Welcome to the American Railroading Podcast! In this episode our host Don Walsh, is joined by guest Patty Long, President of the Railway Supply Institute (RSI), based in Washington, DC. Together they discuss the resources RSI provides the railroad industry as a whole, as well as services they provide for their members as a trade association, the jobs the railway supply industry creates, the impact the industry has on the U.S. Economy as well as an update on shipping LNG by rail tank cars. Tune in to this episode now to gain valuable insights and broaden your understanding of American Railroading. You can find the episode on the American Railroading Podcast's official website at www.AmericanRailroading.net . Welcome aboard!

KEY POINTS: 

• The American Railroading Podcast has a YouTube channel (@AmericanRailroadingPodcast) and is soon joining Instagram!
• Patty Long has over 30 years of experience in government relations, public affairs, and communications.
• (Per RSI) The Railway Supply Institute is the only all-inclusive trade association for railway suppliers, representing more than 250 companies including manufacturers, railcar owners, lessors and shippers.
• RSI was originally created by combining two associations, the Rail Progress Institute and Rail Supply Association. 
• While RSI is based in Washington, DC., they are not a government entity, they are a trade association who act on behalf of their members, including with the FAST Act, as an example.
• In addition to their interaction with government agencies, RSI also works closely with the Association of American Railroads (AAR), including the AAR Tank Car Committee’s, Tank Car Safety Project via the RSICTC (RSI Committee on Tank Cars).
• One of Patty’s goals is to raise people’s awareness of the importance of the railway supply industry.
• The railway supply industry is a major contributor to the U.S. economy, supporting nearly 700k jobs, $76B in GDP and $15.5B in tax contributions.
• The PHMSA HM-264A ruling issued 09/01/23 was not a ban on shipping fossil fuels by rail.
• There need to be incentives to ensure the continued growth of the railway industry.

LINKS MENTIONED: 

https://www.americanrailroading.net/ 

https://therevolutionrailgroup.com/ 

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dwalshX 

https://www.RSIweb.org 

https://AAR.org