Heritage line with steepest gradient.

[cats_five]

But does Cairngorm's railway (opened this century) count as a heritage line?

It's been closed & renovated more than once...

 

[bishdunster]

Washford bank (W.S.R.) between Blue Anchor and Washford approx one mile of 1 in 65. The full gradient profile is avalable on the web there are several other fairly steep (and long !) sections.

 

[Belperpete]

If narrow gauge counts, than Snowdon must be at the top of the list!

The steam engines certainly work hard on the Snowdon. There is a path between Snowdon Ranger and Llanberis that goes up the other side of the valley, and the sound reverberates around. Unfortunately the diesels, that now run the majority of the services, don't sound anywhere near as impressive, they just seem to take it all in their stride.

Unfortunately most standard-gauge heritage lines seem to prefer using massive great tender locos that are woefully over-powered for the work that they are required to do, ambling along at no more than 25mph on a branch line. Lines that often used to be worked at far higher speeds by small tank locos. Consequently you rarely get the feeling that these locos are working hard, even on a gradient.

I find it is mainly the narrow gauge lines, where the locos are now often being asked to pull far heavier loads than they used to, where you get the feeling of locos being worked hard. The W&L and VoR already mentioned being prime examples. Also the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland lines, the latter having a ruling gradient of 1 in 20 IIRC. While the Garratts and the Fairlie's seem to cope with whatever is given them, the non articulated locos certainly work hard for their living, and give a good show. And the IoM steam railway up Nunnery Bank, where trains often needed to be double-headed for that stretch.

 

[52290]

I find it is mainly the narrow gauge lines, where the locos are now often being asked to pull far heavier loads than they used to, where you get the feeling of locos being worked hard. The W&L and VoR already mentioned being prime examples. Also the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland lines, the latter having a ruling gradient of 1 in 20 IIRC. While the Garratts and the Fairlie's seem to cope with whatever is given them, the non articulated locos certainly work hard for their living, and give a good show. And the IoM steam railway up Nunnery Bank, where trains often needed to be double-headed for that stretch.

On the IoM railway trains were never double-headed up Nunnery Bank. They were always banked up at the rear with the bank loco dropping back before it got to Port Soderick station.

 

[HOOVER29]

The Bodmin railway, on the climb from Bodmin Parkway to Bodmin General has gradients as steep as 1 in 37 along with tight curves and great views out along the Glyn valley - engines definitely work hard and it's highly recommended to visit!

Definitely recommend a visit.
Had 50042 Triumph up both climbs from Bodmin PW & Boscarne from the front window.
Been a while since I last heard a class 50 working that hard.

To top that off at the diesel gala we had 47306 & 50042 on the front from Bodmin Pw to Bodmin General

Great entertainment

 

[Forty29]

Did 37142 make the gala. That on the front too would have been triple great.

 

[D6700]

Did 37142 make the gala. That on the front too would have been triple great.

The gala is next weekend - and the 37 is planned to work from the Saturday afternoon. It will be my first visit to the line, so it's good to hear the reports in this thread about thrash opportunities!

 

[HOOVER29]

The gala is next weekend - and the 37 is planned to work from the Saturday afternoon. It will be my first visit to the line, so it's good to hear the reports in this thread about thrash opportunities!

Shame Triumph isn’t running, well I don’t think she is.
50042 is due to replace 37142 in the maintenance shop

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 16:03 ==

Did 37142 make the gala. That on the front too would have been triple great.

The 37 was in the maintenance shed all the time we were at the gala.
Was at the gala when I red penned 47306.
Proper claggy beast of a loco especially on the climbs & if held at the signal protecting the junction outside Bodmin General coming up from Boscarne

 

[david_g]

I find it is mainly the narrow gauge lines, where the locos are now often being asked to pull far heavier loads than they used to, where you get the feeling of locos being worked hard. The W&L and VoR already mentioned being prime examples. Also the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland lines, the latter having a ruling gradient of 1 in 20 IIRC. While the Garratts and the Fairlie's seem to cope with whatever is given them, the non articulated locos certainly work hard for their living, and give a good show. And the IoM steam railway up Nunnery Bank, where trains often needed to be double-headed for that stretch.

The W&L gives you the opportunity to stand on the end balcony right next to the locomotive. Towards Welshpool you will be right next to the chimney and can experience the noise on the steepest gradient on the line - the short 1 in 24 climb away from the river between Heniarth & Cyfronydd. There is almost as much climbing in this direction as in the other so there's plenty of opportunity to experience an engine working hard. In the Llanfair direction There is two and a quarter miles of climbing off the platform at Raven Square to the top of the Golfa including 1 1/4 miles at 1 in 29 where you can stand on the balcony looking through the cab rear windows at the perspiring fireman and (if things are going well) the rather more relaxed driver.