Abstract:
The Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Pretoria recently constructed a 30 m long railway test section on the University's Experimental Farm (better known as the "Proefplaas") in Pretoria. The track will further enhance the university's research capabilities in the railway environment. The project was made possible with the help of civil engineering students and sponsorship from industry. It was constructed as part of the Workshop Practice module presented to the first year students during the December/January 2012/2013 break. All the first year, and a few third and final year, civil engineering students assisted with the track construction which took approximately one month to complete.