First Analytics to Present at WRI 2025 Heavy Haul Conference

First Analytics will be co-presenting at the upcoming WRI 2025 Heavy Haul Conference, to be held June 11–12 in Kansas City, Missouri. The conference, hosted by Wheel-Rail Seminars, focuses on topics related to wheel and rail system performance in railroad heavy haul operations.

We will be presenting alongside Kennedy Consulting on the topic of “Statistical Analysis of Locomotive Wheel Flange Lubrication.”  The presentation explores the impact of solid stick lubrication on fuel consumption and wheel wear — two factors with significant operational and environmental implications for freight railroads.

The talk presents the results of both real-world testing and statistical modeling, including the use of ANCOVA and Monte Carlo simulations to isolate the effect of lubrication from other sources of variation.  These methods help establish fuel savings with greater confidence than raw comparisons of test and control groups.  The analysis also considers potential wheel life extensions due to reduced rim and flange wear.

Locomotive lubrication is one of many technologies that may support the rail industry’s decarbonization goals, including those aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).  However, as the presentation notes, adoption often depends on being able to demonstrate tangible benefits.  The First Analytics team applies rigorous statistical approaches to help strengthen the case for this technology.

More on our work in this area can be found on the Fuel Conservation page of our website.  If you are unable to attend and are interested in the seeing the content of the presentation, contact us to arrange for a separate one-on-one meeting.