Developing new technology to make the industry safer

Jason Kahn

Growing up in sunny California, Jason Kahn dreamt of going into heavy civil construction—building railroads, highways and bridges—working on the kinds of huge projects that change the face of cities across America. Before joining Herzog’s national construction team, he'd considered railroads pretty basic. “I'd always thought they were very simple, a couple of rails made of steel,” the young industrial engineer recalls. Then, after seeing ultrasonic testing being done on two welded pieces of rail, Kahn was forever hooked.

Now Jason's Herzog group does ultrasonic rail testing, applying the same basic ultrasound principles an obstetrician uses to check an unborn baby to monitor the physical integrity of the rails themselves. “We think of it as a big, strong hunk of steel, but in reality there are defects in the steel itself that if allowed to go undetected can break,” Kahn says.

Kahn likens the technique to standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon, shouting then listening and timing how long it takes your voice to come back. “We find defects in rails before they cause an accident,” he says of Herzog's ultrasound testing. “I'm proud we're developing new technology that's literally changing the industry by making it safer.”

For Kahn, the biggest challenge today's railroads face is ensuring that the rules and regulations imposed on the industry move hand-in-hand with technology advancements. A personal challenge? To make the house he shares with his wife and two young children in St. Joseph, Missouri, feel more like California. “I always keep the thermostat set at about 80,” he admits. “I love the heat.”

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