Coldest place on railway in uk

[starlightEXPRESS]

Although it may not seem immediately obvious, the coldest places in England in late November are often the towns and villages at the foot of the North Downs in Surrey. As I understand it the cold air rolls down from the summits of the hills, becoming trapped in the Vale of Holmesdale below.

It's not unusual for FGW class 165s and 166s to find the going up Dorking Bank towards Gomshall rather difficult and for evening/late-night Reading-bound trains to reach Guildford behind schedule due to 'poor railhead conditions'. I'm not sure whether 3rd rail electrification of this stretch would alleviate or exacerbate the problem. Presumably lighter EMUs wouldn't slip so much on the ice of the running rails, but there its likely that ice might build up on the electrified rail.

 

[matchmaker]

Although it may not seem immediately obvious, the coldest places in England in late November are often the towns and villages at the foot of the North Downs in Surrey. As I understand it the cold air rolls down from the summits of the hills, becoming trapped in the Vale of Holmesdale below.

It's not unusual for FGW class 165s and 166s to find the going up Dorking Bank towards Gomshall rather difficult and for evening/late-night Reading-bound trains to reach Guildford behind schedule due to 'poor railhead conditions'. I'm not sure whether 3rd rail electrification of this stretch would alleviate or exacerbate the problem. Presumably lighter EMUs wouldn't slip so much on the ice of the running rails, but there its likely that ice might build up on the electrified rail.

Lighter weight generally means less adhesion, not more

 

[Tilly]

I've always found Shrewsbury to be really chilly and windy all times of the year while waiting for Cambrian connections. The wind always seems to Joel through from the junction.

 

[jonb]

Barnetby in the winter can be quite cold. It's a fairly open station as well which doesn't help!

 

[paul1609]

I wonder if there is a clue in the location of the UK's only (to my knowledge) Snow Shed installed as protection and/or a refuge over a running line? Its at Cruachan near Corrour.

I admit that recurring depth of snow doesn't imply the lowest temperatures, and they might be found further north, probably towards Caithness, based on wide-area average temperatures.

I seem to recall being told that if Ben Nevis was situated 40 miles to the East it would have a permanent snow cap most years. So Id guess that the average temperature/ altitude would probably favour one of the Highland Main Line Summits

 

[ANorthernGuard]

Hope Valley last January working a 142 on the last run to SHF then back to Picc, so cold told them we needed a unit swap as wasn't going to risk going back to Picc on one engine, they saw common sense lol

 

[Barrett M95]

Coldest place in the UK is Altnaharra - no railway near there though is there? Where's the closest?

Hottest station though is easy: Gravesend, Kent.

 

[Flamingo]

The wind-tunnel that passes for Bristol Parkway platform can feel pretty bad!

 

[matchmaker]

Coldest place in the UK is Altnaharra - no railway near there though is there? Where's the closest?

Lairg is only 20 miles away.

 

[anthony263]

The wind-tunnel that passes for Bristol Parkway platform can feel pretty bad!

I second that, spent 1 hour there waiting for a connetion back in january, not reconmended

 

[route:oxford]

I second that, spent 1 hour there waiting for a connetion back in january, not reconmended

Stirling is similar. The wind just seems to whip through it.

Coldest I ever recall is standing at Dunblane station when it was -21C between Christmas and New Year (1996 I think). The 158 (from Aberdeen) was on time departing Dunblane and arriving into Glasgow.

 

[DarloRich]

Going to stick my neck out here and say Shap in cumbria has got to be the coldiest place ive ever worked,it was minus 5,wind and sleet coming from the side,felt like being in moscow during december.
Anybody know of a colder place they have been or worked.

and that is in the summer! Beattock can be chilly

 

[SprinterMan]

I remember reading somewhere that on average year-round, Marks Tey is the coldest station in east anglia, as it is located in a "dip".