Whats the highest railway drop in the UK

gopher · Post by **gopher** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 7:33 pm

For those that don't know I am doing the Bala-Blaenau Ffestiniog branch for the next installment. At a place called Craig Aderyn roughly half way along the 25 mile branch it runs on a ledge 300 foot above the valley floor according to two books I have. But according to a map I have it's more like 270 foot.

Just wondering if anybody new what the longest drop was on a UK railway!

Gordon

isambardkingdombrunel · Sat Mar 15, 2003 8:27 pm

Highest point:
Scotland is also the location of the highest point on the British Rail system: the summit at Druimuachdar, between Perth and Inverness, is 1,484 feet above sea level.

Lowest point:
The bottom of the Severn Tunnel is 144 feet below sea level. At 4 miles 628 yards long it is also notable as the longest of around a thousand tunnels.

Steepest Main Line gradient:
At Exeter is 7- chains of 1 in 31.3; the famous Lickey Incline is 1 in 37.7.

Goingnorth · Post by **Goingnorth** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 8:36 pm

gopher wrote:For those that don't know I am doing the Bala-Blaenau Ffestiniog branch for the next installment. At a place called Craig Aderyn roughly half way along the 25 mile branch it runs on a ledge 300 foot above the valley floor according to two books I have. But according to a map I have it's more like 270 foot.

Just wondering if anybody new what the longest drop was on a UK railway!

Gordon

Dunno, but the west Highland at Loch Trieg takes some beating...must be a few hundred feet.

ianm42 · Post by **ianm42** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 9:17 pm

How about just below the summit of the Snowden Mountain Railway?

johncas · Post by **johncas** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 9:18 pm

I was once on the settle - carlisle on a steam excusion line and there was a hill to go up it was the winter and the steam loco could not get up the hill

gopher · Post by **gopher** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 9:24 pm

How about just below the summit of the Snowden Mountain Railway?

Yes. Forgot the obvious Ian. What about standard gauge though.

Gordon

johncas · Post by **johncas** » Sat Mar 15, 2003 11:12 pm

Yes that has to be scotland

salopiangrowler · Post by **salopiangrowler** » Sun Mar 16, 2003 12:12 am

isambardkingdombrunel wrote:Highest point:
Scotland is also the location of the highest point on the British Rail system: the summit at Druimuachdar, between Perth and Inverness, is 1,484 feet above sea level.

Lowest point:
The bottom of the Severn Tunnel is 144 feet below sea level. At 4 miles 628 yards long it is also notable as the longest of around a thousand tunnels.

Steepest Main Line gradient:
At Exeter is 7- chains of 1 in 31.3; the famous Lickey Incline is 1 in 37.7.

lowest point is the channel tunnel now and the channel tunnel is also the steepest incline, atleast till the CTRL opens.

salopiangrowler · Post by **salopiangrowler** » Sun Mar 16, 2003 12:13 am

Steepest incline on a branchline thats not rack assisted is on the foxfield line (1 in 19)

alan2 · Post by **alan2** » Sun Mar 16, 2003 1:20 am

salopiangrowler wrote:Steepest incline on a branchline thats not rack assisted is on the foxfield line (1 in 19)

The steepest Incline must be 1 in 5 on the Duffield and Wirksworth line.

I think It was Rope asisted though.

either that or they had lots of sand.

Also I think Snowdon has the most dramatic drop for a railway, especially when everyone in your carriage tries to get a good look down the Devil's back. Into devils Kitchen.

The carriage on a good tilt towards the edge.

jp4712 · Post by **jp4712** » Sun Mar 16, 2003 11:29 am

Steepest standard gauge regular passenger line in UK was Middleton Junction - Oldham Werneth, 1 in 27. Doesn't help with furthest drop though...

basildd · Post by **basildd** » Sun Mar 16, 2003 12:19 pm

What about from City Thameslink to Blackfriars...

bravedan · Post by **bravedan** » Sun Mar 16, 2003 12:36 pm

salopiangrowler wrote:Steepest incline on a branchline thats not rack assisted is on the foxfield line (1 in 19)

Sorry not quite, at least historically ...........Hopton Incline on the Cromford and High Peak line........1 in 14 and adhesion worked........closed in the 60's.............no ropes.

Can't help with largest drop..................

Dave

yourdomingo · Post by **yourdomingo** » Sun Mar 16, 2003 6:09 pm

waterloo and city line lift? not the biggest drop, but there's no other 1 in 0 drops on the rail network...

gopher · Post by **gopher** » Sun Mar 16, 2003 7:12 pm

waterloo and city line lift?

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Whats the highest railway drop in the UK

Whats the highest railway drop in the UK

Re: Whats the highest railway drop in the UK