Robert H. Glines, 1940-2011

Robert H. Glines, an icon in the railway signaling and communications supplier community for many years, died Saturday, March 26, 2011 at the Keuka Comfort Care Home in Penn Yan, N.Y. He was 70.

Glines was born March 28, 1940 in Attleboro, Mass., and resided in Foxboro, Mass., until 1950 when his family moved to Newark, N.Y. In 1958, Glines enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was an electronic technician with duties aboard the icebreaker U.S.S. Edisto and with LORAC (the Navy’s long-range-accuracy radio navigation system) Team 3, assisting in the installation of the SOSUS (Sound Surveillance System chain of underwater listening posts) detection system along the Atlantic coast.

Glines joined General Railway Signal Company (GRS) in November 1962 as a commercial engineer and retired in December 2003. He provided engineering, sales, and business development services for GRS and its subsequent owners SASIB Signaling and Alstom Signaling. Glines also held senior level positions for Parsons Brinckerhoff Transit and Rail Systems, Gannett Fleming, and Rail Transit Systems, Inc. He ended his working career as an advisor on the board of directors of ETA Transit Systems. His transit industry relationships spanned North America, Western Europe; and Japan; his projects involved train control, microwave systems, public safety communications, high speed rail, driverless transit, communications-based train control, mining operations automation systems, and bus information systems.

Glines held leadership positions with railway industry associations, serving as a director on the board of the American Public Transportation Association. He was a member of APTA’s Business Member Board of Governors for 22 years and the Railway Progress Institute’s (now Railway Supply Institute) Vice Chairman for Passenger Transportation for 13 years, and was a charter member of the High Speed Rail Association. Glines was honored with the Wilmer W. Salmon Award by his associates at GRS for his contributions to the company.

Glines is survived by sons Brian R. Glines of Moon Township, Pa.; Timothy J. Glines of Bloomington, Ill.; and Andrew M. Glines of Hillsboro, Ore.; daughter Kathleen A. Glines of Washington, D.C.; four grandsons; a sister, Leslie Glines Jones of Warren, R.I.; and former wife Carol Miller of Canandaigua, N.Y. He was predeceased by his wife Anne Glines (nee Mangan); and parents W. Leslie Glines and Barbara I. Glines.

There will be an 11:00 a.m. graveside ceremony at the Honeoye Falls Cemetery in Honeoye Falls, N.Y., on April 9, 2011. Contributions may be made in Bob Glines’ name to the Keuka Comfort Care Home, P.O. Box 107, Penn Yan, NY 14527.