University of Sheffield engineering students build prize-winning train

A team of students from the University of Sheffield have demonstrated their first class engineering skills as part of a prestigious competition for future railway engineers. 

After spending the past year building their own miniature locomotive, the Sheffield students have been crowned overall winners of the Railway Challenge 2024 - becoming only the second ever team from a UK university to win the title. 

Led by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the competition sees teams of young engineers from across the world design and build their own 10¼” gauge locomotive and compete in a series of trials both on and off the track, to test their business knowledge, design ability and practical engineering  skills. The idea behind the initiative is to help young engineers to develop skills beyond their degree programmes to help prepare them for a career in engineering, and to encourage more young people to pursue a career in the rail industry.

This year, most teams were made up of recent graduates working in industry or final year masters students, however the team from Sheffield was one of the few to be extra curricular - formed by students from all levels who built their train alongside their studies. 

Each team was required to design and manufacture a miniature train in accordance with a set of strict rules and a detailed technical specification. The locomotives were then tested live at a competition weekend at Stapleford Miniature Railway in Leicestershire, where several categories of winners and an overall Railway Challenge champion was crowned based on who could master skills across a wide range of engineering disciplines. 

The University of Sheffield students were awarded the Grand Champion prize, scoring their highest ever points total. They also came first in a series of individual categories both on and off the track, including the category for innovation for proposing a new system for tackling leaves on the line - a problem that causes delays, cancellations and misery for rail passengers every autumn. Four new challenges were introduced this year and Sheffield was the only team to successfully implement design solutions for, and compete in, all four of them.

Sheffield’s students also set a new competition record in the Auto-Stop Challenge, in which each team must bring their locomotive to an automatic, controlled stop in exactly 25m. Sheffield’s score was accurate to over 99 per cent.

Charlotte Currie, a mechanical engineering student and 2024 Team Principal of the Railway Challenge Sheffield team, said: “When it came to the locomotive heading out onto the track for its competition run, we were all a little nervous as we’ve had our fair share of ups and downs over the team’s 10 year history. But we have aimed to learn what we can from every experience and have put a lot of time and effort into this locomotive, which made it very rewarding to see the hard-work and lessons learned pay off as it performed near-flawlessly in every challenge. 

“A particular highlight for me was our record-breaking performance in the Auto-Stop Challenge. After tentatively watching the locomotive coast towards the stop mark, it was thrilling to see it stop right on the mark and spark cheers from the crowd. This performance was a testament to the dedication and ambition of our members this year, and having led the team I felt a great sense of pride watching our locomotive run so successfully. 

“It was a very surreal moment when the University of Sheffield were finally announced as the Grand Champions of the competition. I can’t quite put into words what this moment meant for me, particularly as the first Sheffield team to take the title, and to do so on a record points total. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I’ve been cautiously aiming for the win since I took on my role as Team Principal this time last year, and I’m so proud of the team for bringing this dream into reality. This really was an unforgettable memory that I will forever cherish from my time at university, and I’m excited to see what the team gets up to next.”

Maximilian Deil, a mechanical engineering student and 2024 Structures & Dynamics Sub-Team Leader, said: “Designing and building the locomotive this year has been challenging and sometimes frustrating, but always enjoyable. As a diverse team we come from many different backgrounds and university courses, but bringing us all together is our love for engineering and trains. 

“Most of us invest many hours every week into the project on top of our university coursework. We don’t receive any extra degree credit or certifications for competing in the railway challenge, but holding the big trophy over our heads was more rewarding than anything else could be. 

“We spend so much time on the locomotive because we truly love what we do, and the recognition of our efforts is the ultimate achievement and confirmation that we are on the right track. I am particularly appreciative of the hard work done by our senior management team, my fellow sub team leaders and our sponsors, including the University, for their ongoing support. Here’s to another successful year next year.”

Charlotte added: “This year has seen the second iteration of the current design philosophy of our locomotive. The team members, myself included, are very ambitious, and I have been impressed by the quality of the engineering solutions developed by the team to optimise the design for this year’s competition.

“Having led the team this year I felt a great sense of pride watching our locomotive run so successfully. The superb performance is a credit to the hardwork and dedication from the whole team throughout the design, manufacture, and testing across the past year to ultimately prepare for the competition.”

Reflecting on the event, Jacob Whittle, Doctoral Supervisor, said: “I am immensely proud of this group of young and talented engineers. They have flawlessly delivered an ambitious, technically advanced and competitive locomotive which they’ve used to generate the team’s best ever result - becoming Grand Champions. This success is only possible due to their hard work, as well as the past success and learning of the more than 100 students who have passed through the team. Thank you all.”

Whilst competing in the challenge this year, the Sheffield students placed a special sticker on their locomotive to show support and appreciation for the Richard Pover Endowment Fund - a fundraising initiative that was set up in memory of a mechanical engineering student who passed away from testicular cancer.  

Richard began his studies at Sheffield in 2009 and was passionate about his course and student life at the University. However, during his third year, he was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of testicular cancer. Richard sadly passed away in 2013, on the day he would have left University had he finished his degree.

Richard’s family have since worked tirelessly to create a lasting memorial leading to the establishment of the Richard Pover Endowment, a fund that awards scholarships and other prizes to mechanical engineering students at Sheffield – with funds of over £50,000 already raised. Several members of the Railway Engineering Challenge team at the University - both past and present - have been supported by the fund to date.

More information about Railway Challenge at Sheffield. Follow the team on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

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