Exhibit 23.1


            Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm




We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-8 No. 333-65885)  pertaining to the L. B. Foster Company Voluntary  Investment
Plan of our report dated June 13, 2005, with respect to the financial statements
and schedule of the L. B. Foster Company  Voluntary  Investment Plan included in
this Annual Report (Form 11-K) for the year ended December 31, 2004.



June 24, 2005                           /s/Ernst & Young LLP