Practical Guide to Railway Engineering

Written by a group of over 50 railroad professionals, representing over 1200 years of experience, the NEW Practical Guide to Railway Engineering may be the most useful tool since the spike maul.  Whether you’re new to the industry or a long-time contributor who simply wishes to learn more, this book offers in-depth coverage of railway fundamentals and serves as an excellent reference.

This text combines and consolidates the most useful information from a multitude of sources including:

  • AREMA Manuals
  • Railway Engineering by W.W. Hay
  • Railway Curves and Earthwork by C. Frank Allen
  • FRA, USDOT and other agency sources.

Read Chapter Abstracts (PDF)

PREVIEW Selections from each chapter (PDF)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 – Railway Development
CHAPTER 2 – Railway Industry Overview
CHAPTER 3 – Basic Track
CHAPTER 4 – Right of Way and Roadway
CHAPTER 5 – Drainage
CHAPTER 6 – Railway Track Design
CHAPTER 7 – Communications & Signals
CHAPTER 8 – Railway Structures
CHAPTER 9 – Railway Electrification
CHAPTER 10 – Passenger, Transit & High Speed Rail
CHAPTER 11 – Environmental Regulations & Permitting
CHAPTER 12 – European Curve & Turnout Mechanics
CHAPTER 13 – Case Studies
APPENDICES
GLOSSARY

Learn more about the
Introduction to Practical Railway Engineering Seminar.

What Railroad Engineering Leaders are saying about
the Practical Guide to Railway Engineering

"Every railroad engineer should have a copy."
   Richard L. Keller - Montana Rail Link – AREMA President, 2002-2003

"The Practical Guide is an outstanding accomplishment and product brought to you by Committee 24."
   Michael N. Armstrong – BNSF Railway Co. – AREMA President, 2001-2002

"The Practical Guide to Railway Engineering is an excellent reference text that we provide to our railway staff. It's use is essential in the development of knowledgeable railway engineers."
   Thomas P. Smithberger, P.E. - HDR Engineering, Inc.

"A valuable and up-to-date practical supplement to the fundamental principles presented in Hay's classic text, Railroad Engineering.  We plan to adopt portions of it for use in our railroad engineering classes at the U of I."
   Chris Barkan - University of Illinois
 
"GREAT book.  Learn something every time I open the cover."
   Ken Briggs - HDR Engineering, Inc.

"I have been a railroader for almost 35 years.  I am amazed at what I didn’t know about railroad engineering."
   Charley Chambers – Hanson-Wilson, Inc., AREMA Board of Directors 

"Dr. William W. Hay (a former chairman of AREA Committee 24) would be very proud of the committee’s work on this project."
   Mike Franke - Amtrak, AREMA Treasurer

"An old adage says, 'Write what you know', that is just what AREMA Committee 24 did."
   J. Gray Chandler - CSX Transportation, AREMA Board of Directors

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