-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Ek7btKGMDL3nQmoY16AbSk7eaAfhkkqYZtlk9KCv+KdiWl1phOLbCW1+9N/r1SkH
 5GtAyBD4iQo2OM7M2U46RA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000902664-04-000121.txt : 20040126
<SEC-HEADER>0000902664-04-000121.hdr.sgml : 20040126
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040126190012
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000902664-04-000121
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040115
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040126

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FOSTER L B CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000352825
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-METALS SERVICE CENTERS & OFFICES [5051]
		IRS NUMBER:				251324733
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		415 HOLIDAY DR
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15220
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4129283431

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		415 HOLIDAY DR
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15220

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TONTINE CAPITAL PARTNERS L P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001276922

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-10436
		FILM NUMBER:		04544424

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O TONTINE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC LP
		STREET 2:		55 RAILROAD AVENUE 3RD FL
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2037692000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O TONTINE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC LP
		STREET 2:		55 RAILROAD AVENUE 3RD FL
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>srz04-0050_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-15</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000352825</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FOSTER L B CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FSTR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001276922</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TONTINE CAPITAL PARTNERS L P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O TONTINE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>55 RAILROAD AVENUE 3RD FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>See footnote (1)</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>45000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">A Form 4 is simultaneously being  filed jointly by Jeffrey L. Gendell, Tontine Partners, L.P. (&quot;TP&quot;), Tontine Management, L.L.C. (&quot;TM&quot;), Tontine Capital Management, L.L.C. (&quot;TCM&quot;), Tontine Capital Partners, L.P. (&quot;TCP&quot;) and Tontine Overseas Associates, L.L.C. (&quot;TOA&quot;).  Mr. Gendell is the managing member of TM and TCM, each a Delaware limited liability company. TM is the general partner of TP, a Delaware limited partnership.  TCM is the general partner of TCP, a Delaware limited partnership.  Mr. Gendell is also the managing member of TOA, a Delaware limited liability company, the investment adviser of Tontine Overseas Fund, Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Mr. Gendell indirectly owns 1,287,236 shares of Common Stock.  TP directly owns 678,072 shares of Common Stock.  TM indirectly owns 678,072 shares of Common Stock.  TOA indirectly owns 451,644 shares of Common Stock.  TCP owns directly 45,000 shares of Common Stock.  TCM directly owns 112,520 and indirectly owns 45,000 shares of Common Stock.  Mr. Gendell, TP, TCM, TCP, TM and TOA disclaim beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of their pecuniary interest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jeffrey L. Gendell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----