2025 Tracks to the Future

Railroad Transportation and Engineering Program
June 18 - 20, 2025

Program Flyer  Program Schedule

Participant Limit: 20
Application Deadline: April 15, 2025

Thank you to all the students who attended this program! It was a great success and we look forward to next year.

Railroads are a high-tech and environmentally friendly mode of transportation! Stay on campus at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and discover why railroads are still the most energy-efficient way to move goods and people. Students will interact with university faculty, connect with rail industry professionals, learn about railroad engineering, and explore career options within the railroad industry.

Open to all high school students from incoming freshman to recent graduates! Students stay on-campus at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln at no cost, except for a $25 fee to be paid at the time of check-in. All checks should be made payable to the University of Nebraska Foundation.

  • Union Pacific representative stand at the front of a classroom with seated students raising their hands.
    Union Pacific (UP) started this year's program with an introduction to UP and the impact the railroad has.
  • Dr. Richard Wood holding a drone.
    Dr. Richard Wood, Associate Professor in Civil & Environmental Engineering at UNL, shows of a drone.
  • Dr. Richard Woods showing participants what the drone sees on a tablet.
    Students and Dr. Richard Wood monitor what the drone sees as it flies overhead.
  • Graduate student showing how 3D modeling works on a laptop to students.
    School of Computing graduate students demonstrated how 3D modeling works using a webcam.
  • Student piloting small drone.
    Students tried their hand at piloting small drones.
  • Group photo overlooking BNSF railyard.
    BNSF showed off their operations tower, where students overlooked Hobson Yard.
  • BNSF employee watching over a student as they operate a railroad locomotive simulator.
    BNSF let students run their locomotive simulator.
  • Dr. Nathan Huynh, NTC Director, guides students to build and test a railroad track.
    Dr. Nathan Huynh guides students as the build a railroad track, layer by layer.
  • Students operating their own railroad using Brio wooden track.
    Mr. Jason Tichota guides students as they operate and improve their own railroad using wooden Brio trains.
  • Table of partners and students at the Tracks to the Future networking dinner.
    Students and partners met and shared their story at the networking dinner.
  • Students watching as a train passes overhead.
  • Group photo of Tracks to the Future participants and Mr. Richard Luebber.
    Mr. Richard Luebber shared the experience of being a civil engineer working with railroads.
  • NDOT presentation
    Nebraska Department of Transportation shared the how their public organization works with the railroad.
  • NDOT presenter standing behind a podium.
  • Students and Olsson employees test bridges built by the students.
    Students test the carrying capacity of their handmade bridges at Olsson.
  • Benesch employee showing models of railroad bridges to students.
    Benesch shared details about bridge construction for the railroad and showed off some bridge models.
  • Intermodal transportation of cargo was put to the test. Students raced truck only versus rail and truck transportation of cargo.
    Students put intermodal transportation to the test, racing truck only versus truck and rail.

Activities in this Program Include

On Campus Activities

  • Union Pacific presentation and activity
  • UNL College of Engineering drone demonstration
  • HDR presentation and activity
  • Presentation by Richard Luebber
  • Benesch presentation and activity
  • Nebraska Department of Transportation presentation
  • Railroad Model Track Building
  • Rail Operations Game
  • Intermodal Transportation Competition
  • Networking dinner for students and partners

Off Campus Activities

  • BNSF Railroad facility tour
  • Olsson office visit, presentation, and bridge building activity
Student looking over railyard

Students Stay on Campus

Students will be staying on city campus in University Suites at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Suite-Style Double Bedrooms. Students will be assigned roommates of the same sex in accordance with the January 20th US Presidential Executive Order.

Exterior of Knoll Residential Center

Sponsors & Partners

The Nebraska Transportation Center sincerely thanks our partners in their generous support and partnership in making our program a resounding success. Their contribution is instrumental in delivering an impactful experience, and we look forward to continuing collaboration.