Design of Modern Steel Railway Bridges

Perhaps the first book on this topic in more than 50 years, Design of Modern Steel Railway Bridges focuses not only on new steel superstructures but also outlines principles and methods that are useful for the maintenance and rehabilitation of existing steel railway bridges. It complements the recommended practices of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-way Association (AREMA), in particular Chapter 15-Steel Structures in AREMA’s Manual for Railway Engineering (MRE). The book has been carefully designed to remain valid through many editions of the MRE.

After covering the basics, the author examines the methods for analysis and design of modern steel railway bridges. He details the history of steel railway bridges in the development of transportation systems, discusses modern materials, and presents an extensive treatment of railway bridge loads and moving load analysis. He then outlines the design of steel structural members and connections in accordance with AREMA recommended practice, demonstrating the concepts with worked examples.

Topics include:

A history of iron and steel railway bridges
Engineering properties of structural steel typically used in modern steel railway bridge design and fabrication
Planning and preliminary design
Loads and forces on railway superstructures
Criteria for the maximum effects from moving loads and their use in developing design live loads
Design of axial and flexural members
Combinations of forces on steel railway superstructures


Copiously illustrated with more than 300 figures and charts, the book presents a clear picture of the importance of railway bridges in the national transportation system. A practical reference and learning tool, it provides a fundamental understanding of AREMA recommended practice that enables more effective design.