Steepest gradients?

[Waverley125]

The climb out of Bradford interchange, both on the line to Leeds and the line to Halifax, has got to be pretty steep.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Garnant to Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen on the freight line (recently re-opened) is 1 in 37 , luckily in the direction of empty wagon haulage.

In the 1980's , coal was sent to Abernant for washing , neccesitating 2x37 haulage with much noise.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

What about the Wall of Death approaching Sutton from the loop?

 

[Ploughman]

The climb out of Bradford interchange, both on the line to Leeds and the line to Halifax, has got to be pretty steep.

1 in 50 on both

 

[DaveNewcastle]

I know these aren't going to qualify as the 'Steepest Gradients' by a long way, but I have been intending to look up the gradients on the ECML and just wanted to add the steepest on that route (just London - Edinburgh).

I think the steepest must be the short 1 in 78 climb through Carlton Tunnels at Edinburgh Waverley.
That is matched at the southern end by the 1 in 110 climb out of Kings Cross through Copenhagen Tunnel and Belle Isle all the way to the 2 mile mark at Finsbury Park.

The ledgendary climb up Stoke Bank towards Grantham on the Down is 1 in 178 for its last 3 miles (but is significant for following a long 6 mile climb from Careby at 1 in 200). The northern approach to Grantham on the Up is a similar 5.5 miles at 1 in 198.

There's a few steep sections of 1 in 150 and 1 in 120 on the Up from Chester-le-Street to Durham.

But the highest and steepest sustained gradient must be at Grantshouse which tops at about 111metres above sea level with a climb on the Up of 1 in 96 for the 3 miles from Cockburnspath to Penmanshiel.

Relatively flat, in fact!

Maybe its more notable for skimming along just below sea level through Holme Fen between Holme and Yaxley?

 

[Bevan Price]

Does anyone know what is the climb out of Bradford Interchange is?

Short section at 1 in 50 according to Ian Allan book of gradient profiles. Similar 1 in 50 at Leeds end between Holbeck East & Bramley.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

We all know Lickey is far and away the most popular and steepest gradient on Britain's mainline network, but what others run it close, and how far must a stretch of line be for it to qualify?

Also, what is the flattest stretch of line in the UK, and what individual stretch is the flattest?

Many thanks

For published info. on gradients, the following may be of interest, in addition to the well known Main Lines Gradient Profiles originally published by Railway Magazine and subsequently republished by Ian Allan.

1. Former Midland Railway:- "Midland Railway System Maps, Volume 6 : The Gradient Diagrams", published by Peter Kay of Teignmouth. Cost £7.50 when reprinted in 1999.

2. Former North Eastern Railway:- "Gradient Sections", published by North Eastern Railway Association.

3. Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway.:- The books on the history of this railway written by John Marshall and by Eric Mason include profiles of most lines - but with some differences between the two books. Out of print, but 2nd hand copies often seen at specialist book dealers.

 

[Ploughman]

For published info. on gradients, the following may be of interest, in addition to the well known Main Lines Gradient Profiles originally published by Railway Magazine and subsequently republished by Ian Allan.

1. Former Midland Railway:- "Midland Railway System Maps, Volume 6 : The Gradient Diagrams", published by Peter Kay of Teignmouth. Cost £7.50 when reprinted in 1999.

2. Former North Eastern Railway:- "Gradient Sections", published by North Eastern Railway Association.

3. Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway.:- The books on the history of this railway written by John Marshall and by Eric Mason include profiles of most lines - but with some differences between the two books. Out of print, but 2nd hand copies often seen at specialist book dealers.

As long as you take note of John Addyman's comments in the intro to the NER Gradient sections. Which will probably be relevant to any gradient book published.
Which basically say that any quoted gradient is probably wrong.
This after relevelling a number of lines, whilst working for BR Design section, and being unable to get any sort of a match between quoted and actual gradient.

 

[507 001]

The section of new tunnels heading towards moorfields (coming away from Liv Central) is 1 in 38. The mersey tunnel itself is around 1 in 27 (507/8's make a great noise climbing into hamilton square). The loop and link could possibly be the most arduous piece of railway line in the country? Its not the steepest but combined witht the exceptionally tight corners?

(The gradients were one of them main reasons BR gave for withdrawing the 502's apparently once the loop etc opened reliability sank like a torpedoed submarine.)

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Closed lines - Crompton and High Peak and the Pwllyrhebog Incline in the Rhondda - about 1 in 18 Try saying the latter after a few halves. ?

