Engineering students build prize-winning train

A team of Sheffield engineering students have won the 2024 Railway Challenge, a prestigious international competition run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Over the past year, the students designed and built a 10¼” gauge miniature locomotive, showcasing advanced technical, design, and business skills. Competing against global teams, Sheffield’s students were crowned overall winners — becoming only the second UK university team ever to win.

Team Principal Charlotte Currie, a mechanical engineering student, called the win “a surreal and unforgettable moment,” marking a standout achievement in her university experience.

The challenge aims to equip young engineers with practical skills beyond the classroom and promote careers in the rail industry.