Standish Junction Gradient

[RonnieS]

Despite having a lot of books and other research material on Standish Junction (Gloucestershire) I have been unable to find out what the gradient on the Western Region bit to Swindon is. South of the junction signal box  the Midland and Western lines cross over and remain flat and level for a short distance then by the time the lines reach the "Black bridge" the WR lines are roughly 10ft higher than the MR line to Bristol. as can be seen here

 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rail-online.co.uk%2Fp645313931%2Fh8D86743B&psig=AOvVaw2dyaaxjLGnWJj2sBq8nXDB&ust=1676992323735000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=2ahUKEwjw3p-vsaT9AhVUkScCHfNDCU8Qr4kDegUIARCWAg

 

Where would I find this information?

[Wickham Green too]

'British Main Line Gradients' : Ian Allen - seemingly undated !

 

Standish looks to be on a 1:826 gradient, steepening to 1: 720, then 1: 347 to nearly Stonehouse which is on 1:300 ....... no, don't ask me what those are in percentages.

[The Stationmaster]

Don't forget also that as the ex GW line is rising at 1 in 700 towards Swindon the ex MR line is falling at 1 in 329 towards Bristol.  Hence the rapidly changing difference between any parallel spot levels looking across the two routes.

 

I doubt you'd find it anywhere as percentages in any British publication as the UK aklways used the traditional '1 in XXX' measure of gradients on railway lines 

[rodent279]

According to

 

the GWR line gradient is

 

The relevant LMS section is

The gradient at the top right under "Standish" is either 557 or 957, difficult to tell even with a loupe.

 

Edited February 20, 2023 by rodent279

[Wickham Green too]

31 minutes ago, The Stationmaster said:

... as the UK always used the traditional '1 in XXX' measure of gradients on railway lines 

'cos there'd be an awful lot of noughts to count if doing percentages !

[RonnieS]

Wow! Thanks Guys

 

[bécasse]

The continental railways' gradients aren't generally expressed as percentages either (although road gradients are) but as per mille, using the symbol ‰.

[The Stationmaster]

One point which might be worth looking at - more for interest than anything else - is which site at Standish Jcn at which mileage was used at any particular point in time.  At one time it was measured to the site of the signal box but at other times, including since the signal box was closed it will most likely have been measured to the toe of the junction points.   And as a junction it has moved (more accurately 'been relocated') at the time ov various track layout alterations over the years.