404.216.6497
ABOUT CROSSTOWN CONSULTING
OVER 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE
BRIAN P. HEIKKILA
Railroad Consultant
Crosstown Consulting Associates, LLC (CCA, LLC) is a Medford, Oregon based company providing railroad consulting and expert witness services to railroads and railroad related entities throughout the United States.
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Mr. Heikkila has more than 40 years of experience in the industry in the areas of railroad safety, training, operating practices, mechanical matters and regulatory compliance.
Professional Biography
I am the principal owner of Crosstown Consulting Associates, LLC with more than forty years of experience in the railroad industry in the areas of railroad safety, operating practices, and mechanical matters.
I have a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University at Sacramento, CA in Business Administration, and hold current federal certification as a locomotive engineer.
During my career I have held a variety of positions including switchman, brakeman, conductor, certified locomotive engineer, assistant trainmaster, certified designated supervisor of locomotive engineers, director of locomotive engineer training, director of safety, director of security, assistant chief mechanical officer, chief mechanical officer, superintendent, and assistant vice president of operations planning and analysis.
Since becoming a railroad consultant in 2000, I have provided a range of consulting services to clients to include training, safety audits, equipment inspections, locomotive event recorder analysis, locomotive video analysis, and railroad accident/incident inspections and investigations. I have also provided expert witness services in litigated matters for dozens of clients over the years, to include material review and analysis, site and equipment inspections, report preparation, as well as deposition and trial testimony. Cases I have worked on have involved grade crossing collisions, derailments, rail equipment accidents, trespasser/pedestrian incidents, as well as incidents involving injuries to railroad employees and 3rd parties.
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During my career I have operated thousands of trains under the varied conditions found throughout the United States. As a railroad officer I have trained, supervised and qualified hundreds of train service employees including conductors, locomotive engineers, and operations supervisors. I have also developed, implemented and managed numerous railroad safety and rules programs including locomotive engineer certification programs (49 CFR Part 240). I have investigated hundreds of railroad accidents and incidents and have been qualified as an expert witness in the areas of railroad safety, training, operating practices, and mechanical matters including train stopping distance, locomotive event recorder data analysis and locomotive video analysis in numerous federal and state courts.
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I am a member of several professional organizations including the Air Brake Association, the International Association of Railway Operating Officers, and the American Association of Railroad Superintendents. I am also a past member of the Chicago Rail Carriers Association, The Car Department Officers Association (CDOA), the Locomotive Maintenance Officer's' Association (LMOA), and have participated in several national projects including the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Power Brake Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC), and FRA Dynamic Brake Task Force. I am also familiar with the requirements of federal regulations governing railroad operations as contained in 49 CFR Parts 200-299.
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There is no charge for an initial consultation, and references are available upon request.
EXPERIENCE
May 2017 – Present
Crosstown Consulting Associates, LLC
Medford, OR
Railroad Consultant
Provide clients with timely and accurate analysis of railroad operational issues. Provide training in railroad safety, rules, and operating practices including engineer training. Conduct operational and safety audits. Provide locomotive event recorder and locomotive video analysis. Provide services as a consulting and/or testifying expert in railroad mechanical, operating, and engineering disciplines. Provide technical consulting support from accident/incident response through case analysis and report preparation including consulting and/or testifying expert witness services if requested.
July 2015 – May 2017
Dennin, Heikkila, & Associates, LLC
Peachtree City, GA
Senior Vice President
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Provide clients with timely and accurate analysis of railroad operational issues. Provide training in railroad safety, rules, and operating practices including engineer training. Conduct operational and safety audits. Provide locomotive event recorder and locomotive video analysis. Provide services as a consulting and/or testifying expert in railroad mechanical, operating, and engineering disciplines. Provide technical consulting support from accident/incident response through case analysis and report preparation including consulting and/or testifying expert witness services if requested.
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April 2002 – July 2015
Full Service Railroad Consulting, Inc.
Peachtree City, GA
Partner
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Provide clients with timely and accurate analysis of railroad operational issues. Provide training in railroad safety, rules, and operating practices including engineer training. Conduct operational and safety audits. Provide locomotive event recorder and locomotive video analysis. Provide services as a consulting and/or testifying expert in railroad mechanical, operating, and engineering disciplines. Provide technical consulting support from accident/incident response through case analysis and report preparation including consulting and/or testifying expert witness services if requested.
