Line speeds 1958

[Justgeoff]

Can anyone kindly confirm the line speeds relative to 1958 for the Newton Abbot -Plymouth main line please?

 

[Taunton]

Was there a "line speed"? Did the WR not continue the GWR approach of, officially in the Sectional Appendix, saying "The speed may be as high as required", just with specific limits at certain places. Otherwise it was left to the drivers' judgement. Bear in mind that many WR steam locos did not have speedometers.

On this section I believe there was a limit of 60 mph through Totnes. With steep gradients of Dainton/Rattery down in both directions into the station trains would make a rush down one side to attack the other, and the limit was said to be often treated extremely liberally.

 

[hexagon789]

Was there a "line speed"? Did the WR not continue the GWR approach of, officially in the Sectional Appendix, saying "The speed may be as high as required", just with specific limits at certain places. Otherwise it was left to the drivers' judgement. Bear in mind that many WR steam locos did not have speedometers.

A 90mph ceiling was imposed either in the late 1950s or early 1960s I forget exactly when (the ceiling was increased to 100 for the special double 37 hauled trains in the latter 1960s and remained at 100 then until 1976), but before that it was indeed effectively unrestricted post-war on 4 of the mainlines.

I think it was 75 maximum south of Exeter though but unrestricted north of there from Bristol asides from PSRs.

There was a good site with many 1940s-1960s Western Sectional Appendices, I'll see if I can locate it again.

Can anyone kindly confirm the line speeds relative to 1958 for the Newton Abbot -Plymouth main line please?

I believe it was 75 but I'm away to look for a particular website to check.


== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Nov 2020 ==

Edit -
From the 1958 appendix:

"Until further notice, the pernissible speed of trains on the Down and Up mainlines will be as high as necessary, subject to any permanent or temporary speed restrictions

- Paddington to Plymouth via Lavington
- Reading to Cogload via Swindon and Bath
- Didcot to Yarnton
- Paddington to Ardley"

In 1960 these are all a blanket 90mph linespeed

 

[Taunton]

A 90mph ceiling was imposed either in the late 1950s or early 1960s I forget exactly when

This seems to have coincided with the introduction of the Warships, which were initially run at up to 100mph but this gave significant concerns, they were knocked back to 90mph and then 80mph maxima, which was still apparently a bucking bronco ride especially downhill on curves with the power off. Taunton drivers said the worst was from Pewsey down to Newbury, curved and gently downhill all the way. Coming down the steep corkscrew from Dainton through Totnes must have been a barrel of laughs (not) as well.

This is the mainstream Swindon Warships. The initial D600 North British Co-Co locos, although somewhat underpowered and unreliable, and kept off the main line where possible, did at least apparently ride very well, possibly the best of all types on the Western.

 

[hexagon789]

This seems to have coincided with the introduction of the Warships, which were initially run at up to 100mph but this gave significant concerns, they were knocked back to 90mph and then 80mph maxima, which was still apparently a bucking bronco ride especially downhill on curves with the power off. Taunton drivers said the worst was from Pewsey down to Newbury, curved and gently downhill all the way. Coming down the steep corkscrew from Dainton through Totnes must have been a barrel of laughs (not) as well.

This is the mainstream Swindon Warships. The initial D600 North British Co-Co locos, although somewhat underpowered and unreliable, and kept off the main line where possible, did at least apparently ride very well, possibly the best of all types on the Western.

My original thought was 1965, but the 1960 SA has a 90mph ceiling so it was earlier than I thought.