Update: 2024 Tie Grading Seminar registration has closed!
To be added to our waiting list, please email us at [email protected] or call (770) 460-5553.
2024 Tie Grading Seminar
Birmingham, Alabama
March 18–21, 2024
Arrive no later than 5 p.m., Monday, March 18.
Classes on March 19 and 20 are full days.
Class on March 21 is a half day with an optional treated-tie final inspection.
2024 Tie Grading Seminar Agenda*
Monday, March 18
- 5 pm - Welcome Reception at Hampton Inn Calera
Tuesday, March 19
- 8:00 am - Arrival at Plant: Welcome, Course Overview, Safety Briefing
- 8:30 am - Introduction to Crosstie Defects
- 9:30 am - Break
- 9:45 am - Limitations
- 10:15 am - Engineering: Brief History and Why Defects Matter
- 11:00 am - Tie Inspection Grading Booth Perspective and Grading 101 - Tie Grading Station Videos
- 11:30 am - Lunch
- 12:30 pm - Grading Video
- 12:45 pm - Reduced Speed Grading Station Quiz & Discussion (Test 1)
- 1:45 pm - Break
- 2:00 pm - Wood Identification Basics/Intro to RTA Species
- 3:30 pm - Break
- 3:45 pm - Breakout 4 Groups Cut Off > Species ID
- 4:00 pm - Big Block Species ID Test (Groups=Oak/Hickory, Mixed Hardwoods, Softwoods, Excluded)
- 4:45 pm - Review of Day 1 > Driven by Class Needs
Wednesday, March 20
- 8:00 am - Arrival at Plant: Insects, Fungi, and Air Drying plus Tree to Treating Plant
- 8:45 am - Full Plant Operations & Inspection Points
- 9:45 am - Treating Demonstration (Full Cell)
- 10:00 am - Break
- 10:15 am - Review any Defects Questions
- 11:00 am - Review any Species Questions
- 11:30 am - Lunch
- 1:15 pm - Tour Treating Plant
- 2:15 pm 1-25 Ties > ID and Grade Practice
- 3:30 pm - Answers for Practice Ties
- 4:00 pm - Return to Hotel
Thursday, March 21
- 8:00 am - Arrive at Plant: Wood Tie and Timber Procurement
- 8:30 am - Review Defects and Specification
- 8:55 am - RTA Tie Grading App and Website
- 9:00 am - Review Species Groupings
- 9:15 am - Drive to Plant
- 9:45 am - Instructions for Final Test and Final Questions
- 10:00 am - Final Test - Ties 26-50 - Grade and ID
- 11:00 am - Answers for Final Test
- 11:15 am - Boxed Lunch at the Plant
- Noon - Awards/Certificates/Evaluations/Closing
- 12:15 pm - Treated Tie Final Inspection (as needed)
Those leaving on Thursday and not joining the optional treated tie inspection must check out of the hotel before our morning departure to the plant.
*Subject to Updates
Check out the video to see a sample of what will be covered in this educational seminar!
RTA Tie Grading Seminar on Wood Identification Module 2 from Railway Tie Association on Vimeo.
|
