Hundreds of visitors on the first day of the 2024 Engineering Open House (EOH) stopped by the Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus where they could experience driving a train and learn about railroad signaling systems. Illinois students representing RailTEC, the UIUC student chapter of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA), and the Illini Rail Club shared their passion for rail engineering design and railroad operations at the 102nd EOH on 5-6 April. Some of the other interactive rail exhibits included demonstrations of railway control and signaling, a train simulator, train puzzle, intermodal game and a model train layout.
Daniel Kuchta, self-proclaimed train enthusiast, discusses railroad crossing systems.
RailTEC PhD candidate Jose Gustavo oversaw the train simulator that allowed visitors to experience operating a train that resembled a Metra commuter train with stops at west suburban stations.
David Wasilewski, first-year RailTEC graduate student, demonstrates a system with a series of signals.
Nolan Mason, Mechanical
Engineering senior, exhibits the model train layout featuring train switching and sorting.
A young EOH visitor uses the train puzzle as she determines what types of items an be carried in different types of railcars as her parents and big sister look on.
Jason Berner, with the Canadian National Railroad’s signal department, showed visitors a live view of CN’s rail traffic between Champaign and Neoga as well as the corresponding signal system for that territory.
RailTEC hosted Hanson Professional Services Inc. and a group of students from Springfield, IL on Saturday, April 6, 2024.
EOH visitors explore how the Intermodal Game works.
An attendee tries his hand at driving the train simulator located in the Crane Bay at Newmark Civil Engineering Lab.
