Miscellaneous

CHICAGO — Nicholas J. Matthews is joining FreightCar America Inc. as Vice President-Operations later this month and is expected to become Senior Vice President-Operations in spring 2008. Matthews will serve as a key member of FreightCar America’s leadership team and will be based at the Company’s Chicago headquarters. Matthews is expected to succeed Ken Bridges as Senior Vice President-Operations after Bridges’ retirement. Matthews joins the Company from Trinity Industries, where he spent fourteen years serving in various technical and operations positions of expanding leadership scope. In his most recent role, he served as Trinity’s Senior Vice President-Operations for that company’s

NEW YORK — RailWorks Corp. announced two promotions at its U.S.-based track construction subsidiaries: RailWorks Track Services Inc. and RailWorks Track Systems Inc. Ed Kennedy has been appointed Vice President of Operations for RailWorks Track Services. Kennedy has nearly 20 years of track construction and management experience, beginning as a track laborer and working in progressively more responsible positions. While serving as general manager of RailWorks’ track construction office in Youngstown, Ohio, for the past decade, he achieved dramatic revenue growth and successfully completed an impressive range of projects for Class I railroads Canadian Pacific Railway, CSX Transportation and Norfolk

JOFFRE, Alberta — National Railway Equipment Co. announced that NOVA Chemical recently operated an NREC N-ViroMotive GenSet locomotive in an operational test at their facility here. The locomotive, a three-engine 2100 HP (3GS-21B) 4-axle unit, is EPA certified and CARB recognized as an ultra-low emitting GenSet locomotive. “Fuel conservation, protecting the environment and operational efficiency are vital to our operation,” said Fred Owens, rail-maintenance coordinator, Nova Chemicals. “We witnessed surprising performance with this locomotive and its remarkable fuel savings, ultra-low emissions and low noise. Another big plus for us is the N-ViroMotive’s outstanding tractive effort, which can improve operations efficiency

CHICAGO – FreightCar America Inc. is closing its Johnstown, Pa., manufacturing facility that employs about 390 employees. The closure does not involve a closure of the company’s Johnstown administrative offices. Officials said the closure is in line with FreightCar’s strategy of optimizing production at its low-cost manufacturing facilities and continuing its focus on cost control. “It is critical for us to take full advantage of our lower-cost manufacturing facilities in order to produce our railcars with a competitive cost structure,” said Chris Ragot, president and chief executive officer. “Our Johnstown, Pennsylvania manufacturing plant is a higher-cost facility than our other locations. “Although

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The state of Pennsylvania is investing $20 million in taxpayer money to help seven railroads and five businesses undergo rail-freight improvement projects, stimulate economic development and reduce traffic congestion. “Dependable rail service helps businesses expand their markets, and this investment will help create and maintain jobs in communities throughout the commonwealth,” Gov. Edward G. Rendell said. “Moving products by rail also lowers the number of trucks on the roadways, which in turn reduces the wear and tear on our state’s highways, relieves traffic congestion, and improves air quality.” The State Transportation Commission approved the grants. Several of

CHICAGO — GATX Corp. has agreed to buy 2,000 newly-manufactured tank cars from Trinity Industries Inc. over a two-year period beginning in early 2008, with an option for an additional 1,000 tank cars thereafter. GATX expects the Trinity order, together with other existing orders, to provide significant opportunity to enhance market share, meet customer demand and replace retired equipment with high quality tank cars, manufactured and configured according to strict GATX specifications. “We are pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with Trinity,” said James F. Earl, executive vice president and chief operating officer. “Trinity offers a full range of railcars