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In Memoriam

IN MEMORIAM - SWAMIDAS K. CHARAN (JOHN) PUNWANI
July 1940 - December 2015

As many of you know, John had a long-standing career in the railroad John holds the following patents:
industry where he make many invaluable contributions.
1. AUTOMATIC COUPLING SYSTEM FOR TRAIN BRAKE'LINES
Swamidas K. Punwani was born around 1940 in Karachi, British India, to a
Hindu family, where he spent most of his early life. In 1947, with the 2. AUTOMATIC LINE CONNECTOR FOR RAILWAY CONDUCTORS AND/
partition of British India into Muslim Pakistan and Hindu India, the Punwani OR OTHER AIR LINES.
family migrated to Bombay (now Mumbai), India, where they settled.
John's participation in the ASME Rail Transportation Division (RTD)
Swamidas, who began using his initials S.K., attended middle school, high
consisted of the following:
school, and the University of Bombay, earning a degree in mechanical
engineering. • Served on the ASME Executive Committee 1998-2003.
S.K. then immigrated to the US where he started to use the name "John", • Served as RTD Division Chair 2002-03.
by which we all knew him. He earned undergraduate and graduate
degrees at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. John began his • Served on the ASME RTD General Committee as the Freight Car
railroad industry career as a mechanical engineer with Symington Wayne Committee chair
in Buffalo, New York, which manufactured couplers and draft gears as well
as other railroad components. Symington Wayne was eventually pur- • Served on the ASME RTD Advisory Committee 2004-2008, and
chased by Dresser Industries. John delivered presentations at the Committee Chair 2004-05.
Symington Wayne Railroad Engineering Conference in Buffalo, NY in 1968,
• Appointed Honorary Member RTD Advisory Committee 2008.
and later when the annual conference became known as the Dresser
Railroad Engineering Conference. • Served as the ASME representative on the Elmer A. Sperry Board of
Award.
In the 1970s, as the railroad industry was falling on hard times, Dresser
shut down its operations. John moved to Chicago to join the AAR's John authored or coauthored over 20 ASME technical papers.
Research and Test Laboratory in 1973 or 1974, as the US DOT (FRA and
Volpe), AAR and the railway supply industry group unveiled the coopera- We will truly miss John Punwani. He was a sincere friend to those who
tive research and test program known as Track Train Dynamics (TTD). He knew him and enjoyed his sense of humor, outgoing personality, generous
was instrumental in the installation and launch of the Facility for Accelerat- spirit, and the inspiration of his innovative thinking.
ed Service Testing (FAST) at the Transportation Technology Center,
Pueblo, CO. John lived a relatively Spartan life. He was a kind and giving person who
loved warm weather and spending time at his home in Florida. He was also
During his career at AAR, John served on several industry committees. He a culinary expert who enjoyed cooking and sharing fine cuisine. John also
served on the Car Engineering Committee and was a life-long member of indulged himself by attending the Olympics every four years. We know of
the AAR’s Coupler and Draft Gear Committee. John championed preload- no other person who attended more Olympic events than John.
ed cushioning units with application to autorack and ride-sensitive box
cars, which was incorporated into the AAR's specifications for freight cars. In honoring John's wishes, there was no religious ceremony or memorial
service. However, a Facebook page was created in his honor for friends
In the 1980s and 1990s, John made major contributions to the AAR’s high and family to share stories, memories, and photos as a way to commemo-
profile projects: Covered Hopper Car, High Productivity Integral Train and rate John’s life together.
Heavy-Axle Load." The AAR moved some of its activities to the Transpor-
tation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado in the 1980s and 1990s, and Join the "Friends of John Punwani" page using this link:
John moved to Pueblo. http://tinyurl.com/hynm27d

In 1996, John applied for an FRA mechanical engineering position, and
was hired with the title of Program Manager for Locomotive and Car R&D.
John was one of FRA's most productive employees, specializing in
research and development of freight locomotive crashworthiness and
locomotive vehicle dynamics.

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