Re: Steepest train/tram line

["Roderick Smith" <rodsmith@werple.net.au>]

I had the opportunity to talk with two drivers today; both disagreed with
Mark.  I have now found that a third driver has posted essentially the same
sentiments.

Whether or not I am a driver, Ingliston is not a terrifying grade by world
standards, and is barely terrifying by local ones.

For the benefit of non locals:
Bacchus Marsh - Ingliston is 21 km averaging 1.70%; the most formidable
section is 16 km at 2.08%.

The section of the Bendigo line from Riddell to the summit is 18 km at
1.20%.

What Mark has not used his experience to do is to suggest here a speed for
descending Ingliston which VR should have adopted with its trains (and not
with 15 000 coal trains, which VR did not run).

The whole point of the web is that world experience can be accumulated
rapidly.  What I would like to see is a listing of famous long grades of
the world, with allowed speeds.

The Gotthard route (Switzerland), which carries very heavy north-south
freight traffic has about 20 km of continuous 2.6% on one approach, and
about 30 km of 2.6% on the other.  I am not sure of the allowed speed.

-- 
Regards
Roderick Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

> >Roderick, the fact is that Ingliston is 1 in 50 and it was only that VR
ran
> >very small trains that allowed the speeds down it that they did. Try
running
> >15,000 ton coal trains down 1 in 50's, even with ABDX control valves you
would
> >be mad to exceed 20 MPH.
> >VR was right on the borderline of being stupid with the speeds they
allowed
> >down Ingliston, but you've never driven a train so maybe you wouldn't
> >understand.