Train door systems are associated with a high number of passenger injuries and are typically the source of the greatest number of incidents that cause train operating delays. In this article, Rail…
Steve Noonan is a mechanical systems engineer with railroad systems expertise in vehicles, equipment, and facilities. He has more than 40 years of engineering experience relevant to the safety and reliability of regional networks, light rail systems, subways, and monorails. Steve applies his expertise to forensic casework involving economic loss claims and personal injury litigation matters.
While serving as Vice President and Manager of the Rail Vehicle Group Northeast at WSP, Steve was responsible for design, procurement, production, and quality control of rail vehicles and related systems for a variety of high profile regional transit authorities. Steve's expertise in passenger cars, locomotives, maintenance of way (MOW) equipment, and facilities is further supported through engineering experience earlier in his career with the Port Authority of NY & NJ. Management and direct supervision of engineering and maintenance activities for the agency's rail, tunnel, bridge and bus facilities has provided Steve with a broad knowledge of many different types of heavy industrial equipment. These systems include electrical supply and distribution from utility high voltage feeds through final circuit feeders and protection. As a consultant to many agencies and manufacturers, he has been tasked to resolve complicated equipment technical issues coupled with analysis of design, production, maintenance and operating functions.
As an industry veteran, Steve has investigated and remediated countless issues involving rail systems and equipment, including derailments, fires, door malfunctions, train platforms, and systems controls mishaps. He also has experience evaluating issues and investigating incidents and system troubleshooting at stations, operating yards and maintenance facilities where passengers and railroad workers interface with trains. Steve's deep understanding of railroad systems and equipment makes him an appropriate expert to analyze product specification compliance, O+M, system wide maintenance contracts, and other contracted services.
Steve is a Professional Engineer, licensed in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, Illinois, South Carolina, and the District of Columbia. He earned his Bachelor of Engineering from SUNY Maritime College and his Master of Science from New Jersey Institute of Technology. Steve has been a member of the American Public Transportation Association, the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association, the High Speed Ground Transportation Association, and the American Council of Engineering Companies.
More than 40 years of experience in the engineering field, encompassing engineering, design maintenance, maintenance supervision, project management, training, technical consulting and operations management. Managed U.S.-based engineering services and provided project management to numerous transportation systems and clients. Responsible for the application of technical resources to projects and engineering tasks, including coordinating resources among international operations and U.S.-based teams, ensuring the quality of technical deliverables, adherence to appropriate standards and compliance with clients’ technical and operating requirements.
Vehicle Systems: Systems design, engineering, inspection, maintenance, and production/manufacturing resident engineering for rail rolling stock equipment. Specification of rolling stock from concept through subsystems, components and parts for new train production and complete rail car overhauls. Systems, subsystems and components include propulsion, pantograph traction power gear, third rail power equipment, train control, braking, couplers, structural car body/car shells, trucks, side doors, end doors, lighting, controls, HVAC/air conditioning, event recorders, diagnostics & health monitoring, communications, interiors, seating, operating cabs, safety/security. Experienced in troubleshooting and failure analysis of equipment problems/defects including train derailments and fires on rolling stock, as well as application and maintenance of diesel engines for propulsion and power generation.
Operating Systems: Systems experience includes interfaces between rail vehicles and the operating environment including track, traction power, signals, third rail, catenary, tunnels, stations, platforms, elevators/escalators, shops, yards, bridges, and road crossings in normal operating environments as well as construction settings.
Rotating, Hydraulic and Power Conditioning Equipment from Rail, Marine, Facilities and Maintenance Industries: Systems and components including generators, transformers, rectifiers, switching equipment, circuit breakers, wiring, electric motors, hydraulic motors, hydraulic pumps, cylinders, rams, valves, lathes, drill presses, boring machines, wheel and bearing presses, planers, milling machines, grinders, saws, cutters, welding equipment, ventilation fans, forklifts, cranes. Experiences include evaluation and development of functional criteria, design/specification, use and repair of tools/equipment, development of installation plans and supervision of installations and repairs, management of warranty programs., evaluation of defects, condition assessments and financial and personnel resource planning focused on state-of-good-repair.
