Full-Scale Vehicle Testing Laboratory

The TTC is outfitted with one-of-a-kind lab rig equipment to evaluate full-sized rail vehicles and other large, heavy vehicles to their full extent.

Testing includes shock & vibration, structural stress testing, and crush load testing.

Lab Rig Testing At A Glance

Vibration Test Unit (VTU)

  • Whole body vibration testing of rail vehicles or other large vehicle types
  • 2 to 30Hz vibrations
  • Maximum Applied Load: 50 kips (222 kN)
  • Maximum Applied Displacement: 6in (152mm)

Applications:

  • Structural vibration testing Identify flexible modes
  • Ride quality assessments
  • Vehicle component vibration testing

Simuloader

  • Full rail vehicle stress testing
  • 13 Hydraulic Actuators
  • Maximum Applied Load: 750 kips (3.34 MN)
  • Maximum Applied Displacement: 12in (305mm)

Applications:

  • Structural stress and deflection testing
  • Structural fatigue testing
  • Life extension studies

Squeeze Test Fixture

  • Compression testing of whole rail vehicles
  • Max Load: 2,600 kips (11.6 MN)

Applications:

  • Crush compliance testing
  • Structural stress testing
  • Corner post testing
  • Collision post testing

Mini-Shaker Unit (MSU)

  • Suspension vibration testing
  • 13 Hydraulic Actuators
  • Maximum Applied Load: 210 kips (934 kN)
  • Airbag assisted bearing table for yaw displacements

Applications:

  • Assess truck (bogie) vertical, lateral, roll, yaw performance
  • Truck (Bogie) Yaw Resistance testing
  • Component testing

Meet Our Keynote Speaker

Gerhard “Gery” Williams is Executive Vice President, Service Delivery & Operations, serving in this role since July 2022. Gery leads an organization focused primarily on safely and reliably delivering Amtrak services to customers, operating and maintaining the company’s core railroad assets – including infrastructure and rail car and locomotive fleets – and driving process improvement and efficiencies across the Amtrak network.

Service Delivery & Operations (SD&O) consists of the Transportation, Mechanical, Infrastructure Maintenance & Construction Services (IMCS), Customer Service Stations, Onboard Services and Food & Beverage, California Operations, Operations Integration and Network Support functions.

Gery had served as Senior Vice President, SD&O, since January 2022 and was responsible for the newly created IMCS group, which encompasses engineering production and maintenance functions. He also led day-to-day core service delivery across the SD&O organization, driving continuous improvement to safety, customer service and productivity. 

Prior to joining Amtrak in June 2017 as Vice President and Chief Engineer, he had spent almost three decades at CSX Transportation. Gery held a wide range of senior leadership roles, including Vice President, Mechanical Operations; Chief Mechanical Officer – Locomotives; AVP Network Operations – Locomotive Management; and Division Manager. In his last position at CSX as VP, Mechanical Operations, he reported to the Chief Operating Officer and directed a team of 3,800 employees responsible for the maintenance and repair of a combined fleet of 70,000 locomotives and rail cars. Early in his profession, Gery held various positions including trainmaster, manager of safety and terminal manager.

Across his long railroad career, Gery has consistently demonstrated collaborative and data-driven leadership and an ability to manage complex transportation, mechanical and engineering challenges successfully, with safety and efficiency.

Gery graduated from Drexel University with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce and Engineering. He also holds a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing from the Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management at Claremont Graduate University.

Gery M. Williams III

Gery M. Williams III

Executive Vice President,
Service Delivery & Operations