 

[50041]

BR Gradient Profiles Book shows the Lickey incline as 1:37 3/4 whereas the climb out of Ilfracombe is 1:36.

 

[stanley T]

There is a single track spur out of Lewisham station which joins the fast lines to London Bridge at a really steep incline (not the two track link to the slow lines, which seem less steep). Don't know what the gradient is, would be interested to find out.

 

[Stewart]

Weirdly precise then. Is it a coincidence that that's exactly one in 2¹²?

Dangerously offtopic but the shallowest gradient I think I've seen signed on a road is an unthinkable-on-the-railways 5% (one in 20), although I may be misremembering.

I think it's Primrose Hill in Llanbadarn Fawr that is 1 in 3

Aberystwyth's furnicular up Constitution Hill is about a 1 in 1

 

[moonrakerz]

I went on a train from Zurich to Uetliberg, a mountain overlooking the city, and the gradient seemed frighteningly steep, particularly coming back down. Later found out that it was the steepest adhesion worked standard gauge line in Europe with a grafdient of 7% which worlks out at around 1:14. I thought that Hopton Incline on the Cromford and High Peak railway was actually 1:14 also.

The Flamsbana railway in Norway claims to be the steepest standard gauge adhesion worked railway in Europe at 1:18. This is widely quoted.

Uetilberg is not mentioned, other than for its scenic value ...........

 

[507 001]

not sure what the run out of Green lane towards rock ferry is, thats pretty steep, steeper than 1 in 40 for example!

 

[Marton]

Stretch of 1 in 40 out of Middlesbrough to Nunthope with a mile of 1 in 44

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

 

[apk55]

The Flamsbana railway in Norway claims to be the steepest standard gauge adhesion worked railway in Europe at 1:18. This is widely quoted.

Uetilberg is not mentioned, other than for its scenic value ...........

What about the Hunsrückbahn in Germany from Bopard (on the Rhine valley) to Emmelshausen? Gradiant is 60,9 ‰ (1in 16) and worked by diesel (steepest diesel worked line?) Originally rack worked until 1931. Quite spectacular scenery as it climbs 336m out of the Rhine valley. More information unfortunately in German on http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunsrückbahn

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

There has been another thread running about the possibilities of re-opening the Middleton Junction to Oldham Werneth branch line that was constructed by the Manchester and Leeds Railway in 1842. This line had a one mile stretch of line with a gradient of 1 in 27.

 

[mappman1000]

I've always wondered what the climb out of Felixstowe North terminal to Trimley station is, anyone know?

 

[Speedbird2639]

Closed lines - Crompton and High Peak and the Pwllyrhebog Incline in the Rhondda - about 1 in 18 Try saying the latter after a few halves. ?

I have a photo of one of the information boards from the Hopton Incline on the old High Peak line. It states that the stationary engine was removed in 1877 and the trains were then hauled up the incline by the locomotive alone. The incline was not reprofiled to the shallower 1:14 until 1903. As the other inclines on the line are in the region of 1:8 if correct this wld seem to indicate the steepest adhesion worked line in the UK was Hopton Incline in the period 1877-1903 at 1:8!

 

[nicobobinus]

As sustained gradients go, the Portsmouth direct line climbs over 100m from the Wey valley in Goldalming up to Haslemere - much of the 8 miles is done at 1:80 or thereabouts. Easy work for the Desiros, though!

 

[The Engineer]

The Lickey is, I believe, the steepest main line gradient. However the Mersey Railway Tunnel is steeper - 1 in 27 has been mentioned, from James Street to the bottom and then up to Hamilton Square

Hi Plannerman,
I think that the climb out of Moorfields new station onto the old railway viaducts out of Liverpool Exchange, towards Sandhiills, may be the steepest on the Merseyrail network. I'm not sure of the value though...

As a young engineer, we did tests on this bank with the new Class 507 units. We cut out half the traction and did repeated starts as part of the acceptance type tests for the Class. The traction resistors got very hot, glowed a nice cherry red, but were within design limits....

 

[sonorguy]

I think it's Primrose Hill in Llanbadarn Fawr that is 1 in 3

Aberystwyth's furnicular up Constitution Hill is about a 1 in 1

In terms of steepest UK roads, the steepest is Chimney Bank in Rosedale at 1:2.5, along with sections of Hard Knott Pass. There are quite a few 1:3 hills out there.

 

[73001]

Hi Plannerman,
I think that the climb out of Moorfields new station onto the old railway viaducts out of Liverpool Exchange, towards Sandhiills, may be the steepest on the Merseyrail network. I'm not sure of the value though...