Barn Reclamation: Development of safe demolition plans, selection, rental and supervision of equipment utilization including telescopic forklift/lull, chain hoists, cable winch pullers, pre-tensioning straps, tractors, bulldozer. Cutting and supervision of loading for reclaimed wood using chainsaws, reciprocating saws, circular saws and skid steers into multiple (type) trailers for transport.
Regulatory Standards & Requirements: Experienced in application of regulatory requirements including Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), National Electric Code (NRC), National Electric Manufacturers Association (NEMA), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Military Standards (MIL-STD), American Welding Society (AWS), American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), United States Coast Guard (USCG), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Associate
2019 to presentProvide technical investigations, analysis, reports, and testimony toward the resolution of commercial and personal injury litigation involving electrical and mechanical equipment/machinery, in production and maintenance facilities, as well as transportation system operating environments. These include rail passenger coaches, trainsets, locomotives, maintenance of way (MOW) equipment, maintenance facilities, railroad systems, rail operations, production/overhaul/manufacturing plants, and vehicular bridges, tunnels and terminals.
Vice President and Manager,
Rail Vehicle Group - Northeast
Responsible for Rail Vehicle Engineering and Planning, managing staff and contract resources supporting all aspects of rail vehicles including planning, technology assessment, design/procurement support, production QC and commissioning activities. Assignments included Maryland MTA Rolling Stock GEC, Illinois DOT HSR, Atlanta-Chattanooga/SEHSR candidate trainset evaluations, WMATA Rail Vehicle CIP Evaluation, Caltrans Coach Overhaul and FTA Asset Management projects.
Principal-in-Charge
Project Manager
Test Manager
Expert Witness Consulting
Rail Practice Leader
2005 to 2008Managed rail and transit services including planning, engineering and project management. Clients/tasks included: NJ Transit prototype GPS locator system for locomotive and trains, Norfolk Southern Railroad Intermodal Facility design services and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Transportation Funding and Reform Commission Technical Equipment and Operating Systems Assessment.
Reported to the Amtrak vice president - high-speed rail (HSR). Responsible for reporting project status and issues from an integrated project perspective for both Amtrak’s $2.5 billion purchase of high-speed electric train sets and HHP locomotives, and the system’s electrification and civil improvements within the NEC. A special assignment included evaluating the status of key technical open issues and revised schedules for production/commissioning/retrofit with confidential reporting to Amtrak management and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Inspector General.
Amtrak & Midwest States Coalition (clients)
Project Manager – Midwest Corridor HSR 2001-2003
Project manager for planning and procurement activities during the Midwest HSR Corridor Project (MWRRI). Led the development of a performance-based specification for the procurement of train sets, facilities and maintenance to maximize competition and lower capital costs for Amtrak and the nine-state consortium. Provided engineering services to Amtrak in the evaluation of proposals and negotiation of D/B/M contracts. The solicitation documents were designed to solicit maintenance regimes which take advantage of best practices for reliability and maintainability from 3rd party maintainers within the boundaries of federally regulated maintenance operations.
Automated People Mover Systems & Transit Systems (various clients)
Provided services for different projects and tasks including: Mid-Life Equipment and Systems overhaul design for Newark Airport Airtrain Monorail System, Crush load systems operation analysis for planned new Seattle Monorail system, NYMTA Independent Engineering Consultant for new train procurements (NYCT, LIRR, MNR).
(Maintenance/Repairs/Overhaul)
1984 to 1997Managed inspection, maintenance and repairs for a fleet of 400 revenue and work cars with 300 employees. Also managed manpower and materials budgeting for division personnel for day-today operations as well as projects and contracted services. Additionally, as Supervisor of Technical Services, performed engineering and supervised the technical staff, including engineers, MIS specialists, training supervisor and a quality control specialist, while managing the efforts of staff and technical consultants engaged in the analysis of fleet performance and scope development for the mid-life overhaul project.
