The gradient of the Longsleddale route would have been somewhat less than the 1 in 70 gradient of the climb up and over Shap Fell and the use of banking engines could have been reduced if not entirely eliminated.
22.
The gradient of the Longsleddale route would have been somewhat less than the 1 in 70 gradient of the climb up and over Shap Fell, and the use of banking engines could have been reduced if not entirely eliminated.
23.
It was situated at the top of the steepest part of the Lickey Incline and, slightly to the north was the sidings where the banking engines would drop back from their trains and reverse ready to return to Bromsgrove.
24.
A locomotive depot was built to serve the Chester line, and to provide banking engines to assist trains southwards from Crewe up the Madeley Incline, a modest gradient which was a challenge to the small engines of the day.
25.
Double-headed R class locomotives, sometimes aided by a third R acting as banking engine at the rear, could be seen battling the 3 mile, 1 in 52 ( 1.92 % ) Warrenheip Bank out of Ballarat.
26.
All stations were manned, as were 16 signal boxes and three level crossings requiring 35 staff, the line had steep gradients requiring banking engines and it was considered uneconomical having an operating cost of ?7, 000 pa compared to receipts of ?, 000.
27.
During the First World War especially, the company ran " Double Trains ", akin to North American practice, with two mineral trains coupled together and a banking engine behind, ie locomotive-wagons-guards van-locomotive-wagons-guards van-banker.
28.
It sits part way along a 5-mile ( 8 km ) long rising section of line with a ruling gradient of 1 in 110 for northbound trains known as Hatton Bank-this section was often difficult to negotiate for heavy freights and the use of banking engines was commonplace.
29.
During the First World War especially, the company ran " Double Trains ", akin to North American practice, with two mineral trains coupled together and a banking engine behind, i . e . locomotive-wagons-guards van-locomotive-wagons-guards van-banker.
