The sharpest curves

[najaB]

That’s 20mph though, and it doesn’t look, from a drivers point of view at least, that tight. Same goes for Earlstown as suggested by @frodshamfella whilst this is probably the tightest curve on a platform, it’s not the tightest curve

I'd say it's pretty close between Earlestown and Perth P1/P2.

 

[zwk500]

I'm finding it interesting that there are so many 'contenders'. Are there no definitive figures? I woild have imagined it might be a factor in deciding what lengths of train or vehicle might be permitted and also a factor in matters of speed limits? I guess it's also a factor in determining wheel profile design?

Various parts of NR will hold the figures somewhere, but nowhere (at least not publicly available) is it collated for the entire network and stored in a searchable/sortable format. The individual route teams will know what the curves on their routes are like, as they're the ones who have to maintain them. It's a similar story with gradients, although they are somewhat better documented.

 

[Peter0124]

Also Glasgow Central Low Level, despite not being sharply curved in itself can sometimes produce some very loud squealing from trains at the platform ends, 97dB for example when a 334 left towards Motherwell.

This is due to the tracks curving slightly at each end to make space for the island platform, and the fact it is underground therefore the sound is louder. I suppose you could argue that the west side of P17 is sharp in that respect.