D854_Tiger Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 What is the smallest radius main line curve and where. What is the smallest radius main line curve possible that could be negotiated by any main line stock currently in operation. What is the smallest radius curve used with points. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sir douglas Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 dont know how tight it is but the curve into Wakefield Kirkgate Platform 3 is quite tight and thats used everyday by pacers https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.6789438,-1.4854076,276m/data=!3m1!1e3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Johnster Posted July 23, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 23, 2017 (edited) Closed since 1963 but can I nominate the very wiggly Porthcawl Branch, where the only locos not restricted to 5mph were Tondu 44xx, restricted to 15mph, and they had to be regularly turned to even out flange wear. The other 44xx branches, Princetown and Much Wenlock, were pretty wiggly as well, but IIRC didn't involve the engines having to be turned like this. Define main line. Is it any running line, does the definition include permissive block freight lines, are station limits included? Turnouts and pointwork? Light railways? I'll assume we are not counting narrow gauge, although the Ffestiniog was operated as a full main line for many years. Barry leading on to the Barry Island branch is a bit severe as well, but I'm sure there are better examples than that. Edited July 23, 2017 by The Johnster Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
D854_Tiger Posted July 23, 2017 Author Share Posted July 23, 2017 Define main line. Is it any running line, does the definition include permissive block freight lines, are station limits included? Turnouts and pointwork? I was thinking pretty much any current UK standard gauge passenger or freight line (though would be interested to hear off closed routes) excluding yards and private sidings, including pointwork. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southernman46 Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 I would offer up Northam curve at Southampton on the Wessex main line to Weymouth, it carries an intensive passenger and heavy freight service - it's defo not some piddley branch line, squeaky station throat or tight short spur between two other routes. The curve from Liskeard station onto the Moorswater branch is bum clenchingly tight Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted July 23, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 23, 2017 Syston North curve and the Whitby branch at Grosmont are both pretty tight 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 The curve between Archcliffe Junction and Hawkesbury Street Junction at Dover must be a contender, as must the junction on the other side of Dover (Buckland Junction). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium phil-b259 Posted July 23, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 23, 2017 How about the curve where the Skegness branch leaves the now shut Boston - Louth line Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 (edited) Lifford Curve at Kings Norton is pretty tight and restricted to 10mph, as is Syston North curve mentioned above by Russ. Edited July 23, 2017 by Rugd1022 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted July 23, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 23, 2017 (edited) Oxley curve (Wolverhampton) is a tight one at the bottom end Passenger line wise the curve coming in from the Cumbrian coast to carlisle station is tight too Not tight but interesting is queensville curve in Stafford, flat out on greens with the NMT is always great fun Edited July 23, 2017 by big jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 Lifford Curve at Kings Norton is pretty tight and restricted to 10mph, as is Syston North curve mentioned above by Russ. Was there not a case of a early 20th century prototype loco getting wedged on Syston curve? I have a recollection of someone named Paget being involved. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
D854_Tiger Posted July 23, 2017 Author Share Posted July 23, 2017 Lifford Curve at Kings Norton is pretty tight. Oh now that's a good one, can't think of many tighter than that one. I was shopping in Lifford once (don't ask) the curve being in a cutting is not easily visible and knowing the sparsity of traffic anyway I wan't really bothering to look. Then suddenly, I couldn't quite work out where the noise was coming from but there was no mistaking that sound of train and tight curve and, round there, there was only one curve it could be. The only surprise to me was that they had actually found some legitimate traffic to send round it, given that it's a pretty pointless piece of track, unless you're running diversions, and even that usefulness seems a bit overegged. I will now offer the curve coming of the Heart of Wales line at Craven Arms and that curve at Barnt Green onto the Redditch branch as being more than a bit tight. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
D854_Tiger Posted July 23, 2017 Author Share Posted July 23, 2017 I will now offer the curve coming of the Heart of Wales line at Craven Arms. Not forgetting the curve at the other end at Hendy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 4630 Posted July 23, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 23, 2017 I would offer up Northam curve at Southampton on the Wessex main line to Weymouth, it carries an intensive passenger and heavy freight service - it's defo not some piddley branch line, squeaky station throat or tight short spur between two other routes. And, as I'm sure you know Southernman46, the Northam curve used to be even tighter. It was eased, but only slightly, IIRC during the 1980s. Wasn't the work done at Northam at the same time that Southampton Tunnel was repaired and the main lines made bi-directional from Southampton Central to Northam? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Joseph_Pestell Posted July 23, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 23, 2017 I was thinking pretty much any current UK standard gauge passenger or freight line (though would be interested to hear off closed routes) excluding yards and private sidings, including pointwork. On those criteria, the delta junction on the DLR must surely be the winner. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold CovDriver Posted July 23, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 23, 2017 I can vouch for the curve at Barnt Green towards Redditch that's extremely tight with it's speed restricted to 15mph going towards Alvechurch you have to really keep an eye on the Speedo as it creeps up ever so easily where as the the other way just leave the Power/brake controller in off and it holds perfectly fine coming into Barnt Green. Cheers Colin 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold john new Posted July 23, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 23, 2017 The original curve at Ferryman's Corner on the Weymouth Quay line probably was a contender as it required special couplings. Would agree with Grosmont (Esk Valley) suggestion for modern curves. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Saunders Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 Crimple curve on the Harrogate line between Pannel and Hornbeam Park, where Pacers can get stuck! Even on the ECML King Edward South to KEB North is really tight! Mark Saunders Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 4630 Posted July 23, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 23, 2017 The curve at Hall Royd Junction, Todmorden where the line to Copy Pit branches from the Leeds - Manchester Victoria route must rank highly on the list. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
D854_Tiger Posted July 23, 2017 Author Share Posted July 23, 2017 Crimple curve on the Harrogate line between Pannel and Hornbeam Park, where Pacers can get stuck! Even on the ECML King Edward South to KEB North is really tight! Mark Saunders Thinking about Pacers and curves I guess thinking about where they have been banned, like on the Cornish branches, might be a good guide as to severe curves. Or were they banned from Cornwll because of the sheer number of curves rather than the curves being of tight radius. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
great central Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 In addition to Syston North and Firsby which have already been mentioned, Trent East to Trent North near Long Eaton is pretty tight and heavily used by both passenger and freight including Lindsay oil tankers. 10mph leading into an adverse camber junction Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grovenor Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 This is the one I most remember the squeal from https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Retford/@53.3159585,-0.9516565,18z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x4878531551c7c1fb:0x37f4dc33dbb2962a!8m2!3d53.321356!4d-0.945503 regards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted July 23, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 23, 2017 In addition to Syston North and Firsby which have already been mentioned, Trent East to Trent North near Long Eaton is pretty tight and heavily used by both passenger and freight including Lindsay oil tankers. 10mph leading into an adverse camber junction Its 10mph through the pointwork and 30 on the curve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zomboid Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 I remember reading a claim that Southampton is the lowest speed limit on a main line route in the country (15mph? I'm sure I read that somewhere, but no doubt one of our resident drivers will know what it actually is). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold big jim Posted July 23, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 23, 2017 Ok, just off a main line but the curve into barrow hill is also a sharp one Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now