Heavy Haul of Fame Recipient - 2011

Pierre Christo Lombard,

Pierre Christo Lombard was inducted into the Heavy Haul of Fame at the 2011 Conference in Calgary, Canada. He is presently Programme Manager, Chair in Railway Engineering, University of Pretoria and Consulting Engineer.

Pierre holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in civil engineering from the University of Pretoria, with distinction, and participated in the executive management training programs of the University of the Witwatersrand as well as the Kellogg Business School, North Western University in Chicago.

He is a registered professional engineer and a Fellow of both the SA Institution of Civil Engineering and the SA Academy of Engineers with close to 47 years experience in constructing, maintaining, managing, educating and consulting in railways. The majority of this experience was gained during a long career from 1963 to 2000 with Transnet where he progressed to the position of General Manager. As civil engineer he was responsible for various portfolios including railway construction, track maintenance and track research & development. In 1980 he moved to general railway management as Regional Manager and later as General Manager, Heavy Haul Operations.

As Head of Heavy Haul lines Pierre was instrumental in increasing the axle loads on the Ore line from 25 to 30 ton. He guided and convinced the Sishen-Saldanha business unit (Orex) and Transnet Management to increase the axle load on the Sishen Saldanha line from 26 to 30 ton axle loads. The basis of the motivation was on the overall economic value to the company while the technical aspects were based on scientific analysis. Pierre’s contribution to the development of heavy haul lines in South Africa in terms of the thinking, economics and technical standards is enormous.

While still with Transnet, Pierre was instrumental in setting-up the University of Pretoria, Chair of Railway Engineering in developing post-graduate courses at the university and at keeping these courses going over the decade. He persuaded Transnet management to set up and sponsor the chair.

After Pierre’s retirement from Transnet in 2001 he was appointed as Programme Manager, Chair in Railway Engineering, University of Pretoria to further the process of knowledge transfer to the railway industry. He presently holds this position today.

Pierre represented Transnet and South Africa on the Board of Directors of the International Heavy Haul Association (IHHA) from 1993 to 2000 and was Chairman of this board from 1997 to 1999.

Pierre's contributions to Railway Engineering in general and heavy haul railways in particular, is quite significant. He contributed significantly to the development and management of Transnet’s two successful heavy haul lines.around the world, having consulted to heavy haul railroads in 11 nations of the world, and 14 rail transits worldwide.

Pioneer in integrating the science of Wheel/Rail Interaction as practiced by the Contact Mechanics academic community to practical applications in reduction of rail and wheel wear, fatigue and concomitant energy consumption. 

Pierre Christo Lombard is tydens die 2011-konferensie in Calgary, Kanada, in die Heavy Haul of Fame ingewy. Hy is tans Programbestuurder, Leerstoel in Spoorwegingenieurswese, Universiteit van Pretoria en Raadgewende Ingenieur. Pierre het baccalaureus- en meestersgrade in siviele ingenieurswese aan die Universiteit van Pretoria met lof, en het deelgeneem aan die uitvoerende bestuursopleidingsprogramme van die Universiteit van die Witwatersrand asook die Kellogg Business School, Noordwes-Universiteit in Chicago. Hy is 'n geregistreerde professionele ingenieur en 'n genoot van beide die SA Instituut vir Siviele Ingenieurswese en die SA Akademie van Ingenieurs met sowat 47 jaar ondervinding in die konstruksie, instandhouding, bestuur, opvoeding en raadpleging van spoorweë. Die meerderheid van hierdie ondervinding is tydens 'n lang loopbaan van 1963 tot 2000 by Transnet verkry, waar hy na die pos van die Hoofbestuurder gegaan het. As siviele ingenieur was hy verantwoordelik vir verskeie portefeuljes, insluitend spoorwegkonstruksie, spooronderhoud en spoornavorsing en -ontwikkeling. In 1980 verhuis hy na die algemene spoorwegbestuur as Streeksbestuurder en later as Hoofbestuurder, Heavy Haul Operations. As hoof van swaar haullyne was Pierre instrumenteel in die verhoging van die asbelastings op die Ore-lyn van 25 tot 30 ton. Hy het die Sishen-Saldanha-sake-eenheid (Orex) en Transnet Bestuur gelei en oortuig om die aslading op die Sishen Saldanha-lyn van 26 tot 30 ton asladings te verhoog. Die grondslag van die motivering was op die algemene ekonomiese waarde vir die maatskappy terwyl die tegniese aspekte op wetenskaplike analise gebaseer was. Pierre se bydrae tot die ontwikkeling van swaar spoorlyne in Suid-Afrika in terme van die denk-, ekonomiese en tegniese standaarde is enorm. Terwyl hy nog by Transnet was, was Pierre instrumenteel in die oprigting van die Universiteit van Pretoria, die voorsitter van Spoorwegingenieurswese in die ontwikkeling van nagraadse kursusse aan die universiteit en om hierdie kursusse oor die dekade te hou. Hy het Transnet se bestuur oorreed om die stoel op te stel en te borg. Na Pierre se aftrede van Transnet in 2001 is hy aangestel as Programbestuurder, Leerstoel in Spoorwegingenieurswese, Universiteit van Pretoria om die proses van kennisoordrag na die spoorwegbedryf te bevorder. Hy hou tans hierdie posisie vandag. Pierre het Transnet en Suid-Afrika in die Raad van Direkteure van die International Heavy Haul Association (IHHA) van 1993 tot 2000 verteenwoordig en was van 1997 tot 1999 voorsitter van hierdie raad.

Pierre se bydrae tot Spoorwegingenieurswese in die algemeen en swaar treine in die besonder, is redelik beduidend. Hy het aansienlik bygedra tot die ontwikkeling en bestuur van Transnet se twee suksesvolle swaarstrepe. Die wêreld het geraadpleeg, geraadpleeg met swaar spoorweë in 11 lande van die wêreld en 14 wêreldwye spoorafvoer. Pionier om die wetenskap van Wiel / Spoorinteraksie te integreer, soos deur die Kontakmeganika-akademiese gemeenskap geoefen, tot praktiese toepassings ter vermindering van spoor- en wieldrag, moegheid en gepaardgaande energieverbruik.