June 2000 – March 2002
Rail Sciences Inc.
Atlanta, GA
Assistant Vice President of Operations, Planning, and Analysis
Responsible for the use and application of advanced analytical techniques for the solution of railway operational problems. Performed accident and derailment investigations, railroad operational and safety studies, mechanical inspections, physical testing, and railroad training. Performed field investigations of crossing collisions and derailments. Analyzed locomotive event recorder data and train stopping distance. Provided consulting and testifying expert witness services in numerous railroad lawsuits involving trespasser incidents, grade crossing collisions, and employee injuries.
December 1997 - June 2000
I&M Rail Link, LLC
Davenport, IA
Superintendent of Operations
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Responsible for the supervision and management of the operations department of the railroad including classification yard and over the road train operations. Initial territory included the Southern Division between Chicago, IL and Kansas City, MO. Territory was expanded to include the entire railroad after January of 2000 including 1100 miles of main line and approximately 350 employees. Certified Train Service Locomotive Engineer and Designated Supervisor of Locomotive Engineers (DSLE) in accordance with 49 CFR Part 240.
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1989 - 1997
Montana Rail Link, Inc.
Missoula, MT
Chief Mechanical Officer
January 1997 - December 1997
Assistant Chief Mechanical Officer
November 1994 - January 1997
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Responsible for the supervision and management of the mechanical department which included 200 employees, 3 rail car and locomotive repair shops, approximately 125 locomotives and 1800 rail cars. Also responsible for the inspection, testing, and repair of rail cars handled in interchange across the railroad.
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Director, Training, Rules & Safety Department
January 1990 – November 1994 and Director of Security
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Responsible for the training and safety of all operating crafts system wide at MRL, as well as the security needs of the railroad. Developed implemented and managed the locomotive engineer certification program, operations testing program, rules training and testing programs. Developed, implemented, and managed the drug and alcohol testing program for the railroad. Certified Train Service Locomotive Engineer and Designated Supervisor of Locomotive Engineers (DSLE) in accordance with 49 CFR Part 240. Developed and implemented airbrake and train handling rules. Developed cold weather training program for extreme operating conditions in mountain grade territories. Served as corporate manager of the FRA Safety Assurance and Compliance Program (SACP).
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Director of Locomotive Engineer Training
October 1989 – January 1990
Directed and managed the locomotive engineer training program for the MRL system.
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1969 – 1989
Burlington Northern Railroad
Various Locations
Asst. Manager Locomotive Engineer Training
Overland Park, KS
January 1988 – October 1989
Trained and qualified locomotive engineers for the Burlington Northern Railroad system wide. Developed, implemented, and managed locomotive engineer training programs including General Code of Operating Rules, General Safety Rules, Airbrake and Train Handling Rules, and applicable federal regulations. Trained and tested employees using locomotive simulators, including the IITRI TS2 and TS3 models.
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Assistant Trainmaster
Spokane, WA
February 1987– January 1988
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Responsible for the field supervision of train and yard crews of the Spokane Division. Provided instruction on the General Code of Operating Rules, General Safety Rules, Airbrake and Train Handling Rules, and applicable federal regulations to operating employees. Performed locomotive event recorder analysis. Conducted operations tests throughout the Division. Investigated crossing collisions, derailments, and other railroad incidents including rules infractions and employee injuries.
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Railroad Operations
May 1969 – February 1987
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Locomotive Engineer
Whitefish, MT
March 1985 - February 1987
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Operated freight and passenger trains over the main line mountain grade corridor between Whitefish, MT and Havre, MT and between Whitefish, MT and Spokane, WA.
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Locomotive Engineer
Missoula, MT
November 1984 - March 1985
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Operated freight and passenger trains over the main line mountain grade corridor and branch lines between Missoula, MT and Helena, MT, Missoula, MT and Butte, MT, and between Missoula, MT and Spokane, WA.
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Special Representative for the International President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) , Western USA
August 1984 - November 1984
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Represented the International President of the BLE on all railroad properties west of the Mississippi River. Attended Division meetings and performed liaison and membership recruitment duties on behalf of the International Office.
Locomotive Engineer
Whitefish, MT
June 1982 - August 1984
Locomotive Engineer
Missoula, MT
February 1978 - June 1982
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Switchman, Brakeman, Conductor
Missoula, MT
July 1976 - February 1978​
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Railroad leave of absence granted for enlistment in USMC
January 1970 - January 1972
(Honorable discharge Corporal, E-4).
