Tentative LMOA Educational Program

Railway Interchange 2026

Omaha, NE

9:00 AM
Keynote Speaker – Opening Session

10:30 – 11:30 AM

Chair: Tim Bernat, L&S Electric

Best Practices: Crane and Rigging Management
Andrew Waltz, Mid America, Inc.
Proper Management of Cores Within a Locomotive Maintenance Facility
Tim Bernat, L&S Electric

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Lunch in Exhibit Hall

1:00 – 2:15 PM

Chair: Chris Miller, Wabtec

Alternative Fuel Testing (Joint Paper with Mechanical Maintenance Committee)
Michael Cleveland, Peaker Services, Inc.
Diesel Fuel Plugging Issues: Identification, Remediation & Best Practices
Corey Ruch, BNSF Railway
Results of Mixing Lubricants
Jonathan Meinhardt, Cummins, Inc.

2:15 – 3:00 PM
Break in Exhibit Hall

3:00 – 4:30 PM

Chair: Brent Brown, Transportation Products Supply Company

Modern Locomotive Low Voltage/High Voltage Electrical Safety
Mike Thomason, Knoxville Locomotive Works
Contactor Control Reliability
Eric Fortin, DLL, Inc.
Battery Electric and Hybrid Locomotive Solutions
Dave Pettengill, Dayton-Phoenix
DC Motors and Their Use as Grid Blowers in Dynamic Braking Operations
Steve Romero, Wabtec

4:30 – 6:00 PM
Reception in Exhibit Hall

8:00 AM
Exhibit Hall Open

9:00 – 9:15 AM
President Corey Ruch – State of the Union Address

9:15 – 10:30 AM

Chair: Allen Meek, Cummins, Inc.

Locomotive Winterization: Best Practices and Innovations
Boden Bilokraly, Canadian National Railroad
Autonomous Detection of Rail Air Leaks
Chris Stoos, Southwest Research Institute
Learning from Oil Data
Ian Bradbury, Peaker Services, Inc.

10:30 AM
Final Remarks – Adjourn Until 2027