Netherthorpe Road (Sheffield Supertram)

[Mcr Warrior]

Is this located on the steepest inclined section of (non-rack) railway/tramway track in the UK?

 

[gordonthemoron]

dunno, but it's close to two of the best pubs in Sheffield (New Barrack Tavern & Fat Cat)

 

[WatcherZero]

Its a 10% gradient I believe and the rest of the UK tramways have max 6% gradients.

 

[ChrisCooper]

Sheffield Trams are the only modern ones powered on all axles, and AFAIK the only ones to have service track brakes (others are emergency only), infact they and the 1992 tube stock are rare examples of any UK rail vehicles (other than light locos) powered on all axles. A few older bogie trams were also fully powered, such as the London HR2s and the Blackpool Corronation and Marton VAMBACs. The old Sheffied Trams were all 4 wheel (even the late built and modern looking "Roberts" cars), so oviously fully powered. Most traditional trams were powered on the inner axles only, and most modern trams on the outer bogies only.

 

[Oracle]

Isn't the Farringdon-City Thameslink line not the steepest or at least one of the steepest on NR?

I wish I knew the gradient up Rinchmond Hill in Bournemouth as I have a 1962ish photo of a trolleybus about to ascend..I gather that the trolleys had special anti-run-back brakes. It must have been one of the steepest trolleybus routes.

Further to the previous posting didn't the 5-BEL units not have all-powered bogies, as did the 4-REPs? Not that I can think of any gradients that they needed to ascend except in the case of the former the line out of Victoria up to Grosvenor Bridge.

 

[bb21]

I wish I knew the gradient up Rinchmond Hill in Bournemouth as I have a 1962ish photo of a trolleybus about to ascend..I gather that the trolleys had special anti-run-back brakes. It must have been one of the steepest trolleybus routes.

1 in 8 (12.5%).

See this.

 

[tbtc]

Some "wrong line" running at Netherthorpe today due to engineering (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebustocrookes/sets/72157626343907681/) - trams were only running from Middlewood - Malin Bridge to University, reversing there on the wrong line to Shalesmoor - if anyone needed the Shalesmoor points ticking off on their route maps!

 

[sheff'd victoria]

Some "wrong line" running at Netherthorpe today due to engineering (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebustocrookes/sets/72157626343907681/) - trams were only running from Middlewood - Malin Bridge to University, reversing there on the wrong line to Shalesmoor - if anyone needed the Shalesmoor points ticking off on their route maps!

Brilliant pictures

By the looks of it the track is in need of replacement soon in that area

 

[tbtc]

Brilliant pictures

By the looks of it the track is in need of replacement soon in that area

There's been a few bits of engineering work recently, the one I'm looking forward to is the Easter disruptions:

Trams will run from Meadowhall/Malin Bridge to Cathedral, over points wrong direction to Castle Square. Halfway/Herdings Park to Sheffield Station. Yellow with run Meadowhall to Cricket Inn Road, through East Gate of Nunnery Depot, down Track 7, pick up/drop off at Nunnery and up headshunt to Cricket Inn Road and drop off/pick up at Cricket Inn Road

http://www.forum.sy-transport.co.uk

So, a chance to travel through the Supertram depot "in service" - a bit of track I don't expect many people have done yet

Plus the points between Cathedral and Castle Square in the "wrong" direction etc

 

[ChrisCooper]

Further to the previous posting didn't the 5-BEL units not have all-powered bogies, as did the 4-REPs? Not that I can think of any gradients that they needed to ascend except in the case of the former the line out of Victoria up to Grosvenor Bridge.

Not 100% sure about the 5BELs but seriously doubt it. REPs definitly didn't, they were Motor-Trailer-Trailer-Motor.

 

[Invincibles]

dunno, but it's close to two of the best pubs in Sheffield (New Barrack Tavern & Fat Cat)

Not rating the Wellington then which sits on the bend at the bottom and has fine oversized glasses. The Kelham Island must be worth a mention too...

It is some slope there, I am always glad there is a tram for getting back to the station

 

[northwichcat]

Its a 10% gradient I believe and the rest of the UK tramways have max 6% gradients.

So is the gradient of the Metrolink line leading up to Cornbrook from the Altrincham line only 1 in 6?

 

[Ivo]

So is the gradient of the Metrolink line leading up to Cornbrook from the Altrincham line only 1 in 6?

A 6% gradient would be short of even 1-in-16! It never felt that steep to me.

 

[northwichcat]

A 6% gradient would be short of even 1-in-16! It never felt that steep to me.

Yes I obviously didn't mean 1 in 6!

The line does rise rather rapidly but just for a few meters. As it's not on a street running section you can't walk along side it but many people have claimed that a train wouldn't be able to run on that line due to the sharp sudden rise even though a train could do the sharp turn in to Deansgate station which a tram would probably struggle with.

 

[WatcherZero]

Looked it up, max gradient of Metrolink vehicles according to manufacturers are both 6.5% or roughly 1/15, Siemens-Duewag Supertram is 10% or 1/10.

Steepest spots on the Metrolink line at moment is probably the Eccles line between Pomona and Cornbrook with the Cornbrook ramp near Manchester Central a tiny bit less steep. Theres going to be some really tough slopes in a couple of spots on the new lines like where the South Manchester Line dives under the Altrincham line at Old Trafford, the ramp from the Queens Road Depot to the Oldham line viaduct and a few other spots.