George Payne joins PDI Rail Solutions as Vice President

Mr. Payne brings over 32 years of mechanical, operational, and project engineering experience to the firm.  His past career achievements are significant.  Early in Mr. Payne’s career, he served as a General Foreman – Running Maintenance for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) in Detroit, Michigan.  His freight experience includes serving as General Manager and Senior Operating Officer for two short-line railroads.  From 1983 to 1994, Mr. Payne worked with the Maryland Mass Transportation Administration as the Chief Mechanical Officer for their MARC Train Service.   He has been a railroad consultant for the past 13 years, most recently as a Senior Consultant with Virginkar and Associates.  When asked to comment on Mr. Payne’s addition to the PDI Rail Solutions Team, PDI President & CEO Bob Andrews stated, “George Payne is a well-known treasure within the rail and transit industry.  In addition to his vast experience in our field, he is an accomplished senior industry resource and mentor who shares knowledge, extends himself to be helpful, and above all, is a true gentleman.  His industry reputation is superb and I am exceptionally proud that George has elected to join PDI Rail Solutions”.

In his new role as Vice President, Mr. Payne will provide consulting services on a broad spectrum of rail and operational issues.  He will provide his expertise in the areas of rail equipment as well as operational issues related to locomotives and vehicles.  In this capacity, Mr. Payne will also provide equipment assessments and projections for maintenance operations and protocols, component life cycles and operational procedures and standards. He will also provide assessment of inspection cycles to meet conformance with FRA standards.

PDI clients will benefit from Mr. Payne’s significant experience in quality inspection, engineering, and project management related to rail vehicles. He and his team will be available to develop specifications, inspect remanufactured locomotives, and oversee the procurement of new and remanufactured commuter rail cars, car conversions, and locomotives. He has a strong hands-on QA/QC background that includes conducting Pre-Shipment Inspections (PSIs), First Article Inspections (FAIs), Source Inspections and Acceptance Inspections on new and rehabilitated rail cars, locomotives, freight cars, and transit equipment.

Mr. Payne continues to actively participate on the following American Public Transit Association (APTA) committees: Commuter Rail Equipment, Rewrite of Passenger Car Standards, Air Brake, and Railroad Equipment Safety Standards.  He is also a partner in The Catalpa Falls Group, LLC, a luxury private railroad passenger car charter and leasing company.

Mr. Payne earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Science from Adrian College in 1966 and has completed graduate coursework in Biology, Education, and Teaching at Western Michigan University and John Carroll University.  He has completed continuing education coursework in Rail Management at the University of Tennessee.

In his new role with PDI Rail Solutions, Mr. Payne will be both a technical resource to clients, as well as provide significant managerial direction to this PDI division.  He will report directly to PDI President & CEO, Robert C. Andrews, Jr., and will be based in Linthicum, Maryland.  He can be reached via e-mail at gfpayne@PDIRail.com.

About Protection Development, Incorporated (PDI):

Founded in 1985 as a fire protection engineering firm, PDI provides a full spectrum of fire protection engineering services including sprinkler and fire alarm design, fire and smoke modeling, and performance-based designs offering innovative solutions to complex fire and life-safety challenges.  In addition, PDI provides consulting services for fire, building, and life-safety code compliance, including plans review and the issuance of commodity letters.  PDI also provides government third-party plan review services on behalf of local, state, and federal agencies. In addition to its engineering and consulting services, PDI, through its Permitting Section, assists its clients in negotiating the complex permitting process, managing that process from initial application, through all necessary inspections, to final Certificate-of-Occupancy.

Protection Development, Incorporated (PDI) is a Texas Registered Engineering Firm (Firm Number F-2816), licensed under the authority of the Texas Board of Professional Engineers (TBPE).  PDI is a Bob Andrews Group Company (www.BobAndrewsGroup.com).

About PDI Rail Solutions:
In June 2009, PDI expanded its commitment to the rail / transit consulting business by launching a new, dedicated division, aimed specifically at that industry.  The new division is called PDI Rail Solutions (www.PDIRail.com).
PDI Rail Solutions provides comprehensive consulting and project management services divided into the following nine areas of expertise:

– Equipment and System Analysis

– Inspection and Project Oversight

– New Commuter Rail and Passenger Services (Mechanical)

– New Commuter Rail and Passenger Services (Operations)

– Operations, Maintenance, and Planning Support

– Passenger Equipment – Fire Safety Standards

– Private Rail Car Services and Special Trains

– Regulatory Compliance

– Specification Writing