USA: Donations from across the rail sector are being sought to support a scholarship fund in memory of former permanent way specialist Al Reinschmidt, who died in 2018.
The Albert J Reinschmidt Memorial Scholarship Fund, which has been established by friends and rail industry colleagues, is intended to ‘help university students achieve their educational goals’ in railway engineering and technology; provide financial assistance to students in the disciplines of railway civil, electrical, industrial, and mechanical engineering’ and to develop new talent to advance rail safety, efficiency, and technological advancement.
Affectionately known as ‘Dr Track’, Reinschmidt taught railway engineering at both the University of Illinois and Pennsylvania State University before beginning his career at the Association of American Railroads and Transportation Technology Center Inc. He retired as Vice President of TTCI in December 2011, after a 40-year career in railway research and technical development.
He was an active member of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association and served as both a committee and section chairman for the Transportation Research Board. He was a frequent speaker at railway conferences, workshops, and seminars worldwide.
A civil engineer by education and training, Reinschmidt’s research during the early part of his career was primarily in track deterioration and maintenance planning. He was particularly involved in design criteria for track construction and remediation, including track component selection for optimum life-cycle costs and the effect of axle load on those choices.
- More information about the scholarship programme and donation arrangements can be found at https://friendsofalreinschmidt.weebly.com/