Thesis: Developing the Single Sleeper Push Test Device used to determine Track Lateral Resistance
Place of study:
The thesis makes determinations regarding the lateral resistance of a variety of railway sleepers in a range of ballast conditions. The results of the tests are used to understand better, and predict, the behaviour of sleepers under lateral loading.
Thesis: Evaluation of Battery Power Boosted Freight Locomotives in Pusher Applications.
Place of Study: Central Queensland University.
“Evaluation of Battery Power Boosted Freight Locomotive, “Railway Engineering Student Thesis Award”, Glen Bearham
Thesis: Propagation of traction - converter distortion into the transmission system.
Place of Study: University of Queensland.
The thesis investigates the effect that Queensland Rail electric locomotives with AC traction will have on the Queensland electricity network. Simulation was used in the project. Particular emphasis was placed on the harmonics produced by the new locomotives and the extent of harmonic distortion in the electricity network.
Thesis: “Vibrations of Railway Sleepers”
Place of Study: University of New South Wales Mechatronic Engineering Faculty.
Thesis: “Single Signal Encoder”
Place of Study: Griffith University (Nathan Campus, Qld) Micro-Electronic Engineering Faculty.
Dr. Martin Murray is the recipient of the RTSA Individual Award for 2008 in recognition of his significant contribution over a period of more than thirty years towards the education and training of rail infrastructure engineers through his work at the James Cook University in Townsville, the University of Central Queensland in Rockhampton and the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane.
The 2008 Industry Award is made to John Holland Rail Division for the Middlesborough Road Rail Separation Project in Melbourne. This project involved the grade separation of the busy double-track Belgrave line and Middlesborough Road by some eight metres, the construction of two new bridges, a new train station, the installation of a re-designed signaling system, overhead traction current equipment and new trackwork. Remarkably, this complex $66 million project was completed in just twenty seven days - a timescale that many thought was not possible.
Honorable mention is made of this innovative project developed by the Institute of Railway Technology in collaboration with BHP Billiton Iron Ore Railroad. The instrumented revenue vehicles monitor aspects of railway operations on a day-to-day basis, and the fully-automated condition monitoring system records the current health of conditions throughout the network. The vehicle also collects key information for planning future maintenance and operational strategies.
The 2008 Young Railway Engineer Award is made to Mr. Sakdirat Kaewunruen who is a design engineer with RailCorp. He holds Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Engineering degrees from Thailand and was employed as a civil engineer with the Department Public Works, Royal Thai Government. Mr. Kaewunruen then joined the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Wollongong where he worked for the Rail-CRC as a researcher and completed his PhD. He has authored a variety of technical publications and is a member of both Engineers Australia and the RTSA.
RTSA’s biennial CORE conference is Australia’s premier rail industry gathering, attracting the decision-makers and key players in the rail industry in Australia and throughout the world.