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Switchman, Brakeman
Missoula, MT
May 1969 - July 1976
EDUCATION
1979 - 1980 B.S Business Administration, California State University, Sacramento, CA
(Note CA college work done while on GI Bill Leave of Absence from BN)
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1978 Graduated from the Burlington Northern Railroad Locomotive Engineer Training Program and promoted to Locomotive Engineer
1976 - 1977 Attended University of Montana, Missoula, MT
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1975 Graduated, Sacramento City College, AA Degree
SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING
July 2021
Montana Rail Link, Inc.
Missoula, MT
Locomotive Engineer Recertification training and testing on the General Code of Operating Rules (GCOR), Air Brake and Train Handling Rules, Safety Rules, U.S. Rail Security Awareness Guidelines, U.S. Hazardous Materials Instructions for Rail, Remote Control Locomotive Operations (RCO), Distributed Power Operations (DPU), Physical Characteristics of the Railroad, and pertinent Federal Regulations in 49 CFR Parts 200-299. Conductor Recertification Training in accordance with 49 CFR Part 242. Federally certified as a Train Service Locomotive Engineer and Instructor Engineer in accordance with 49 CFR Part 240.
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April 2018
Montana Rail Link, Inc.
Missoula, MT
Locomotive Engineer Recertification training and testing on the General Code of Operating Rules (GCOR), Air Brake and Train Handling Rules, Safety Rules, U.S. Rail Security Awareness Guidelines, U.S. Hazardous Materials Instructions for Rail, Remote Control Locomotive Operations (RCO), Distributed Power Operations (DPU), Physical Characteristics of the Railroad, and pertinent Federal Regulations in 49 CFR Parts 200-299. Conductor Recertification Training in accordance with 49 CFR Part 242. Federally certified as a Train Service Locomotive Engineer and Instructor Engineer in accordance with 49 CFR Part 240.
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May 2015
Montana Rail Link, Inc.
Missoula, MT
Locomotive Engineer Recertification training and testing on the General Code of Operating Rules (GCOR), Air Brake and Train Handling Rules, Safety Rules, U.S. Rail Security Awareness Guidelines, U.S. Hazardous Materials Instructions for Rail, Remote Control Locomotive Operations (RCO), Distributed Power Operations (DPU), Physical Characteristics of the Railroad, and pertinent Federal Regulations in 49 CFR Parts 200-299. Conductor Recertification Training in accordance with 49 CFR Part 242. Federally certified as a Train Service Locomotive Engineer and Instructor Engineer in accordance with 49 CFR Part 240.
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November 2012
Montana Rail Link, Inc.
Missoula, MT
Locomotive Engineer Recertification Training on the General Code of Operating Rules (GCOR), Air Brake and Train Handling Rules, Safety Rules, U.S. Hazardous Materials Instructions for Rail, Remote Control Locomotive Operations (RCO), Distributed Power Operations (DPU), Physical Characteristics of the Railroad, and Pertinent Federal Regulations in 49 CFR 200-299
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October 2011
Canadian National Railway (US)
Flat Rock, MI
Training class on the Operating Rules, Safety Rules, Air Brake and Train Handling Rules, and Hazardous Materials Regulations
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July 2002
Quantum Engineering, Inc.
Orange Park, FL
Training class on event recorder data analysis and operation of QDP Software.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
1997 - 2000 Member, Safety Committee, American Shortline and Regional Railroad Association
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1997 - 2000 Alternate Member, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC)
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1997 - 2000 Member, Chicago Rail Carriers Association
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1996 Member, Superintendents’ Association of Kansas City
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1996 Member, FRA-RSAC Power Brake Working Committee
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1997 Member, FRA-RSAC Dynamic Brake Task Force
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1993 - 1997 Member, Locomotive Maintenance Officers Association (LMOA)
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1991 - Present Member, American Association of Railroad Superintendents
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1988 - Present Member, Air Brake Association
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1988 - 1997 Member, Montana Operation Lifesaver, Board member in 1990
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1987 - Present International Association of Railway Operating Officers, Past Vice President
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1982 - 1987 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Division 499, Whitefish, MT
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1978 - 1982 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Division 262, Missoula, MT
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1969 - 1978 United Transportation Union #978 T/C, Missoula, MT