The locomotive
1:6 in size, 1:1 in engineering difficulty.
The Columbia Locomotives battery-electric locomotive is a clever blend of the brightest engineers at Columbia University. 9 subdivisions, ranging from batteries to brakes, must collaborate on designing and manufacturing a competetive, cost-effecitve locomotive.
At a glance
Key figures.
- Tractive System Power
- 8kW
- Battery Pack Capacity
- 5.33kWh
- Bogie Configuration
- Bo-1'
- Track Gauge
- 10¼"
Traction
A battery-electric drivetrain, built in house.
Cells, pack assembly, battery management, motor controller, and traction motor are all student-integrated, so the team owns and can measure the entire energy path from cell to rail.
The iMechE Railway Challenge
Fifteen ways to prove the locomotive works.
Held in the United Kingdom, the iMechE Railway Challenge asks student and apprentice teams to build a locomotive for 10¼-inch-gauge track, pass safety scrutiny, haul heavy loads, and demonstrate traction, braking, energy management, reliability, maintainability, ride comfort, design, and business judgment.
Competition events
Open a challenge to see what the locomotive has to prove.
On the railway
Track-based challenges
1,250 points
Auto-Stop Challenge300 points
Stop a hauled load automatically and under control exactly 25 metres beyond a trackside marker.
Ride Comfort Challenge150 points
Demonstrate that the suspension isolates the locomotive body from track irregularities and vibration.
Energy Storage Challenge300 points
Recover and reuse energy efficiently, including the energy exchanged while stopping and restarting.
Traction Challenge150 points
Accelerate a hauled load from rest through an effective combination of power, transmission, and adhesion.
Reliability Challenge200 points
Meet the operating schedule without undue delay, failure, or the need for outside assistance.
Maintainability Challenge150 points
Remove and safely reinstall a powered wheelset, proving that routine maintenance is practical.
Before the judges
Presentation challenges
600 points
Design Challenge150 points
Submit the locomotive design report for judging four weeks before Competition Weekend.
Business Case Challenge150 points
Act as the manufacturer of a prototype locomotive and tender it through a realistic procurement case.
Poster Challenge150 points
Present a clear technical poster while also demonstrating the quality and visual finish of the built locomotive.
Innovation Challenge150 points
Describe a novel feature of the locomotive in the style of an academic journal or conference paper.
Additional tests
Optional challenges
100–150 points
Auto Coupler Challenge
Couple, uncouple, haul, and propel through an automatically operated coupler.
Aerodynamic Drag Challenge
Calculate and report the aerodynamic drag acting on the locomotive at 50 km/h.
Ride-On Locomotive Challenge
Demonstrate a locomotive designed for an onboard driver, subject to judges permission.
Location Announcement Challenge
Provide audible announcements and visible location indications around the challenge run.
Remote Data Recording and Monitoring Challenge
Demonstrate effective remote recording and monitoring of locomotive operating data.
Progress
Recent work on the machine.
No public progress notes yet.
Updates are written in the club’s content system and appear here once an editor publishes them.