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Industry Insights: Keeping Rail Rolling: A Cross-Disciplinary Look at Locomotive and Rail Lubrication
Description
Locomotive and rail lubrication touches nearly every aspect of railroad operations — from wheel/rail friction control to engine emissions compliance to fleet reliability. This panel, presented in collaboration between LMOA's Fuels, Lubes & Environmental Committee and STLE, brings together experts spanning the lubrication lifecycle: friction modification and rail lube application, the contribution of lubricating oil to locomotive emissions, oil and grease asset condition studies, and locomotive lubrication best practices. Because attendees may have varying familiarity with the rail industry, the session opens with a brief primer on rail fundamentals before panelists share perspectives from their respective specialties. The panel closes with open discussion and questions to spark follow-up sessions on these topics. Attendees will leave with a broader view of how lubrication decisions ripple across friction, emissions, and asset management.
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Contributors
Michael Cleveland
Michael Cleveland is the Director of Market Strategy at
Peaker Services, where he leads new product development, strategy, and
improvement initiatives. He previously led alternative energy programs at BNSF
and Progress Rail, focusing on battery-electric, hybrid, and hydrogen
locomotives. Michael also active on various industry and government advisory
boards, such as the U.S. EPA’s MSTRS and the AAR’s locomotive committee. He
holds a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M and a Bachelor’s
in Physics from Austin College.
Wayne Kennedy
Wayne Kennedy, a native of Montreal,
Canada, served for ten years in the Royal Canadian Air Force as both a
Helicopter Technician and Recruit Drill Instructor.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in
Mechanical Engineering from Brigham Young University and an MBA from the
University of Nebraska Omaha.
With more than 30 years of
experience in the rail industry, Wayne established a fuel conservation group at
a major Class I railroad, resulting in an improvement of over 12% in fuel
efficiency.
He actively advocates for
technologies aimed at reducing GHG emissions from locomotives, including the
application of freight car aerodynamics.
For the past eight years, Wayne
has provided consulting services to the rail industry and holds six patents,
primarily in the field of rail aerodynamics.
Steve Fritz
Steve Fritz is the Sr. Manager of the Locomotive Technology Center at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in San Antonio, Texas. He received his BS & MS Degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University and is a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Texas.
Steve leads the team of 12 engineers and technicians at SwRI focused on improving fuel efficiency and reducing air pollution from locomotives.
Steve is a Fellow of ASME International and was the Past Chairman of the ASME Internal Combustion Engine Division. He has published over 200 technical reports and publications and has made numerous presentations in this field.
Linda Perry
Linda Perry serves as a Business Development Executive with the Viswa Group, a global leader in oil, grease, fuel, and coolant testing. In this role, she helps organizations in mining, manufacturing, and energy industries strengthen reliability, optimize maintenance, and ensure compliance through accredited testing and decision-ready insights — matching, or "marrying," clients with the right resources to solve their reliability challenges. With 38 years of experience in the reliability industry, Linda is currently pursuing a PhD in Management at the University of Phoenix. She is passionate about connecting people, processes, and technology to drive performance and value, and is an active member of LMOA, STLE, ASTM, SMRP, ANS, NLGI, and AWO.
Luke Rawding
Luke Rawding serves as Railroad Business Manager for American Refining Group in Bradford, Pennsylvania. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sales, Marketing & Advertising from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. Luke currently serves as Vice-Chair of the LMOA Fuels, Lubricants and Environmental Committee. With 20 years of experience in the lubricants industry, his experience spans the Railroad Industry, Blended Lubricants, and Refinery Oils. Luke has also dedicated more than a decade to professional industry organizations, including serving as an officer for the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE). He is also a contributing member of the Pittsburgh and Cleveland Chemical Groups, reflecting his ongoing commitment to professional development and collaboration across the lubricants and chemical industries