REGISTER

The award is a framed certificate and sponsorship to an IRSE Australasian Meeting, including airfare, accommodation and registration of that meeting. (Up to a maximum sum as agreed by the IRSE Australasia Committee of Management). It is expected that the winner will present a report on the meeting attended, at a local IRSE meeting in their home State within 6 months of the meeting attendance.

Not older than 35 years of age (prior to the first day of the year it is being awarded). Only papers prepared and presented individually will be considered. Current membership of IRSE Australasian Section is required.

The award will be assessed by a panel of the three immediate past chairpersons of IRSE Australasia. The Assessment factors are:

• Originality of ideas & concepts of the Topic
• Advancement of the Science of Signalling
• Quality of presentation & delivery.

The nominations are initiated by the IRSE Young Members Chair and to the IRSE Secretary, 6 weeks prior to the Australasian section AGM/Technical meeting.

Appeals

The Award is at the sole discretion of Panel, if no Paper is deemed satisfactory then no award will be given.
The award is judged by the previous three past chair persons of the IRSE Australasian section with input from the IRSE young members Chair.

The Byles and Calcutt Award is an annual award for the IRSE Australasian section younger member who presents the best paper at an Australasian section IRSE technical meeting. It is announced and awarded to the recipient at the IRSE AGM for papers presented in the previous year.

The award is in honour of two signal engineers who had a significant impact on the direction of signalling in Australia.  They both joined the IRSE on 31 March 1913.

Cyril Beauzeville Byles, (1871 – 1948) came to the NSW Railways from the UK in 1911. He was shortly after given the title Signal Engineer and was in control of NSW signalling until his retirement in 1929. He introduced the widespread use key-interlocking of ground frames at minor stations and he designed own style of lever frame. He introduced automatic signalling in 1913.

Francis McNamara Calcutt, (1870 – 1950) was born on 17 July 1870 in Williamstown, Victoria, Australia and  joined Victorian Railways at the age of 13. He held various positions related to civil engineering before being appointed as the Engineer of Signals and Interlocking in 1908.  He was Chief Signal and Telegraph Engineer from 1922 until his retirement in 1930. He introduced the American developed Speed Signalling into Victoria and managed the very large scale resignalling of the metropolitan area with power signalling.  It is notable that Francis Calcutt was a civil engineer with no background in signalling.