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For most people, railways mean little more than locomotives, tracks and station buildings. In reality, they are an extraordinarily complex system in which infrastructure, signalling equipment, rolling stock, energy management and people all have to work together seamlessly. Matouš Horák, a PhD student at the Institute of Railway Structures and Construction at the Faculty of Civil Engineering at Brno University of Technology, focuses on this less visible side of the railway – and he not only researches trains, but also draws them.Matouš combines his doctoral studies in railway engineering with exceptional artistic talent. | Author: AŽDThe railway has been a part of his life for practically as long as he can remember. Already at primary school, he knew that it would probably become more than just a childhood hobby. Later, at secondary school, he considered studying civil engineering, mechanical engineering or transport, eventually choosing railway infrastructure. “I wanted to study railways and was looking for where I could do so. Since I wanted to stay in Moravia, I decided on BUT,” he explains. The final decision came after attending an open day and meeting the university’s academic staff.
Matouš Horák also draws on his interest in railways in his scientific work. It allows him to better understand the connections between train operations and the design of railway infrastructure. “Railways behave quite differently from road traffic. The transport side also has a significant influence on the design of railway stations, for example,” he explains.He discovered this unusual hobby in 2020. | Author: archive of Matouš HorákHis doctoral research focuses on train acceleration and braking in railway stations. At first glance, this may seem like a highly specialised technical topic, but in reality it combines civil, transport and mechanical engineering. “Train speed affects the design of the railway line because trains accelerate and brake over a much greater distance than cars. For heavy freight trains, this can be several hundred metres,” he explains, adding that many other factors also come into play, including the traction characteristics of locomotives, the influence of signalling and safety systems, and even the habits of individual drivers.The doctoral student from the Faculty of Civil Engineering also tests theoretical models directly in real-world operations. He measures train speeds with a handheld radar, for example at the Hrušovany u Brna and Šakvice stations. According to him, sometimes the work is quick, while at other times it is a test of patience. “On the Brno–Břeclav line, there is a 15-minute interval during peak hours on working days, so it is possible to measure the required number of passenger trains relatively quickly. Measuring freight trains is more challenging. It has already happened that we waited four hours for a freight train, and when it finally arrived, an express train passed on the adjacent track and ruined the measurement,” he explains, illustrating some of the challenges involved in collecting the necessary data.The data on how trains actually move through stations could in the future help make track layouts more efficient while also saving space and investment costs.Over the years, he has created dozens of postcards. | Author: AŽD
Although he now looks at railway infrastructure primarily through the eyes of a professional, his fascination with trains has not disappeared. Matouš Horák is particularly drawn to older locomotives and carriages that are gradually disappearing from everyday service. These are also the subjects that most often appear on his hand-drawn postcards and paper models.He discovered this unusual hobby in 2020 while staying in hospital. “I had nothing to do and only had a piece of paper and a pencil with me. I was also talking with a friend about whether it was possible to send something unusual as a postcard, so postcard number 001 was more of a joke,” Matouš recalls with a smile.Over time, however, the one-off idea developed into an extensive body of original work. Each drawing is created by hand and takes roughly two and a half to four hours to complete. Artistic talent is not the only factor involved. Knowledge of linear perspective, which he acquired while studying descriptive geometry, also plays an important role in his work.
In addition to postcards, he also creates highly detailed paper models of railway vehicles. A single model represents approximately three months of work and combines a wide range of different techniques, from design and production of individual parts to final assembly.When it comes to postcards, however, the student from Brno University of Technology is already finding it increasingly difficult to come up with new subjects. Over the years, he has drawn railway vehicles from Finland, Greece, Italy, Hungary, Morocco, Latvia, Japan and New Zealand. And he does not limit himself to railways. His drawings have also featured trams, trolleybuses, aircraft and ships. When it comes to paper models, however, there is still plenty of inspiration. “Building a steam locomotive is generally considered the ultimate challenge. Assembling a working valve gear requires considerable precision, so if I ever took on such a project, my dream steam locomotive would be the MÁV Class 328 from 1919. It is an express locomotive with some aerodynamic features. It remained in service in Hungary until 1974 and was even operated in Czechoslovakia under the designation 375.1,” he says, adding that another equally challenging goal would be to build a model railway layout where the large models could actually run. At a scale of 1:22.5, however, that is quite a considerable spatial challenge.
Matouš Horák uses drawing and model-making primarily as a way to clear his head and step away for a while from his everyday research work. They require a different way of thinking and allow him to look at problems from a new perspective. This change in perspective, he says, often helps him find solutions to a wide range of research questions.
When asked which railway fascinates him the most, the PhD student does not mention high-speed lines or famous Alpine tunnels. Instead, he has a particular fondness for the railway network in Budapest. “It is far from being in the best condition. At Nyugati and Déli railway stations, there are signalling systems still in operation that are technically based on systems dating back to the Austro-Hungarian era. From the perspective of traffic management, however, it is very interesting,” he reflects.
As for his favourite railway line, he would probably choose the Győr–Veszprém route. It begins in the Danube valley, passes a rocky outcrop with the monastery at Pannonhalma, crosses the Bakony Mountains and then descends towards Veszprém. For him, simply taking a train ride and enjoying the scenery from the window is one of the most intense experiences.He considers the ability to see the railway in its wider context to be essential. People often associate railways mainly with locomotives or station buildings, but in reality they are the result of cooperation between a whole range of professions. For a railway to operate safely and reliably, infrastructure, traffic management, signalling and safety systems, energy management and the work of specialists from many different fields all have to work together. It is precisely this interconnectedness of professions and technical disciplines that keeps him fascinated by railways.Matouš Horák does not see the railway merely as a route along which a train travels through the landscape. What fascinates him most is that it is a complex system in which everything has to work together.