The world is covered with abandoned and disused train tracks. In the UK alone there are 4000 miles of disused train tracks, many of which have become footpaths for walkers and cyclists. Even part of Stockton and Darlington railway is no longer in use.
But we want you to come up with something more exciting for these unloved stretches of railway.
Inventors of the past have come up with some hilarious and down right bonkers ideas for things that use tracks, from zoos to hand-powered bikes and everything in between!
But you are the inventors of the future and it’s your turn now to go full steam ahead with your imagination and come up with something totally off the rails!
We’re challenging you to invent something fun, clever or unusual that can travel on or make use of tracks!
Kick off the challenge by watching this video!
We've extended the challenge as there are so many amazing ideas! The new deadline for uploading your inventions is 30th April 2025
Resources
S&DR200 Challenge Resource Pack
Download the full challenge pack and get your imagination whirring with activities, before completing the final invention challenge.
Download for free
DownloadBE INSPIRED!
Full screenThe Power of Creativity
Before you get started with the Energy challenge watch this inspiring video from our Chief Inventor Dominic Wilcox about how creativity changed his life and gave him the confidence to share his inventions with the world!
Full steam ahead
Full screenTake a tour of the Stockton and Darlington Railway
Today we're going to join Caroline and Angela for a mini tour of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. So hop on because the train is about to leave the station!
Let's go!
Full screenNarrated Powerpoint Challenge Presentation
Meet Phoebe, she's going to guide you through the challenge and tell you everything you need to know!
Watch this
Full screenLearn all about the Stockton & Darlington Railway
Dan Snow explores how the engineer George Stephenson was commissioned to build a modern railway, with iron tracks, not wood, and a locomotive steam engine instead of horses.
Hop aboard!
Full screenLet's join Ella and Dan on a train ride in Finland!
This is Ella. She loves trains. Watch this to see for yourself.
How to enter!
You can submit more than one invention idea.
Submit invention ideas through our upload page.
- Draw your inventionon the worksheet of the mini-challenge of your choice
- Scan or photograph the *whole* sheetas straight on as possible
- Upload it in JPEG, PNG or GIF format (choose a file)
Each invention idea will comprise of an image of a clear drawing, the name, age and location of the inventor, the name of the invention and a description, and a contact email address.
Examples of scanned images
