RAILROAD SAFETY CONSULTANT/EXPERT WITNESS
Nicholas A. Covell
Curriculum Vitae (05/06)
2194 Pebblestone Lane
Lincoln. CA 95648
(916) 408-8837 Home and Fax
(916) 412-3312 Cell
E-Mail: rrssafcon@aol.com |
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Mr. Covell has approximately 32 years combined railroad safety regulatory and railroad operating experience. For 15 years Mr. Covell was employed by The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in the Operating Practices field.
Duties included conducting and later supervising railroad accident investigations to determine probable cause. He initiated and scheduled regular inspection involving FRA Operating Practice Regulations which encompass:
49 CFR Part 217 Railroad Operating Rules
49 CFR Part 218 Railroad Operating Rules – Blue Signal Protection
49 CFR Part 219 Control of Alcohol and Drug Use
49 CFR Part 220 Railroad Communications (Radio Rules)
49 CFR Part 221 Rear End Marking Device – Passenger, Commuter and Freight Trains
49 CFR Part 225 Railroad Accident/Incidents Reports Classification, and Investigations (Accident Reporting)
49 CFR Part 228 Hours of Service of Railroad Employees (HOS Recordkeeping)
49 CFR Part 239 Passenger Train Emergency Preparedness
49 CFR Part 240 Qualification and Certification of Locomotive Engineers
Public Law 103-272-Chapter 211, Sections 21001-21109 – Hours of Service Law
Experience, Regulatory
06/96-3/03 |
Railroad Safety Specialist (Operating Practices) Federal Railroad Administration Mr. Covell retired in March 2003 as Regional Operating Practices Specialist FRA Region 7 Sacramento, CA.
A Railroad Safety Specialist is responsible for the oversight of a discipline specific program within an FRA Region, as an Operating Practices Specialist, Mr. Covell was responsible for a program of operating practices inspection in a four state area including, California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah. He was responsible for the oversight of approximately 20 Federal and FRA State Operating Practices Inspectors. In addition to investigation and report writing for numerous complaints concerning non compliance with Federal regulations from railroad employees and the general public. Mr. Covell worked in the field frequently riding trains and working with inspectors. Mr. Covell acted as a team leader at many audits and group inspections.
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06/88-06/96 |
During this period Mr. Covell was an FRA Operating Practices Inspector at Chicago, IL and Denver, CO. An Operating Practices Inspector is responsible for accident investigation, compliant investigation and regular inspection in a geographic area. In Chicago the area was parts of Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. In Denver the area was the State of Colorado, part of Nebraska and part of Kansas. |
Experience – Railroad Operating
Burlington Northern Railroad Alliance, NE – Sterling, CO 1978 -1988
Brakeman, Conductor (1980) Locomotive Engineer (1987)
Panama Railroad Balboa, C.Z. – US Government 1977
Locomotive Engineer
Alaska Railroad, Anchorage, AK 1974 – 1977
Locomotive Fireman – Engineer
Colorado and Southern Railway Denver, CO 1970 – 1971
Locomotive Fireman
Long Island Railroad Jamaica, NY, NY 1968
Locomotive Fireman
Penn Central Transport Company, NY. NY 1968
Locomotive Fireman
Military
USAF 1960 – 1964
Education
Antioch University Yellow Springs, Ohio
B/A 1987 Labor Studies
Job Related Training (FRA)
Railroad Accident Investigation – 1989
Railroad Noise Emission Compliance – 1989
Basic Operating Practices Course – 1991
Alcohol and Drug Compliance Course – 1992
Locomotive Engineer Certification – 1996
Fatigue Counter Measure Seminar (NASA) – 1996
Alcohol and Drug Compliance Course – 1997
Railroad Accident Reporting – 1997
Train and Yard Operations – 1998
GCOR and Control System Review (Train Dispatching) – 1999
Basic Investigation Skills – 1999
Railroad Operating Methodologies - 1999
Accident Investigations Fundamentals – 2000
Operating Practices Investigations and Reporting – 2000
Train Handling Techniques – 2001
Railroad Operating Rules – 2002
Most classes were week long classes (40 hours)
Operation Lifesaver
Presenter WY OL 1992
Grade Crossing Collision Investigation Trinidad, CO 1991
Awards (FRA)
Superior Achievement Award – 1997 (For exemplary leadership and significant contributions to enhance rail safety)
Team Award – Research reactor spent nuclear fuel train – 1999
Team Award – Complaint backlog – 1999
Cash Spot Award – 1995
Letter of Commendation – Accident Investigation
1992 BNSF Logan, WY
Major Projects
Drug and Alcohol Review – Kansas City Southern Railway 1993 – Team Leader
Cajon Pass Follow up Review BNSF – UPRR 1997 – Team Leader
Locomotive Mover Audit – UPRR Roseville, CA 1998 – Team Leader
Amtrak – Train Riding Health Audit – joint with USDA Inspector 1994
Major BNSF Train Riding and Records Audit – System Wide – 1994 Team Member
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