Full steam ahead for RGS’s railway writers
RGS students have put pen to paper in record numbers for this year’s railway essay writing competition.
The impressive 49 entries explored everything from railway nationalisation and privatisation to high-speed trains, popular culture and the mystery of the Orient Express.
Judges praised the quality and variety of this year’s writing, described as ‘the strongest yet’.
Seven students entered the senior section, while an astonishing 42 entries were received in the junior category, including 36 from Year 7 alone.
The competition is organised in memory of former RGS deputy headmaster Michael Wallace MBE, who died in 2018.
Michael taught at RGS for 34 years and was also honorary secretary of the Friends of the National Railway Museum.
He set aside £2,500 to establish a railway-themed writing competition for RGS students, creating a lasting legacy to encourage young people to explore their interest in railways and railway history.
This year’s senior competition was won by Aiden Ng for his essay ‘To what extent was British nationalisation of railways a failure? A history and analysis of the struggle to sustain Britain’s rails: Crisis, Modernisation, and Decline’.
Hayley Chung was named senior runner-up for ‘Beyond the destination: How have railways influenced our culture and entertainment?’, with Katie James also receiving a runner-up prize for ‘To what extent was privatisation successful for the UK railway system?’
In the junior section, Bella Kirby took first place for her essay ‘When is a train not a train?’
The junior runners-up were William Auckinson, for ‘The leap into the world of high-speed trains: Shinkansen’, and Martha Owen, for ‘Could there ever be a murder on The Orient Express?’
In addition to cash prizes, winners, along with the other entrants, receive a personal tour of the National Railway Museum.
The winning and runner-up essays were judged by the Friends of the National Railway Museum, who have supported the competition since its creation.
The Friends were first established in 1977 as a registered charity supporting railway heritage and the work of the National Railway Museum in York. Their support has included major projects such as the purchase and restoration of the world-famous Flying Scotsman.
The competition provides students with an opportunity to combine their interests in history, transport, culture and technology with research and extended writing – and this year’s record response demonstrates just how enthusiastically RGS students have embraced the challenge.
Pictured: Winners Aiden and Bella, with runners-up Martha and William
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