Gradients through station platforms and passing loops

[PaulLothian]

Hi

I believe the original Board of Trade guidance was that station platforms should have a maximum gradient of 1 in 260. Were there any instances on standard gauge lines of a steeper gradient through platforms?

I gather that there were not the same concerns in relation to passing loops without platforms, but could anyone advise if there was any restriction on gradients within shunting loops or sidings? Obviously catch points or other safety measures would be required.

This relates to a search for protoype info following discussions about a future modelling project - location is west Highlands of Scotland, so info about practice in that area would be particularly welcome.

Thanks

Paul

 

[John Webb]

......I gather that there were not the same concerns in relation to passing loops without platforms, but could anyone advise if there was any restriction on gradients within shunting loops or sidings? Obviously catch points or other safety measures would be required.

This relates to a search for protoype info following discussions about a future modelling project - location is west Highlands of Scotland, so info about practice in that area would be particularly welcome.

Thanks

Paul

Re passing loops - not certain about the West Highlands, but there was a serious accident at one (south of England?) where a train coming up the hill was stopped on the approach to a passing loop, as was the custom then, and the train coming down the hill failed to stop and ran into it. The result is that these days the uphill train will arrive first and move into the loop and the points are then set for the downhill train to enter the other arm of the loop - if it has braking problems it will not run into the other train. A good example of this can be seen at the passing loop south of Damems station on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, where the train from Keighley, running uphill, always enters the loop before the downhill train from Oakworth arrives. This loop is on a gradient of around 1 in 60!

 

[Old Hill Bank]

Ha ha Try Old Hill at around 1 in 50

 

[Ploughman]

Goathland on the NYMR 1 - 138 through the platforms according to the NER Line Diagrams

 

[Jonny]

Darwen (near Blackburn) and the stations on the west approach to the Standedge Tunnel?

 

[fgwrich]

Not so much as steep as the other stations mentioned, but Plymouth station has slight two gradients through it's station.

 

[trc666]

A fairly obvious gradient can be seen at City Thameslink. Farringdon could also be another competitor.

 

[PaulLothian]

Thanks, folks. Food for thought there!