Delivered engineering and supervision of staff in the evaluation of individual and fleet defects to all rolling stock in PATH’s revenue and work train fleets. Mechanical and electrical equipment defects arising from equipment failures including derailments and fires were evaluated, root causes determined and corrective action plans developed. Managed test/measurement equipment calibration program supporting vehicle maintenance activities.
Developed and implemented maintenance and equipment modifications to achieve safe and reliable service in accordance with industry standards and federal regulations.
Disciplinary Officer 1995-1996
Served as Disciplinary Officer for the Car Equipment Division conducting hearings addressing unionized employees charged with violations of work rules. Hearings were conducted in accordance with local contracts (between PATH Corporation and multiple unions) and national union leadership/representation rules. Rendered local recommendations that fed into agency decision-making for type and duration of disciplinary actions that were subject to appeals at local and national levels.
Instructor 1994-1997
Delivered technical instruction to PATH’s personnel in a three year apprentice program. Developed curriculum and instructed in live classrooms four courses; Mathematics, Blueprint Reading, Electrical Theory 1, and Electrical Theory 2. Semester long courses included instruction in theoretical concepts as well as hands on use of measuring instruments. Prepared and administered testing with pass/fail requirements for completion of the courses for certification of inspectors and repair technicians to staff PATH’s rail vehicle maintenance organization.
Technical Services Consultant 1992-1994
Provided technical support to facility operations and capital improvement programs for rail, tunnel and bridge facilities (including Holland & Lincoln Tunnels, Bayonne/Outerbridge/Goethals/GWB Bridges and P.A. Bus Terminal). Tasks included assessment of electrical and mechanical conditions. Assessments were then used to provide details for scoping of repairs and reconstruction, as well as data and guidance to asset management programs for agency facility systems.
Rail Vehicle Procurement Project Manager 1990-1992
Provided engineering and project management services for the purchase of 95 new cars and the complete overhaul of 250 rail transit cars. Served as Resident Engineer in two different plants performing overhaul. Assessed contractor designs/plans for implementation of repairs to vehicle structures and equipment mounting with respect to safety and functionality. Monitored testing of individual systems as well as completely overhauled vehicles.
Design Project Manager 1987-1990
Managed agency and consultant teams designing the JFK International Airport Automated People Mover Systems.
Senior Engineer 1984 – 1987
Provided engineering services including design and implementation of rail vehicles and rail maintenance facilities modifications. Supported machine shop operations including specification and procurement of machine tools followed by interface between manufacturers and machinists for training and warranty execution. Provided specification of facility modifications and directed both internal facility maintenance/construction forces and outside contractors.
Surveyor – Electrical and Controls
1982 to 1984Performed analysis and approval of shipboard electrical and control systems for US Flag vessels. Reviewed designs for compliance with ABS rules and identified specific deficiencies that would preclude certifications so that designers and shipbuilders could initiate clear corrective actions.
3rd Assistant / 2nd Assistant Engineer
1979 to 1982Provided engineering services on board Gulf Oil and Texaco ocean going tankers. Responsibilities included all aspects of operating and maintaining shipboard propulsion and power equipment associated with cargo handling and hotel loads. Performed machine repairs and maintenance addressing normal and emergency needs for all onboard systems. Used machine shop tools to fabricate and repair components and parts on board ship. Performed welding for repairs and fabrication of shipboard components and piping.
M.S., Management, Executive Program, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 1997
B.E., Marine Engineering, SUNY Maritime College, 1979
v. 02/16/21
Train door systems are associated with a high number of passenger injuries and are typically the source of the greatest number of incidents that cause train operating delays. In this article, Rail…
In this article, Mechanical Engineer & Rail Systems Expert, Steve Noonan, P.E., discusses the incidence of injuries involving overhead doors. His discussion includes an overview of overhead door…