Railway Track & Structures - September 2008 - (Page 16)

AREMA NEWS Getting to know David R. Killingbeck Engineering Management Trainee in Williamsport, Pa., and spent a year learning the basics of railroading with an emphasis on bridges and buildings. Following a year of having no responsibilities other than showing up for work on time, I moved into the ranks of supervision as an Asst. Supervisor of Structures in Youngstown, Ohio. That was followed by Supervisor of Structures in Altoona, Pa., then General Bridge Inspector, Engineer – Bridge & Buildings, and finally ADE – Structures, all in Selkirk, N.Y. AREMA: How did you get involved in AREMA and your committee? Killingbeck: In 1995, I was asked to take a promotion from ADE – Structures to the Conrail system office as the System Engineer Structures – Inspection & Planning. Up until that time, I hadn’t been involved with either ARBBA or AREA, but my boss suggested that I join both organizations. Since our office at the time was well represented on Committee 15 – Steel Structures and no one was on Committee 8 – Concrete Structures and Foundations, I applied for committee membership. I attended my first committee meeting in May 1997 in New York City and wondered what I was getting into. I had been away from the books for 20 years and suddenly I was trying to follow discussions concerning changes to railroad bridge 'code material.' I had to cancel attending the next meeting at the last minute due to a sudden high priority task, but then for the next three years I was able to make it to every meeting, as well as most of the technical conferences. Committee 8 has two vice chairs along with the chairman. In addition, there is a goal to alternate chairmen between railroad and consultant. Since I was railroad and was attending regularly, I was asked to accept the position of second vice chair. After six years passing through the two vice chair seats, I became chairman at the 2006 Technical Conference. AREMA: Outside of your job and the hard work you put into AREMA, what are your hobbies? Killingbeck: During the winter, I enjoy downhill skiing although I don’t seem to get out anywhere near as often as I would like. When I lived in the Albany, N.Y. area, it was easy to get out for a day on the weekends or to go night skiing after work on a Friday. Since moving to the Philadelphia area 12 years ago, hitting the slopes has become limited to a few days during the holidays. Once warmer weather arrives, my free time is taken up keeping up with the yard work and occasionally getting out for a motorcycle ride on the back roads of Chester & Lancaster Counties. AREMA: Tell us about your family. Killingbeck: In addition to my mother and father, who reside in Vermont, I have two sisters and their respective husbands, as well as six nieces and nephews ranging in age from 13 to 18. AREMA: If you could share one interesting fact about yourself with the readers of RT&S, what would it be? Killingbeck: As crazy as it may sound, I find manual labor relaxing. I don’t think of myself as a violent person, but there is no better way to work out your aggression constructively than splitting wood with a maul or pounding nails to build something, especially when you’re swinging a 20-ounce framing hammer. I enjoy being outdoors so I usually spend my vacations at my parents’ home in the Green Mountains of Central Vermont where I may be mowing four acres of meadow, digging out boulders, cutting fallen trees, or shoveling snow. I get to unwind, get some exercise and at the end of the day, sleep like a log. AREMA: What is your biggest achievement? Killingbeck: I would say that my biggest achievement has been the development of a reputation within the railroad bridge community sufficient to support my appointment as a 'troll' within the bridge group at the Federal Railroad Administration. AREMA: What advice would you give to someone who is trying to pursue a career in the railway industry? Killingbeck: Listen, observe, ask questions and try to learn something new every day. Most of the people I’ve met or worked with are very willing to share their knowledge and experience with others. Don’t discount ideas or opinions expressed by people who actually are performing the construction or maintenance work. Those 'boots on the ground' have a wealth of knowledge to share if only you ask and are willing to listen. Just because an organization chart says they work for you, don’t fall into the trap of believing that you know everything. www.rtands.com ach month AREMA will feature one of our committee chairmen. We are pleased to announce that the September featured chairman is David R. Killingbeck, chair of Committee 8 - Concrete Structures and Foundations. AREMA: Why did you decide to choose a career in railway engineering? Killingbeck: The short answer is that they offered me a job. During my senior year at the University of Connecticut, it was time to start applying to engineering companies, as well as going to interviews. I went to the placement office and found that a company named Consolidated Rail Corporation was coming to campus so I signed up for an interview. That led to a second interview in Philadelphia followed by a job offer. At the time, there weren’t a lot of job offers being extended with perhaps 10 percent of my graduating class having received offers by graduation. I accepted the offer with the notion that I would work for Conrail for a few years to gain some field experience and then move on to an engineering consulting firm. Railroading must get into your blood since I’ve been at it ever since. AREMA: How did you get started? Killingbeck: I started out in 1977 as an E David R. Killingbeck Chairman, Committee 8 - Concrete Structures and Foundations Structural Engineer Federal Railroad Administration 2008 Upcoming Committee Meetings September 20-21 Committee Meetings in Salt Lake City, Utah, See Page 17 September 24-25 Committee 38 - Information, Defect Detection & Energy Systems Salt Lake City, UT October 7-8 Committee 15 - Steel Structures Chicago, IL October 16 Committee 33 - Electric Energy Utilization Newark, NJ October 16-17 Committee 8 - Concrete Structures & Foundations Des Moines, IA October 28-29 Committee 30 - Ties Savannah, GA November 6 Committee 28 - Clearances Phoenix, AZ November 12 Committee Chairs' Meeting Orlando, FL November 19-21 Committee 36 - Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Omaha, NE Warning Systems December TBA Committee 33 - Electrical Energy Utilization Philadelphia, PA 16 Railway Track & Structures September 2008 http://www.arema.org http://www.rtands.com

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Railway Track & Structures - September 2008 Contents On Track Industry Today Supplier News AREMA News NRC News TTCI R&D Larry Etherton Rounds Out Successful Term as President of AREMA Remote Bridges Present Challenges New Mexico Rail Runner Express Making Tracks for Santa Fe Products and Literature People Calendar Sales Representatives Advertisers Index Website Directory Professional Directory Classified Advertising Chicago Perspective

Railway Track & Structures - September 2008

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