RAILROAD ENGINEERING

AT MICHIGAN TECH
William J. Sproule
and Pasi Lautala
Michigan Tech University

Opportunities in the Railroad Industry

Railroad Engineering Education
Program at Michigan Tech
The Future

Wanted:
Railroad Engineers
almost 40% of current workforce eligible to
retire within the next decade
80,000 to be hired within next 5-6 years
140,000 within next 10 years

infrastructure is aging and increasing volumes

will require more improvements
need civil engineers for design of new facilities
and rehabilitation
also need mechanical, electrical and computer
engineers, and others

Where are tomorrows

railroad engineers?
at one time railroad engineering was a
common course in civil engineering
programs, but it has disappeared
it has been years since railroads have
been on campuses recruiting
challenge for the industry reinvigorate
interest in railroad engineering

Whats new?
AREMA (American Railway Engineering and
Maintenance-of-Way Association), Committee
24 (Education and Training)
Seminars, short courses, and course materials
New book : Practical Guide to Railway Engineering

Universities
Courses Illinois, Delaware, Kentucky, Texas A&M,
others
Short Courses Wisconsin-Madison

New books

Michigan Tech
Five-week summer program (May/June)
with a study abroad component
on Michigan Tech campus one week
in Chicago one week
in Tampere, Finland three weeks

Students take two courses

Introduction to Railroad Engineering 3
credits
Finnish Language and Culture 3 credits

Introduction to Railroad
Engineering
Introduction to railroads history, terminology, North
American railroads today, economics
Rail organizations
Railroad safety
Operations
Signals and communications
Railroad track location and design
Terminal, yard, and grade crossing design
Track construction and maintenance
Passenger rail operations
Introduction to urban rail transit

Field Visits in Chicago

National Railroad Museum, Green Bay

Belt Line of Chicago Hump Classification Yard
CSX Intermodal Yard
METRA Traffic Control Center and
Maintenance Shops
A Railroad Engineering Consulting firm
(Patrick Engineering)
Ride CTA and Airport People Mover

Field Visits in Finland

Finnish Railroad Administration

Helsinki Metro
Rail construction site
Ride EMMA (track measurement car)
Ride the Pendolino (high speed rail)
Experience European passenger rail
service and public transit

Finland
5.2 million population
Republic of Finland
(independence from
Russia, 1917)
President: Tarja
Halonen
Official Languages:
Finnish and Swedish
Capital: Helsinki
Finns love their saunas,
cell phones, and coffee

Tampere, Finland
200,000+ population
100 miles northwest of
Helsinki
62oN latitude
originally the leading
industrial city in Finland
(textiles, wood products,
and manufacturing)
home of Finnish Hockey
Hall of Fame

TUT Tampere University of

Technology
founded in 1965
engineering and
technology
programs and
research
11,000+ students
second largest
university in Finland

Finnish Language and Culture

Cost to Students
Program Fee

$2200

includes tuition (6 credits), fees, course

materials, lodging, some meals, field trips, and
study abroad fees

Air Fare
$850
Other Expenses varies
additional meals, entertainment, and personal
expenses

Experience

priceless

Experience
SUCCESS!!!
Number of Students
2004 16
2005 13, including one from the University of Kentucky

Rail companies are recruiting on campus

again
5 of the 6 largest railroads on campus CSX, BNSF,
Union Pacific, Canadian National, and Canadian Pacific
Of the 16 students that participated in the 2004 program,
14 graduated in 2004-05 7 accepted permanent
positions with a railroad

Experience
Summer Internship programs with
railroads developed
Of the 13 students that participated in the 2005
program, 6 accepted intern positions (BNSF,
CSX, and one with the Finnish Railroad)

Scholarship fund established

Students want more railroad courses

Student Comments
being able to stand next to railroad
construction equipment and observe the
whole process up close was an incredible
experience.
The classes were interesting and you get get to
be immersed in a different culture, but never
feel totally lost or out of place.

The Future
the railroads face an enormous
challenge
there are exciting opportunities for
universities to help the rail industry
planning has started for next summer
(May 8 June 9, 2006) and we
welcome students from other
universities to join us