[Trivia] Stations on a Gradient

J-2739 · 13 Jan 2017

Hi guys (and gals, no sexism intended!)!

Just wondering if any stations in the UK (or indeed around the world) are located on a gradient.

Also, which has the sharpest gradient?

RailUK Forums

bunnahabhain · 13 Jan 2017

Newstead is on a 1 in 55 gradient climbing towards the summit at Kirkby.

SWTH · 13 Jan 2017

Beddgelert on the Welsh Highland Railway is on a continuous 1 in 40 gradient.

satisnek · 14 Jan 2017

Old Hill!

If you hold a bike parallel to the platform edge (and obviously a suitable distance back from it!) you can feel it wanting to roll towards Cradley Heath (although in practice if you let go it would fall over before gathering enough momentum to remain upright).

Don't know what the gradient is at this point but it's 1 in 51 on the approach to the tunnel.

richard1976 · 14 Jan 2017

All the stations on the Snowdon Mountain Railway

fgwrich · 14 Jan 2017

City Thameslink, Farringdon, Ivybridge, Liskeard, Bodmin Parkway.

HowardGWR · 14 Jan 2017

All the stations on Filton Bank (including Horfield and Ashley Hill, about to be reopened)?

apk55 · 14 Jan 2017

Settle and Horton in Ribblesdale on the Settle and Carlisle line

ANDREW_D_WEBB · 14 Jan 2017

Most Victoria Line stations on the Tube are 'hump' shaped in terms of gradients. Help deceleration on arrival and acceleration on departure

furnessvale · 14 Jan 2017

richard1976 said:
All the stations on the Snowdon Mountain Railway

I think the Pilatus Bahn in Switzerland holds the record. 48%.

PHILIPE · 14 Jan 2017

Newcraighall. When it was a terminus prior to the re-opening to Tweedbank, the trains had to run ahead to where it levelled out to avoid the driver changing ends on a gradient. Network Rail's decision here affected Scotrail's proposed timings due to the additional time involved.

ac6000cw · 14 Jan 2017

satisnek said:
Old Hill!

If you hold a bike parallel to the platform edge (and obviously a suitable distance back from it!) you can feel it wanting to roll towards Cradley Heath (although in practice if you let go it would fall over before gathering enough momentum to remain upright).

Don't know what the gradient is at this point but it's 1 in 51 on the approach to the tunnel.

You beat me to it

- I think it is around 1 in 50 all the way from Cradley to Rowley Regis.

Kelling Heath halt on the North Norfolk Railway is on a 1 in 80 gradient, steep enough that steam hauled trains don't stop there going upgrade (towards Holt).

Ianno87 · 14 Jan 2017

Including tram stops, Harrington Road (Croydon) is on quite a gradient. As are some Sheffield stops (e.g. Fitzalan Sq/Ponds Forge)

Firesprite · 14 Jan 2017

Parkstone, Branksome, Pokesdown

Ash Bridge · 14 Jan 2017

I think Colesloggett Halt on the branchline from Bodmin Parkway to Bodmin General is on a gradient of approximately 1 in 40.

Phil. · 14 Jan 2017

ANDREW_D_WEBB said:
Most Victoria Line stations on the Tube are 'hump' shaped in terms of gradients. Help deceleration on arrival and acceleration on departure

But they're not on a gradient, the stations are level. You'll find that the Central and Pickledicky line are built on humps too.

najaB · 14 Jan 2017

ANDREW_D_WEBB said:
Most Victoria Line stations on the Tube are 'hump' shaped in terms of gradients. Help deceleration on arrival and acceleration on departure

Was that the reason, or was it so that the stations aren't as deep as they would've been otherwise?

bramling · 14 Jan 2017

J-2739 said:
Hi guys (and gals, no sexism intended!)!

Just wondering if any stations in the UK (or indeed around the world) are located on a gradient.

Also, which has the sharpest gradient?

Probably won't hold any records, but West Finchley lies wholly on a 1 in 81 gradient.

Oval northbound also has 1 in 76 rising gradient extending quite far into the platform - a legacy of the platform extension works of the 1920s. Thusfar no one has been able to make the ATO work properly at this platform as it can't cope with the change in gradient.

PHILIPE · 14 Jan 2017

Half the stations on the Heart of Wales Line.

Ploughman · 14 Jan 2017

I think that there will be very few stations around the country that are not on some gradient.
Goathland on the NYMR is on 1 in 138 with 1 in 49 downhill from the platform end and 1 in 90 uphill beyond the station.

edwin_m · 14 Jan 2017

https://www.rssb.co.uk/research-dev...d-development/research-project-catalogue/T815

This research was required to inform the Infrastructure Standards Committee on the continuing need for a requirement for platforms to be located on track with an average gradient not steeper than 1 in 500.
As part of meeting capacity improvements across the railway network new stations are being built and platforms are being added to existing stations. In many cases the locations of these platforms are constrained and have to be accommodated on existing track with existing vertical alignment. The research concluded that this measure is no longer required and that there could be benefits in terms of more flexibility as to the location of stations and cost reductions for platform improvement schemes. A proportion of the estimated £50m to £70m of investment per year could be saved by this research.
The research was carried out on behalf of the Infrastructure Standards Committee and involved a desk top exercise using rolling stock, station and operational expertise together with reference documents. It may lead to changes in Railway Group Standards in due course.

The report, linked from this page, also includes lists of stations they found where the gradient is steeper than 1 in 500.

matchmaker · 14 Jan 2017

najaB said:
Was that the reason, or was it so that the stations aren't as deep as they would've been otherwise?

All Glasgow Subway stations are on a hump - a hangover from the original cable haulage.

Dunblane is on a gradient.

Elecman · 14 Jan 2017

najaB said:
Was that the reason, or was it so that the stations aren't as deep as they would've been otherwise?

Yes that was the reason, saves on brake wear and quicker acceleration as well as reduced energy demand

Llanigraham · 14 Jan 2017

furnessvale said:
I think the Pilatus Bahn in Switzerland holds the record. 48%.

It does, and the intermediate station is steeply stepped!!
Went on it in October.
Very interesting point work.

61653 HTAFC · 14 Jan 2017

Isn't the new Low Moor station on a slight gradient? AIUI it was this, along with also being on a curve, which caused some of the delays in construction.

steamybrian · 14 Jan 2017

The branch to Ravenstor on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway is on a gradient of 1 in 27 but unsure if the track n the station platform is still at that gradient.

Martin S Heron · 15 Jan 2017

It's been a quarter of a century since I was there so my memory may be playing tricks on me but doesn't the island platform at Portsmouth & Southsea have a gradient at the London end?

Kite159 · 15 Jan 2017

Grateley is on a gradient

Cherry_Picker · 15 Jan 2017

Warwick Parkway which is on a gradient formerly known as Hatton bank. You'll definitely roll back departing on the down if you're not careful.

sk688 · 15 Jan 2017

Im pretty sure one of the stations in the TL core has a steep gradient at one end of the platform , as they had to close the branch line on the other side . Could someone shed some light on which station ?

[Trivia] Stations on a Gradient

Established Member

RailUK Forums

Established Member

Member

Member

Member

Established Member

Established Member

Member

Member

Established Member

Veteran Member

Established Member

Veteran Member

Member

Established Member

Established Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Established Member

Veteran Member

Established Member

Established Member

On Moderation

Veteran Member

Established Member

Member

Veteran Member

Established Member

Member