Trivia: Steepest Gradient in a Station

Cowley · 19 Dec 2018

pdeaves said:
but 1:1.174 (smaller number) is steeper

Of course it is. I’m back in!

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bunnahabhain · 19 Dec 2018

Newstead is quite steep at around 1 in 50, when originally opened the trains had to proceed further along to a level bit of track to reverse. I've ahd a driver release the brake and not apply power and reach over 60mph before having to brake for Linby before.

DarloRich · 19 Dec 2018

westcoaster said:
City Thameslink +1

City Thameslink + 17

notlob.divad · 19 Dec 2018

pdeaves said:
but 1:1.174 (smaller number) is steeper

Lynton is actually 1:1.724 (58%), Bournemouth West Cliff is 1:1.42 (70.4%).

I assumed the original was a typo.

Right Away · 19 Dec 2018

Digging out my old Gradient Profiles book, Chetnole halt is on Woolcombe bank on the climb up to Evershot where the gradient changes from 1 in 65 to 1 in 53. Upwey (Junction) is on Bincombe bank at 1 in 70 with the gradient changing to 1 in 50 immediately afterwards. Dilton Marsh Halt is on a 1 in 75 gradient.

For the record, Freshford as mentioned earlier is 1 in 242. Crewkerne is 1 in 250 with the gradient changing to 1 in 80 either side of the station.

There are a lot of places where there are steep grades on the approaches to stations, but where the gradient has been eased at the station itself.

BantamMenace · 19 Dec 2018

Corporation street on the midland metro

randyrippley · 19 Dec 2018

Surely on the Snaefell Mountain Railway at The Bungalow?

Marton · 19 Dec 2018

This shows Gypsy Lane on 1:44

http://www.whelan.me.uk/pictures/rail-gradient-profile-battersby-mbro.jpg

I don’t believe it though as I’m sure it’s leveled out by there.

edwin_m · 20 Dec 2018

If we're allowed funiculars we ought to be allowed lifts at 1 in zero!

33017 · 20 Dec 2018

Parallel said:
Dingle Road is also fairly steep - I remember that if there was a single Pacer operating, it would run straight through and stop as normal on the way back towards Cardiff.

Off the top of my head, Dingle Road is 1:40. Trains only fail to call on the down (uphill) if late or, much less often, if on one engine.

bengley · 20 Dec 2018

Lea Green has a local instruction relating to drivers not being allowed to leave the cab due to the gradient and risk of runaway.

PHILIPE · 20 Dec 2018

Newcraighall. Prior to the Borders Railway opening on 2015, trains had started running as far as there in 2002. The line had to be extended beyond the station as far as a flat stretch to enable the driver to change ends as it was considered the gradient in the platform itself was too steep for the driver to leave the cab. This blew the original Timetable up as only 3 minutes had been allowed for the reversal and this then had to be a 7 minute allowance.

507 001 · 20 Dec 2018

Beddgelert on the Welsh Highland Railway is 1 in 40.

krus_aragon · 20 Dec 2018

Parallel said:
Dingle Road is also fairly steep - I remember that if there was a single Pacer operating, it would run straight through and stop as normal on the way back towards Cardiff.

I think you mean the stop would be skipped if a Pacer was only running one engine. Single Pacers call there both ways on a daily basis.

Wilts Wanderer said:
Pontypridd is on a 1:60 gradient which made certification for the new bay platform rather difficult.

I'd never noticed it had such a gradient: the vast expanse of that island platform must mask it very well!

AM9 · 20 Dec 2018

So, the southern end of City Thameslink is istr 1:29 and the northern end is also quite steep (so the platforms rise at each end) but I'm not sure what its gradient is.

Wilts Wanderer · 21 Dec 2018

AM9 said:
So, the southern end of City Thameslink is istr 1:29 and the northern end is also quite steep (so the platforms rise at each end) but I'm not sure what its gradient is.

I think that must surely be the winner, as wasn't the Thameslink incline officially the steepest adhesion gradient in operation on BR when it was opened?

I would be interested if any other platforms have a gradient steeper than 1:50. There must be a few in South Wales and Yorkshire where 1:50 or steeper isn't uncommon.

John Brannelly · 22 Dec 2018

Enjoyed the jokes - now adding a possible contender for steepest. How about Bryn, on the Wigan to Liverpool Lime Street line? I was on an excursion headed by 70045 Lord Rowallan, in August 1967, and it was unable to re-start the train after it’s stop, to continue to Liverpool.

Joseph_Locke · 23 Dec 2018

John Brannelly said:
Enjoyed the jokes - now adding a possible contender for steepest. How about Bryn, on the Wigan to Liverpool Lime Street line? I was on an excursion headed by 70045 Lord Rowallan, in August 1967, and it was unable to re-start the train after it’s stop, to continue to Liverpool.

Does the 5-mile plan still show that as level? Someone should get it sorted - it's only been 40 years or so since the bridge went in ...

MikePJ · 24 Dec 2018

Buriton, a village near Petersfield on the Portsmouth Direct line, has been denied a station ever since the line was built, because of the steep gradient up to the tunnel under the South Downs - and yet it did have sidings to deliver coal and other sundries.

Dieseldriver · 24 Dec 2018

Dilton Marsh?

ac6000cw · 24 Dec 2018

Old Hill station (on the Stourbridge Junction - Birmingham Snow Hill line) is about 1 in 50 - it's in the middle of the eastbound climb from Cradley Heath to Rowley Regis. The line is also curved at that point, just to add a bit of extra rolling resistance...

NoOnesFool · 24 Dec 2018

DanTrain said:
Following on from the curviest platforms, I was wondering what the steepest gradient in a station is. I think we'd better have two categories, one for National Rail Network and one for light rail/metro etc.

I'd imagine some of the Scottish stations must be fairly high up on National Rail network, as for other systems, I'd imagine Netherthorpe Road on the Supertram must be a contender?

Surely the Lickey incline that runs through Bromsgrove can't be trumped..

DanTrain · 24 Dec 2018

NoOnesFool said:
Surely the Lickey incline that runs through Bromsgrove can't be trumped..

There isn’t a station on the Lickey Incline though.

NoOnesFool · 24 Dec 2018

DanTrain said:
There isn’t a station on the Lickey Incline though.

Bromsgrove?

Bevan Price · 24 Dec 2018

John Brannelly said:
Enjoyed the jokes - now adding a possible contender for steepest. How about Bryn, on the Wigan to Liverpool Lime Street line? I was on an excursion headed by 70045 Lord Rowallan, in August 1967, and it was unable to re-start the train after it’s stop, to continue to Liverpool.

Bryn (towards St. Helens) is nominally 1 in 98 up, but probably became a bit steeper when they raised the track when the M6 was being built.

DanTrain · 24 Dec 2018

NoOnesFool said:
Bromsgrove?

Isn’t that on the flat at the bottom though?

Skie · 24 Dec 2018

Many Merseyrail stations on embankments have almost cliff-like approach slopes.

For the passengers :lol:

Bevan Price · 24 Dec 2018

NoOnesFool said: ↑
Bromsgrove?

DanTrain said:
Isn’t that on the flat at the bottom though?

Yes, and the new station is a bit further away than the old station.

Waverleystu · 25 Dec 2018

Dundee is on a fair old gradient?

AM9 · 27 Dec 2018

NoOnesFool said:
Surely the Lickey incline that runs through Bromsgrove can't be trumped..

The gradient there is only 1:37 so not as steep as others.

Trivia: Steepest Gradient in a Station

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