Study in UK: University of Sheffield engineering students build prize-winning train

University of Sheffield engineering students have won a global railway engineering competition by building a miniature locomotive.

Engineering students of the University of Sheffield have emerged as the winners of a global railway engineering competition. The winning team built their own miniature locomotive for the competition and won a series of trials with other teams from across the world.

The university bagged the Grand Champion prize as the students demonstrated their world-class engineering skills in railway engineering.

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,” added Charlotte Currie.

“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,” Charlotte Currie further added.

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Institution of Mechanical Engineers led the competition which saw young engineers from around the world build their locomotives to test their design ability, business knowledge, and practical engineering skills. The competition intended for participants to develop their real skills and get ready for a flourishing career in railway engineering and the rail industry.

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,” added Maximilian Deil.

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