RR Track Design
Workshop | This workshop is completed
WHAT THIS IS ABOUT
This 2½ day class addresses the design of railroad track, including horizontal and vertical alignment, cross section, turnouts and crossings, component selection, earthwork, drainage, and clearances. The design approaches highlight applicable AREMA recommendations and general industry practices. The attendee will learn how traffic characteristics and operational requirements affect design. The coverage distinguishes between high-speed, conventional, rapid transit, and light-rail systems. The course includes examples that showcase and help the student understand typical design procedures.
Download Brochure
Overview and introduction
Design controls
Track location
Track engineering
• Track structure
• Loads
• Track behavior
• Stress analysis
- Rail
- Crossties/fasteners
- Ballast
- Subgrade
Basic geometric design
• Cross Section
• Horizontal alignment
- Curves
- Spirals
- Superelevation
• Vertical alignment
- Grades
- Vertical curves
Advanced geometric design
- Turnouts and track
crossings
- Track junctions
- Yard and terminal layout
- Capacity and operational
considerations
Rail-highway grade crossings
Railway structures
Drainage
Review and wrap-up
Dave Clarke
Dr. Clarke, formerly Director of the University of Tennessee’s Center for Transportation, brings nearly 40 years of experience encompassing a variety of railroad design, inspection, research and education activities. He has taught railway related courses including this one, to college students and professionals since 1990. Dr. Clarke is well versed in the Federal Track Safety Standards covered in this course, and is frequently engaged as an expert to assess track conditions. As a licensed civil engineer, Dr. Clarke prepares specifications and designs for railroad track construction and maintenance. He is active in railroad related committees of AREMA, ASCE and TRB