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Posts by Michael Iden, P.E.

Michael Iden, P.E.

Commentary

Standards Here, Standards There, Standards Everywhere

Why aren’t the FRA, AAR and APTA collaborating on, instead of pursuing separate, passenger and freight standards? On Sept. 16, 2024, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) PRESS (Passenger Rail…
Commentary

Super Truck and the New ‘Efficiency Fever’

I’ll start with a brief discussion about the comparative fuel efficiency of heavy-duty (HD) trucks and freight railroads in the United States. We’ll then have a six-question quiz (for you,…
Commentary

Alternative Energy Efficiency: ‘Does it Pencil?’

RAILWAY AGE, SEPTEMBER 2024 ISSUE: The question “Does it pencil?” is a term used by real estate investors when analyzing a building or property project from a financial perspective. Quoting…
Commentary

Avoid Locomotive Jack Knife Derailments

RAILWAY AGE, SEPTEMBER 2023 ISSUE: At Railway Interchange 2023 in Indianapolis, there will be detailed presentations with Q&A of this topic (“Know Thy Couplers and Draft Gear”) for the International…

Mind the (Hydrogen) Gaps

RAILWAY AGE, JULY 2023 ISSUE: Hydrogen is getting significant attention as a future energy source for railroads, but are all the pros and cons being recognized and discussed? Railroad decarbonization…
Commentary

Follow the Megawatt-Hours: Hydrogen Fuel Cells, Batteries and Electric Propulsion

RAILWAY AGE, MARCH 2023 ISSUE: A discussion of propulsion options for freight rail is offered by seasoned locomotive mechanical engineer Michael Iden, a former mechanical department officer with Union Pacific,…
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