Emergency Railroad Bridge Inspections

Emergency railroad bridge incidents happen without warning, often far from the railroad bridge inspector's home base and at unusual hours. This course makes it possible for a broad range of highly capable employees to act as competent observers, so they can relay critical information to an offsite railroad bridge expert. Frontline MOW employees, managers, consultants, and individuals involved with railroad infrastructure and security can all benefit from this short online course that introduces you to the technical, procedural, and safety aspects of emergency railroad bridge inspection.

At the completion of this course, you will be able to:

Act as a competent observer capable of providing data during an emergency situation, so that a remote railroad bridge expert will be able to quickly and confidently act upon that information.
Identify critical components based on your acquired knowledge of railroad bridge terminology.
Recall how railroad bridges work and identify critical defects.
Recall the different types of emergent events (flood, fire, collision, and earthquake) and identify how each emergent event affects a railroad bridge.

For a more comprehensive learning experience on the topic of railroad bridge inspections it is recommended you take our Fundamentals of Railroad Bridge Inspection course. Through classroom training and a hands-on field trip, you will learn about the inspector's responsibilities, compliance with regulations (FRA 214 and FRA 237), training requirements, and the different types of inspections (with the focus on periodic inspections). Timber, steel, concrete, moveable bridges, and culverts are covered.

Upcoming dates (1)

Enroll Now

Discounts

Students enrolled in RA01502 Fundamentals of Railroad Bridge Inspection save $100 (Course fee $295) when they register for RA01658 Emergency Railroad Bridge Inspections.

What You Will Learn:

Identify key bridge components and defects using standard terminology and inspection principles.
Understand how different emergency events impact bridge structures and what to document.
Communicate critical observations effectively to remote bridge experts for timely action.

Who Should Attend:

Bridge engineers, inspectors, and supervisors involved in railroad infrastructure.
MOW employees, railroad managers, and contractors who may be first on-site during emergencies.
Consultants and agency personnel seeking foundational knowledge in emergency bridge response.

Course Details: RA01658-D433

Course Outline

Introduction

Bridge Phsyics and Nomenclature

Regulations

General Procedures

Flood Inspection

Fire Inspection

Collision Inspection

Earthquake Inspection

Documentation

Additional Information

Course Schedule

Event Dates/Times:

7/1/2024 12:00am - 11:59pm
6/30/2025 12:00am - 11:59pm

Program Director & Instructors

Program Director
Dave Peterson
Peter Schierloh
Senior Design Engineer
Peter Schierloh, PE, is a seasoned railroad bridge engineer with over two decades of experience in the field. He currently serves as a Project Engineer at SW Bridge Engineers, LLC in DeForest, Wisconsin, a role he has held since the firm’s inception in 2007. Peter specializes in the inspection, design, and rating of railroad bridges across the United States. Prior to this, he worked with E80 Plus Constructors, LLC, managing railroad bridge construction projects. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Michigan Technological University in 1996. Peter is a licensed Professional Engineer in multiple states and actively contributes to the industry as a member of AREMA Committee 10.

Total Credits:

CEU .7,

PDH 7,

Course Administration

Course Notes

Online Course

This is an asynchronous self-paced online course complete with recorded presentations/lectures, readings and resources, and quizzes to facilitate learning. All assignments and course interactions will utilize online technologies and require active student participation.

Payment Options

If you are planning to attend an Interdisciplinary Professional Programs course, payment is required at the time of registration. Below are the payment options:

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

Search for the course on the website and then click on the Enroll Now button from the course webpage.
Enter all necessary course attendee information and payment information on the course enrollment page.
You will receive an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

Call CERC Registrations at 608-262-2451.
Provide the registrations representative with:
- the course name, dates, and/or course number.
- the necessary course attendee information and payment information.
You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment payment.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

Fill out a registration form (found either in the back of the course brochure you received in the mail or here).
Prepare a check, made payable to UW Madison.
Mail the registration form and check to: CERC Registrations 21 N Park St, Ste 7101 Madison, WI 53715
You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Pay by Purchase Order

Request Purchase Order information from interpro@union.wisc.edu
- If a fee quote is needed, contact custserv@interpro.wisc.edu first
You will receive an invoice from UW–Madison Business Services for payment, usually within 3–5 business days

Military

If using SF-182 form, please call our registration number at 608-262-2451 or email interpro@union.wisc.edu for details and instructions.

Event Cancellation

We reserve the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen events. If we cancel a course, participants will be notified via email or phone and will be given the option for a full refund or to transfer their registration and any fees paid to another course. We are not responsible for non-refundable plane tickets, hotel reservations, and other travel related expenses. For enrollee Course Cancellation, refer to notes on course page.

Cancellation Policy

Once you have accessed the online course, no cancellations or refunds are permitted.