Banking - is Lickey the only location?

[RichmondCommu]

G'day everyone,

Is the Lickey the only incline in the UK to be regularly banked or are there other examples? Are there any other inclines such as Shap which are considered border line?

Many thanks,

Richmond Commuter!

 

[Chris125]

The only place that springs to mind is Victoria where steam hauled charters tend to be banked by diesels out of the station, often uncoupled - i don't think that's even allowed on the Lickey these days.

Chris

 

[heart-of-wessex]

I think it is allowed on the Lickey, maybe. I recall one of the charters not long ago (couple of years?) when 6201 was banked by a Tyseley pannier (9466 or something) and it was said that the pannier was only buffered up to the coaching stock, not screwed on to the coaches in any way.

I wasn't on the tour nor did I see it, so I can't confirm it as I don't know what happened after Blackwell summit

 

[Freightmaster]

Are there any other inclines such as Shap which are considered border line?

Beattock could be considered to be a "border line", I suppose...

MARK

 

[Pacerpilot]

Robeston - Westerleigh oil trains are banked up Cockett Bank (West of Swansea) when diverted away from the Swansea district line. It's a 1 in 52 gradient.

 

[merlodlliw]

I recall from experience, baking took place at Manchester Exchange daily with the North Wales trains, especially the 1155am(split at Junction) & 430pm Club train to Llandudno as it was called, all this in the 60s.

Banking also took place on the Weymouth boat trains on the up to London.

Bob

 

[RichmondCommu]

Beattock could be considered to be a "border line", I suppose...

MARK

I like what you did there! Very good!

 

[The Planner]

Old Hill Bank requires banking, the loco pushes from Stourbridge and disconnects at Langley Green.

 

[Trog]

Is the loco often to be seen at Saltley for banking on the Camp Hill Line?

 

[The Planner]

A DBS 66 is normallly sat at Saltley for it yes. There are WTT paths for it to get to Bromsgrove and back too.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Old Hill Bank requires banking, the loco pushes from Stourbridge and disconnects at Langley Green.

That’s interesting, is there a loco permanently based at Stourbridge?

 

[The Planner]

No, it is normally STP moves that do it.

 

[RichmondCommu]

No, it is normally STP moves that do it.

Sorry, please excuse my ignorance. What does STP stand for?

 

[starrymarkb]

Kettles must be banked up the hill from Exeter St Davids to Central. Especially after a tour tried it without...

[youtube]pOqqf-cbqQk[/youtube]

 

[IanXC]

Sorry, please excuse my ignorance. What does STP stand for?

Short Term Planning, when an operator wants to schedule a move at late, or no notice.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

or VSTP, Very Short Term Planning, booked through lastminute.com

Never knew Old Hill has stuff banked too, I believe there are a few freights that use this way to avoid the Lickey. Last time I went to Vigo Bridge on the Lickey, there were only two trains being banked. Other freight was either going downhill, and up hill was sparse anyway

 

[tsr]

The only place that springs to mind is Victoria where steam hauled charters tend to be banked by diesels out of the station, often uncoupled

But not always, of course - as I have seen myself.

 

[infobleep]

Are their any regular passenger services which are banked? May be some of those mentioned are, so excuse my ignorance if so.

 

[Beveridges]

Robeston - Westerleigh oil trains are banked up Cockett Bank (West of Swansea) when diverted away from the Swansea district line. It's a 1 in 52 gradient.

That's some serious pulling power even for 2 locos to manage that! The Westerleigh often weighs 2700+ tons I would never have thought even 2x 66 could get that up a 1 in 52.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Are their any regular passenger services which are banked? May be some of those mentioned are, so excuse my ignorance if so.

Only certain railtours and charters are banked from Bromsgrove and up the Lickey (presumably when it's a kettle not a diesel as charter trains weigh sod all compared to freight) that is the only known regular banking for passenger trains.

 

[RichmondCommu]

The only place that springs to mind is Victoria where steam hauled charters tend to be banked by diesels out of the station, often uncoupled - i don't think that's even allowed on the Lickey these days.

Chris

I remember seeing Class 25's at Victoria in the 1970's waiting to bank trains up the Miles Platting incline. Fantastic memories of freights with a class 40 at the front being shoved by a Sulzer. The noise was incredible!

 

[Beveridges]

Today with a single 66 at the front it just doesnt sound the same

 

[matchmaker]

Banking out of Glasgow Queen Street was common in pre-sprinter days. 1 in 42, from a platform start, in a damp, wet tunnel could be tricky. There were load tables in the 1969 SA. 1st gen DMU's had to be banked if more than a certain number of engines were out of service.

There are (were) groups of lights on the tunnel walls. They were to indicate to drivers what direction they were moving...

There was a bad accident in 1928 when an outgoing train slipped to a stand then started to slide back down without the driver realising. It was hit by a train which was shunting into the tunnel entrance. Signalmans error.

 

[jopsuk]

modern units are all powerful enough to get everywhere unaided; the few remaining "loco hauled" trains similarly are hauled by hugely powerful locos.

 

[DXMachina]

Is it really a question of power though? Without adhesion, extra BHP is just vanity.

 

[starrymarkb]

Is it really a question of power though? Without adhesion, extra BHP is just vanity.

Its more even power rather then twice a revoloution

 

[6Gman]

From memory wasn't the overnight Bristol - North East/ Scotland train the last passenger service to be banked on a regular planned basis?

 

[jopsuk]

Is it really a question of power though? Without adhesion, extra BHP is just vanity.

well yes- it is is power:weight ratios and better control systems that are able to apply the power without spinning the wheels.

 

[Chris125]

I remember seeing Class 25's at Victoria in the 1970's waiting to bank trains up the Miles Platting incline. Fantastic memories of freights with a class 40 at the front being shoved by a Sulzer. The noise was incredible!

I meant t'other Victoria but what great memories nevertheless

Chris

 

[MrC]

Is it really a question of power though? Without adhesion, extra BHP is just vanity.

Quite. Even emus such as Desiros can get defeated at places like Bincombe and Parkstone banks during the worst of low adhesion. It doesn't matter how good your power/weight ratio or traction control is if there simply aren't enough powered axles available to overcome low adhesion - something the LHCS supporters sometimes forget to mention when promoting their cause

 

[sheff'd victoria]

Shame it closed now but the Worsborough Incline on the Wath - Penistone section of the Woodhead line always had bankers

A video of a bit of section is below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_rAbgS2-vQ&feature=relmfu