As a young engineer, we did tests on this bank with the new Class 507 units. We cut out half the traction and did repeated starts as part of the acceptance type tests for the Class. The traction resistors got very hot, glowed a nice cherry red, but were within design limits....

I was wondering about this section. I remember when there were issues with extra grease ending up on the train wheels through some sort of fault a few years ago, there were occasions where 2 x 6-car trains were joined together just to get up it.

I was also wondering what the definition of a 'main line' is? People keep mentioning the Lickey Incline but surely Liverpool to Chester (via the Mersey Tunnel) must count as a main line, technically?

 

[Dolge]

The 1:27 section on Merseyrail is I believe, the stretch from Green Lane to Rock Ferry. Certainly not James St to Hamilton Square which doesn't any notably steep sections. There is a similarly steep climb, but I believe slightly less than 1:27, between Moorfields and Sandhills.

It may not be main line but it's a tough gradient because all trains have to climb straight from a dead stop at Green Lane, immediately before the incline begins. 507/8's aren't audibly stressed as a diesel would be but they can be very slow up the incline on a full train.

 

[33011]

Not exactly the steepest but Parkstone bank between Poole and Bournemouth can be good fun in the leaf fall and winter seasons. I have seen the Wool sand train get stuck trying to climb it a few times especially when it has been raining making the sand heavier

www.fortunecity.com/business/director/1255/parkstone.html

 

[mountainmike]

The 1:27 section on Merseyrail is I believe, the stretch from Green Lane to Rock Ferry. Certainly not James St to Hamilton Square which doesn't any notably steep sections. There is a similarly steep climb, but I believe slightly less than 1:27, between Moorfields and Sandhills.

It may not be main line but it's a tough gradient because all trains have to climb straight from a dead stop at Green Lane, immediately before the incline begins. 507/8's aren't audibly stressed as a diesel would be but they can be very slow up the incline on a full train.

With respect that isn't quite correct. From the tunnel bottom under the Mersey to James Street station is particularly steep. The Guinness Book of Rail Facts and Feats gives it as the steepest gradient in the uk over which passenger trains work today and lists it as 1 in 27. Mind you it was the 1975 edition so doesn't include any new lines since then. The climb on the Northern line from the tunnel mouth after Moorfields up towards Sandhills is 1 in 30.

 

[apk55]

Another steep gradient that I have not seen mentioned is the Looe valley line from Liskeard to Coombe in Cornwall. What is the gradient and does it still carry freight, so is the steepest freight line in the country?

A incline I find most interesting is now closed the Worsborough (or Wentworth) incline on the Woodhead line with a gradient of 1 in 37. Ok it never really carried passengers, but instead carried massive quantities of freight - uphill. Often trains had 4 engines, in the early days 4 heavy duty 2-8-0 freight engines, lately 4 EM1 electrics. (Was this the only place in the UK where regularly had 4 engines?) The LNER also built a monster garret steam loco as a banker for this duty, with the highest tractive effort of any uk steam engine.

 

[moonrakerz]

What about the Hunsrückbahn in Germany from Bopard (on the Rhine valley) to Emmelshausen? Gradiant is 60,9 ‰ (1in 16) and worked by diesel (steepest diesel worked line?) Originally rack worked until 1931. Quite spectacular scenery as it climbs 336m out of the Rhine valley. More information unfortunately in German on http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunsrückbahn

"the steepest not gear wheel-driven railroad line of Germany." (my highlighting)
http://wikipedia.qwika.com/de2en/Verbandsgemeinde_Emmelshausen

"The railway, which is in fact the steepest railway north of the Alps"
http://www.rhein-mosel-dreieck.de/en/infosystem/hunsrueckbahn.aspx

"steepest railway line in Germany "
http://www.spitzke.de/site/en/print.html?type_=article&key_=3458

 

[coupwotcoup]

"the steepest not gear wheel-driven railroad line of Germany." (my highlighting)
http://wikipedia.qwika.com/de2en/Verbandsgemeinde_Emmelshausen

"The railway, which is in fact the steepest railway north of the Alps"
http://www.rhein-mosel-dreieck.de/en/infosystem/hunsrueckbahn.aspx

"steepest railway line in Germany "
http://www.spitzke.de/site/en/print.html?type_=article&key_=3458

I would imagine the haul up Snowdon is pretty steep...and as for flat..did Grantham to Boston once and didn't see a molehill.....