After 31 years working for Queensland Rail, Tim McSweeney has taken a less hands-on approach to railway engineering.

The QR stalwart has been appointed as the new research academic at Central Queensland University’s Centre for Railway Engineering (CRE).

Just completing a six-month contract with the Centre in research administration, the surge in post-graduate students in railway engineering created an opening for Mr McSweeney’s talents and experience to be used to their full potential.

“Hopefully my experience in rail track issues and my contacts with other railway practitioners in all fields of railway operations will assist the CRE in broadening the scope of its railway research,” Mr McSweeney said.

While working for QR as an engineer and later manager in the field of fixed infrastructure maintenance, Mr McSweeney has been exposed to practical railway engineering and has had his “fair share of disaster recovery work with derailments and floods”.

“I was also fortunate to make visits to railways in New Zealand, Hong Kong, China and the USA, plus to other Australian government and private rail systems.

In recent years he has represented QR in various research activities associated with the University, particularly with the slope erosion prevention work undertaken by the CRE.

“I also assisted the CRE on the CORE98 organising committee. My move from QR to the CRE was a fairly logical step.

Created in 1994, the CRE represents the first venture by an Australian university to offer a national focus for research, training, problem solving and consultancy in railway engineering.