Speeds on heritage railways.

[DJ_K666]

Some railways can be slightly more flexible in terms of the 25 limit - obviously not timetabled to be in excess of that but certain services and drivers do tend to have a reputation for not hanging around!


The ruling grade for the Bluebell is indeed 1/75, with the steepest section being 1/55 from Hazelden Farm to the summit in Imberhorne Cutting, where it levels out and then immediately drops down to 1/61. I will add the gradient profile for this section of line is not entirely accurate, as the profile of some sections proved to be steeper or shallower than expected.

The trackbed through the cutting is higher than the original line, which necessitated the very steep gradients north of Kingscote to the new housing estate in East Grinstead. I believe that was (as stated above) due to cost, and as the cutting did not need to be dug fully out why waste money on it?

But in answer to the original question I agree that the gradient of the line will play a part in feeling like you’re going faster than you are - a hard working engine feels a lot faster than a coasting one!

I was there for the model railway weekend and had some ride up the line first behind Whitewock Hall and then from HK to SP behind Beachy Head. Kind of had to really.

Looking at Imberhorne cutting, you can see where they changed plan as the cutting suddenly goes really narrow and steep compared to the rest of it.

I did have a look out at the gradient posts, either end of West Hoathly station*, on the Down side, they say LEVEL | 233 at the south and and 122 | LEVEL at the north.

* I know, however the platform faces are still in situ so it's still there.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Jul 2025 ==

The 25mph limit is relevant for the Railways Safety Regulations 1999:

Who we work with | Office of Rail and Road

As safety and economic regulator of the rail industry and monitor of National Highways, we work with rail infrastructure companies, safety organisations and the British, Scottish and Welsh governments.

www.orr.gov.uk

Railway Safety Regulations 1999 | Office of Rail and Road

The application of the Railway Safety Regulations 1999.

www.orr.gov.uk

So if you go beyond 25mph you need a train protection system, which ORR guidance https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2024-05/train-protection-systems-guidance-on-rsr-1999.pdf defines as:

While plenty of heritage vehicles have been fitted with AWS and TPWS, to operate and maintain these systems on a railway does incur an extra continuous cost which a heritage organisation is unlikely to be able to bear. I don't know if the GCR has a specific exemption for speeds above 25mph given it has double-track or if it's just fitted AWS/TPWS.

AFAIK the 25 limit iss to do with the Light Railways Act of 18-whenever it was, which many preserved Railways operate under. More recent ones will operate under the Transport & Works Act which superseded it.

Another thing to consider is that the cant on curves will be set to 25mph. The Bluebell Railway had the track canted for 75 in places until it was relaid, since the track hadn't been relaid since BR days.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Jul 2025 ==

I have read on another forum that one of the heritage railways wanted to increase the 25 mph speed limit and asked the Railway Inspector. The Railway Inspector said that the speed limit would not be increased, but he was happy for some railways to occasionally run at 40 mph as long as thier track and bridges were in good condition. The reason he did not want to raise the speed limit raised was that if it was increased to 40 mph, some railways would occasionally go at 60 mph which would not be acceptable. I agree with that, because sometimes common sense is more important than the letter of the law.

Wasn't that the Mid Hants? I know they were planning to relay their track with FB rail to allow it. No idea if they did in the end. The Bluebell has a lot of flat bottom rail these days and there's a section immediately north of Sheffield Park with rail in the down cess waiting to be laid. I counted 12 panels at the model railway weekend.