Institution news
The Institution of Mechanical Engineer’s young engineer engagement activity, the Railway Challenge 2018 is nearing its culmination, where the competition will see 11 aspiring teams of young engineers come face-to-face at the competition held from 29 June to 1 July 2018.
Now in its seventh successive year, this competition provides a unique platform for university students, apprentices and graduates working in industry to compete in a demanding challenge, showcasing design, technical and business skills in a live-test environment.
This student competition was launched by the Institution in active response to the challenge the railway industry faces in terms of an active and suited pipeline of potential candidates that can be grafted into its talent pool. The Railway Challenge 2018 is supported by industry partners Network Rail, RSSB, Eversholt UK Rails Group, Beacon Rail Leasing, Angel Trains, Porterbrook and Young Rail Professionals. These organisations have joined hands with the institution to bridge the gap, uphold the future of railway engineering and generate a pipe-line of job-ready young engineers experienced in practical skills and enhanced people and business skills while delivering profiled and relevant brand exposure. They are a network of industry leaders that promote innovation.
During the challenge, held at the Stapleford Miniature Railway near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, teams will compete against each other to design and manufacture the best, most innovative, efficient and quietest small-scale locomotive. There are 6 track based challenges to compete for and 3 presentation based challenges.
Participants are required to design and manufacture a miniature (10¼” gauge) railway locomotive in accordance with a set of strict rules and a detailed technical specification. The finished locomotives will be tested live at the competition weekend, which will take place from 29 June to 1 July 2018. Several categories of winners will be crowned, as well as an overall Railway Challenge champion.
‘The experience gained working on the project was invaluable. Not only did it align perfectly to the UK-SPEC to help towards my Chartership, but it also allowed everyone to get involved in many areas they may not of had the opportunity to in their day to day roles. In addition to vast increase in technical knowledge, the larger benefit to me was the soft skills the project provides; leading people, collaborating with a team of peers, meeting personal deadlines, reporting to Directors and corresponding with external media; all of which has made me a more rounded and confident engineer.’
Luke Foy, past participant and Railway Challenge Committee Member
‘The IMechE Railway Challenge is not simply a locomotive building contest, but a competition that centres on emerging technology and is specifically focused on the application of innovation to key issues such as efficiency and energy recovery. The railway industry is entering a period of rapid changes due to the global demand for producing efficient high speed transport systems, taking freight on to rail and off road, and driving down carbon emissions from transport. These challenges must be met by the next generation of railway engineers and the Railway Challenge is providing teams of young engineers with experience of designing and manufacturing a prototype vehicle to meet these demands.’
Professor Simon Iwnicki, Chairman of Railway Challenge
This year's teams are:
- University of Warwick
- University of Sheffield
- FH Aachen & Reuschling University, Germany
- Siemens & University of Southampton
- SNC-Lavalin Rail & Transit
- University of Huddersfield
- Ricardo Rail
- University of Birmingham
- TFL (Transport for London)
- Bombardier Transportation & University of Derby
- Helwan University, Egypt
To find out more visit www.imeche.org/railwaychallenge.
Find out more and to engage with this programme: contact Sandra Balthazaar, Education Projects Manager, tel.020 7304 6867 or email railwaychallenge@imeche.org.