Citation

McGinnis RG. Transp. Res. Rec. 1981; 793: 4-8.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1981, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

At one time, courses in railroad engineering could be found in almost any civil engineering curriculum. Today, the opposite is true. As a result of the decrease in recruiting by the railroads during the 1950s and 1960s, emphasis in engineering education shifted away from railroads to other specialties. Because of the current growing interest in revitalizing the U.S. railway system, a few universities have begun to offer railroad engineering courses. During the decade of the 1980s, it is estimated that one-half of the railroad industry's current workforce and about two-thirds of top and middle management personnel will retire. The need for replacement personnel coupled with the increasing sophistication of railroad engineering activities has led to a growing need for highly trained engineers. To be most productive these engineers should have some education related specifically to railroads. Bucknell University has responded to this need by developing two courses and other educational activities oriented toward the railroads. The railroad education program at Bucknell has four objectives: (a) to stimulate student interest in the railroad industry, (b) to improve the student's understanding of the railroad industry and dispel common misconceptions, (c) to teach the fundamentals of railroad engineering, and (d) to discuss new concepts in railroad engineering and management. So far, response to the program from both the students and the railroad industry has been good. The university plans to continue improving the program as resources permit.