Tunnels and Highest point

[508-111]

Hi guys I know this is going to sound stupid as always but how many tunnels are the on Birmingham to London route (Chiltern) and the highest point . Also does anyone know the max speed and how long the tunnels are? Thank you

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Hi guys I know this is going to sound stupid as always but how many tunnels are the on Birmingham to London route (Chiltern) and the highest point . Also does anyone know the max speed and how long the tunnels are? Thank you

The Chiltern line speed is 100mph maximum, obviously lower in some places but not higher than that.

 

[Magdalia]

on Birmingham to London route (Chiltern) and the highest point

That's an interesting one. Looking at the Ordnance Survey I have identified 4 separate locations at about 120 metres above sea level: Solihull, Harbury, Ardley (south of Aynho) and Saunderton. I wouldn't like to guess which is the highest at track level.

how many tunnels are the on Birmingham to London route (Chiltern)

Of the 4 possible highest points only Solihull does not have a tunnel. At Ardley the main tunnel is over half a mile long, and there is another shorter tunnel nearby at Brill. But the Harbury and Saunderton tunnels are tiddlers, less than 100 yards, and Saunderton is going towards London only.

But both ends of the journey are in tunnels too: at the Birmingham end Snow Hill to Moor Street is almost entirely tunnel, at the London end Marylebone to Hampstead is almost entirely in three tunnels very close together.

 

[Gloster]

A look at some GWR gradient diagrams suggests that the summit is at Solihull, although the scale is too small to be sure. However, northbound trains ascend to Dorridge station, after which it is undulating to Solihull. Saunderton summit appears to be slightly lower and Ardley considerably.

(Source: GWR Goods Train Working, Volume One; Atkins.)

I make it ten tunnels with one on the Up line only and including the Gerrards Cross monstrosity. Most tunnels are fairly short. The longest are St Johns Wood (1609 yards) and Ardley (1155 yards).

 

[Magdalia]

including the Gerrards Cross monstrosity

I'd forgotten that one!