at Paris.
The newly established Commonwealth Professor of Transportation initial recipient – Dr.
Reginald Souleyrette – has a background and interest in Rail Transportation in addition to
other modes. His plans are to develop additional emphasis and studies in the rail and
waterways engineering and operations areas, following on his previous activities at Iowa State
University, and build and expand on the existing developments and accomplishments at UK.
Together with transportation Professors Nick Stamatiadis and Mei Chen, UK transportation
faculty and staff of the Kentucky Transportation Center now comprise one of the largest
programs in transportation research, education and outreach in the U.S.
Special Speaker and CE 533 Guest Lecturer
James N. Carter, Jr., PE
Chief Engineer, Bridges and Structures
Norfolk Southern Corporation
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
6:00 p.m. Dinner • 6:30 p.m. Program
Room 112 Raymond (CE) Building
James N. Carter
Mr. James N. Carter is a civil engineering graduate of Virginia Tech
University and is a career railroader. He is presently the Chief
Engineer of Bridges and Structures for Norfolk Southern Corp. in
Atlanta. NS is one of the seven large Class I
U.S. Railroad companies comprising over
20,000 miles of road and over 36,000 miles of
trackage with revenue exceeding $11.2
billion in 2011. Mr. Carter is also the PresidentElect of AREMA, the premier Professional
Technical Railway Engineering Association in
the U.S. This office is considered to be the
highest honor to be bestowed on an AREMA
member by his/her peers.
Special Recognitions
Mr. Gerald L. Nichols, CE ’58 was a very early supporter of UK’s rail
activities while he was serving in executive and
management positions at CSX Transportation.
He and Mrs. Nichols continue to financially
support our rail educational efforts through the
Nichols Foundation. They suggested the
adoption of the likeness of a “cat” as the
mascot/logo for the RailCats AREMA Chapter.
The festivities this evening are provided by the
Nichols Railway Education Fund.
Mr. Timothy K. Lucas, Arch ’74 provided the
artist sketch for the RailCats logo, reproduced on the front cover. It
was decided to pattern the logo on the likeness of a steam
locomotive with a Kentucky Cat as the engineer. Cats have been
used in the past as a mascot/logo for train companies, such as the
famed Chessie Cats of the C&O Railway Company, which later
became a corporate identification. The particular feline chosen is
presently named “TBD”. The determined expression on TBD’s face is
obvious as “Cat” bears down on the high rail with the throttle wide
open, personifying the UK RailCat’s image. The RailCats are very
appreciative of Mr. Lucas’ artistic skills and contribution to the
AREMA Student Chapter.
“Your thoughts for an appropriate name for our feline?”
Dinner
BBQ Buffet with Fixings
Program
Presiding:
Dr. Jerry G. Rose, Professor of Civil Engineering
Welcome:
Mr. Michael T. McHenry, Graduate Research
Assistant & RailCats AREMA Chapter President
Comments: Dr. Reginald R. Souleyrette, Commonwealth
Chair Professor in Transportation Engineering
Recognitions: Dr. Jerry G. Rose
Introduction of Speaker: Dr. Jerry G. Rose
Guest Speaker: Mr. James N. Carter, Chief Engineer, Bridges
and Structures, Norfolk Southern Corp.
“The Rail Industry in 2012 from an
Engineer’s Perspective”
Closing Comments : Dr. Jerry G. Rose
We appreciate your support and attendance this evening. We
plan to have a similar event each year.
We invite you to visit the recently upgraded and modernized
Graduate Student Transportation Office Suite (Room 216),
second floor and the recently established Transportation
Laboratory and Work Station (Room 054), lower level.
The RailCats web page is www.railcats.engineering.uky.edu.
Be on the lookout for postings updating RailCats’ activities.