Railroad Infrastructure
Presented by Christopher Schulte

At its September meeting, Tri-State welcomes Christopher F. Schulte for a presentation on railroad infrastructure which draws on information from his new book, Railroad Infrastructure Cyclopedia: A Historical and Contemporary Reference to Tracks, Structures, Signaling, and Related Fields. Drawing on more than four decades of firsthand experience, Chris will explore the development of railroad infrastructure from the earliest days of railroading to the present, including track, structures, signaling, electrification, and the terminology and technology that shaped the industry. His presentation will also highlight the research, contributors, photographs, and historic examples featured throughout the book. Copies of the Railroad Infrastructure Cyclopedia will be available for purchase at the meeting.

Chris began his railroad career in 1974 on a short line before spending nearly two decades working on freight, commuter, rapid transit, and light rail systems. In 1994, he joined the Federal Railroad Administration, where his 24-year career included safety inspections, accident investigations, forensic reconstruction, oversight of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor electrification project between New Haven and Boston, and supervision of track inspectors throughout the Mid-Atlantic. He received the FRA’s 1997 National Inspector of the Year award and later served as a safety specialist at FRA headquarters in Washington, D.C. Since retiring in 2018, Chris has remained active in the railroad industry, including conducting track inspection training for the Railway Education Bureau.

In-Person and Virtual options available

For In-Person Attendees: Our meetings are held at the Gateway Community Resource Center at 513 Birch Street, Boonton, NJ 07005. The center is located in the ground floor of the First Presbyterian Church at the corner of Birch Street and Cornelia Street. An on-site parking lot is available with handicap access. The membership portion of the meeting will start at 7:30 PM, and the presentation should begin around 8:00 PM.

For Virtual Attendees: All of our membership meetings are simulcast on Zoom and our Facebook page. The membership portion of the meeting begins virtually at 7:30 PM. The presentation should begin around 8:00 PM. For Zoom, click here to register in advance for this meeting. Virtual attendees will need to register in advance for the meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

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