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Gradient profiles of Heritage Railways - List in Post 1

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Jamessquared, Jul 24, 2013.

  1. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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    Would it also be longest straight in the UK?
     
  2. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    IIRC the longest straight is across the Nullarbor Plain in Australia.
     
  3. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    And indeed your name is still credited on the diagram to this day! Funnily enough, a few months ago I was flicking through an old issue of Bluebell News in the lobby (would have been mid 1990s I guess) and there was an article discussing the lengths gone to to get an updated survey of the line, particularly the then-newly opened section north of Horsted. No doubt Robin has the article in her papers somewhere!

    I'm still surprised that more lines don't publish gradient diagrams on their websites. One assumes that every operational heritage line has a similar diagram as I would have thought knowing the gradients on each part of the line would be considered safety-critical knowledge for operational staff. So given they must exist, I'd have thought publishing them could be a small - but cheap - marketing tool, particularly for those lines that are more challenging to work from a gradient point of view. To single out one example: The Mid Hants sets great marketing store by the tough nature of the gradients on the line, and how the locos have to work hard to get "over the Alps" - but then doesn't publish a simple diagram in which to actually demonstrate what those gradients are! Talking about gradients in marketing terms is clearly aimed at the enthusiast rather than the general public - which is fine, but why then not back that up with the definitive document that would be readily comprehensible by and useful to enthusiasts? It's hardly top secret information, nor expensive to do.

    Tom
     
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  4. Forestpines

    Forestpines Well-Known Member

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    The longest straight in the UK is between Selby and Hessle (and on the Down only - the Up does a bit of a wiggle at Gilberdyke Jn). I have no idea if it's level or not though.

    Before 1980 the second-longest straight was between Grimsby and Louth. Part of that stretch is now the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway, presumably making that the straightest preserved line!
     
  5. John Webb

    John Webb Member

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    Best description is "Mostly level" - there is a Leeds-Selby-Hull gradient diagram in the Tothill Press edition (18B) and Ian Allan edition (NE7) showing some 17 miles of level track out of the 26 mile between Selby and Hessle; any gradients are minor, the steepest being 1 in 230 leaving Selby. In addition there are about 11 miles of level track west of Selby towards Leeds!
     
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  6. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    I also find the absence of a gradient map on the MHR quite bizarre - inexplicable really. They go to the trouble of renovating and naming some of their lineside buildings like Chawton Heights and Arleside and then don't bother to publish anything celebrating their efforts.
     
  7. rhf19

    rhf19 New Member

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  8. Wenlock

    Wenlock Well-Known Member Friend

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    I'm sure there used to be a gradient profile on their website. Must have got left out of the current version as I can't find it now.
     
  9. Hurricane

    Hurricane Member

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    I am sure if requested the railway will add it to there website. It has probably been overlooked when the transfer of existing data to the new website occurred.
     
  10. Pesmo

    Pesmo Member

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    Has anyone yet made a 3d combined map and gradient profile of heritage line that could be viewed on a laptop? It probably wouldn't be that difficult with modern GPS surveying equipment or even a motorsport data logger.
     
  11. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    I was confused for a moment until I mentally changed "3d" to "3D".
    I think you have just volunteered to do the first one.
     
  12. LC2

    LC2 Member

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    Mid Hants Heights & Gradients...
    This is displayed in the waiting room at Medstead & Four Marks, so presumably shareable.
    MHR Gradients.jpg
     
  13. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Thanks Tim - have edited the first post on the thread to include it. I knew there had to be an MHR profile somewhere!

    Tom
     
  14. RA & FC

    RA & FC Well-Known Member

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  15. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    'Mostly level' definitely applies to Werrington Junction to Boston and that's 28 miles.
     
  16. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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  17. Footbridge

    Footbridge Member

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    Crikey, that looks more like the Snowdon Mountain Railway ;)
     
  18. NOTFORME_99

    NOTFORME_99 New Member

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    Has anyone put different lines on the same chart ?
    I would like to see
    SVR
    NYMR
    MHR
    and
    WSR
    On one chart so that you could compare them ?
     
  19. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    Corrected for accuracy now that much of it is the A16:(
     
  20. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Only if you knock a zero off the gradients!
     

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