American Railroading Podcast

Welcome to the American Railroading Podcast! In this episode our host Don Walsh is joined by guest Crystal Blasius, Director of Safety Investigations for Amtrak. Together they discuss the importance of everyone following safety guidelines when around trains with a focus on railroad crossings. They also discuss Operation Life Saver and some of the scenic trips you can take on Amtrak. Tune in to this episode to gain valuable insights and broaden your understanding of American Railroading. You can find the episode on the American Railroading Podcast's official website at www.AmericanRailroading.net . Welcome aboard!KEY POINTS: The American Railroading Podcast remains in the Top 10% of all podcasts globally!Crystal served our country in the U.S. Navy as an FC3, Fire Controlman 3rd Class.She began her career in railroading in 2008 as a Conductor for the DM&E railroad.Her current role as Director of Safety Investigations for Amtrak reminds her a bit of CSI.There are approximately 78,000 customers making trips on Amtrak daily.Crystal’s opinion of one of the greatest challenges in railroad safety is communication.A train approaching a railroad crossing at an average speed of 59 mph will take a mile to stop.In the event of an emergency at a railroad crossing, call the number on the blue & white sign on the crossing post and give them the crossing number which will indicate your exact location.The 2024 Honor our Heroes Award winner is..Crystal Blasius!Stay tuned for our next episode!LINKS MENTIONED: https://www.americanrailroading.nethttps://www.therevolutionrailgroup.com https://www.youtube.com/@americanrailroadingpodcast https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dwalshX https://www.aldonco.comhttps://www.enviroserve.com https://www.oli.org https://www.amtrak.com

Welcome to the American Railroading Podcast! In this episode our host Don Walsh is joined by guest Nigel Bennett – Treasurer for the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) in Union, IL. Together they discuss the history of the 100-acre Illinois Railway Museum, their history, vast and expansive exhibits, extensive libraries, educational opportunities, and amazing seasonal events for the whole family to enjoy. Also, at the end of the episode Don is joined by co-founder, president and CEO of Boots for Troops – Jimmy Rogers to announce the 2024 – Honor our Heroes award winner! Tune in to this episode to gain valuable insights and broaden your understanding of American Railroading. You can find the episode on the American Railroading Podcast's official website at www.AmericanRailroading.net . Welcome aboard!KEY POINTS: The American Railroading Podcast remains in the Top 10% of all podcasts globally!Nigel was born and raised in England where during his teenage years, steam was the most common locomotive power source on British railways, not unlike the locomotive in Harry Potter.The Illinois Railway Museum was founded in 1953, but the railroad history on the site goes back much further than that.Their Pullman library and collection are so extensive that the Pullman Historical District and Trust utilizes the IRM as a resource.Exhibits at the IRM include their model railroad exhibit, freight train exhibit, post office gallery, full size railcars, locomotives and even buses, totaling over 500 railroad related exhibit items.In addition to the wonderful exhibits, visitors can also ride all kinds of trains while there including those powered by steam locomotives and more modern electric trains and trolleys.The seasonal events at IRM are many, including the upcoming Pumpkin Train in the fall, the Happy Holiday Railway and Steam Department Benefit at the Sanfillipo Estate. Anyone interested in the IRM can purchase their tickets, make donations and even sign up to volunteer via the IRM website at www.IRM.org .The 2024 Honor our Heroes Award winner is……Stay tuned for our next episode!LINKS MENTIONED: https://www.americanrailroading.nethttps://www.therevolutionrailgroup.com https://www.youtube.com/@americanrailroadingpodcast https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dwalshX https://www.aldonco.comhttps://www.enviroserve.com https://www.irm.org

Welcome to the American Railroading Podcast! In this episode our host Don Walsh is joined by guest Tim Schaffer – Regional Sales Manager for PPG Industries. Together they discuss the importance of railcar coatings, along with a deep dive into the overall paint and lining processes, including everything from surface preparation and training to the finished product. Tune in to this episode to gain valuable insights and broaden your understanding of American Railroading. You can find the episode on the American Railroading Podcast's official website at www.AmericanRailroading.net . Welcome aboard!KEY POINTS: Don dedicates this episode to the memory of his mentor, Joe Schieszler Sr., founder of Rescar Companies and AllTranstek, who passed away July 29, 2024.The American Railroading Podcast remains in the Top 10% of all podcasts globally!Don shares his first experience blasting a railcar.Improper surface preparation results in over 80% of all coating and lining failures. Surace contamination can include something as simple as handprints and sweat.The primary reasons to apply an interior lining to a railcar are product purity and corrosion protection.With the amount of coatings and lining options available, it’s best to consult with a coating’s expert and/or manufacturer to determine which is best for your intended use.Employee blast and coatings training is a must and can be achieved from resources such as coatings manufacturers and many local community colleges.Without the proper equipment, providing a finished coatings product that meets all requirements will be challenging, if not impossible.The annual Honor our Heroes Award is back for 2024, so please submit all nominations by 09/13/24. Details of how to nominate a veteran for the award are included in the episode.Visit our online store for all your fall hoodies, caps and sweatshirts!Stay tuned for our next episode!LINKS MENTIONED: https://www.americanrailroading.nethttps://www.therevolutionrailgroup.com https://www.youtube.com/@americanrailroadingpodcast https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dwalshX https://www.aldonco.comhttps://www.enviroserve.com https://www.ppg.com

Welcome to the American Railroading Podcast! In this episode our host Don Walsh is joined by guest Joseph “Sepp” Scanlin – Museum Director for the U.S. Army Transportation Museum. Together they discuss the long relationship between the U.S. Army Transportation Corps and the American railroad industry going back to pre-Civil War days, as well as the U.S. Army’s use of railroading all over the world. Tune in to this episode to gain valuable insights and broaden your understanding of American Railroading. You can find the episode on the American Railroading Podcast's official website at www.AmericanRailroading.net . Welcome aboard!KEY POINTS: The American Railroading Podcast remains in the Top 10% of all podcasts globally!There is a New Gold Sponsor aboard!“Sepp” is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel with 21 years of service to his country, prior to becoming the Museum Director of the U.S. Army Transportation Museum.The U.S. Army Transportation Corps is involved with 5 other areas of transportation in addition to railroading.West Point was created as an engineering school, and many went into the railroad industry after serving their country, as they still do today.During World War II, it was common for the U.S. Army to utilize railroad shops for manufacturing and training purposes to assist with the war effort, including hospital trains.The U.S. Army Transportation Corps has transported all kinds of modes of transportation, including elephants.More recently, as with the war in Afghanistan, the U.S. Army Transportation Corps has become advisors versus operators.The U.S. Army Transportation Museum has over 7,000 artifacts and exhibits. The annual Honor our Heroes Award is back for 2024, so please submit all nominations by 09/13/24. Details of how to nominate a veteran for the award are included in the episode.Stay tuned for our next episode!LINKS MENTIONED: https://www.americanrailroading.nethttps://www.therevolutionrailgroup.com https://www.youtube.com/@americanrailroadingpodcast https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dwalshX https://www.aldonco.comhttps://transportation.army.mil https://transportation.army.mil/museum/index.html