HS 3!

[whole diary]

[stuving]

French LGV^▸ (Large Goods Vehicle in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom), or Lignes à Grande Vitesse (high speed rail lines) in France, depending on context) has a gradient as steep as 1:12, 8% !
OTC

Really?

According to RFF, the maximum LGV gradient is 3.5%, and stopping or starting a TGV^▸ (Train a Grande Vitesse) on that could still be problematic. TGVs use power cars and friction brakes, and most ICEs also have power cars. ICE 3 has distributed motors and electromagnetic brakes, and is the only kind allowed on the K^ln-Frankfurt high-speed line due to its 4.0% gradient.

So, unless the French have come up with a TGV avec une cr^maill^re I can't really believe that figure.

Mind you, if anyone did that it probably would be the French. They claim (or Wikipedia does on their behalf) that Line C of the Lyon Metro is the only rack and pinion metro in the world. Since the M^tro Lausanne ^ Ouchy has had its rack confiscated and been given rubber tyres instead that may be true. And that had a maximum gradient of only 12%, and it was mostly indoors, too.

[onthecushions]

Really?

The figure came from a MR^▸ (Midland Railway, or Motor Rail, depending on context) article, a long time ago. I agree it's rather steep. If I find it, I'll post the reference.

Thanks,

OTC