Trivia: Highest location that each TOC/FOC serves or passes

[Howardh]

Subsequently it has occurred to me that the Stansted Airport branch could go higher, but it is very difficult to tell because of the tunnel under the runway and the station under the terminal.

Higher the airport, the lower the air pressure and pilots have to compensate; although that wouldn't apply to the UK! However on that theme, if you are driving over those summits is there any noticable engine performance downgrade as you are over 1000' and therefore lower air pressure? I can't imagine, but if you start in a low-pressure deep depression, then going higher won't help?

 

[Bald Rick]

Looks like the highest point on Thameslink as a whole is north of St Albans c.125m.

The railway is in deep cutting next to where the land is 125m. The railway is at about 110m. The MML is higher just north of Leagrave, adjacent to the source of the River Lea where the surrounding land is around 120m and the railway is elebated above that.

 

[nr758123]

The station at Blaenau Ffestiniog, which I think is some 710 feet (= 216 metres) above sea level, or somewhere likely higher on the way there from Llandudno Junction using TfW, such as in the middle of Ffestiniog tunnel?

What about Sugar Loaf summit on the Heart of Wales line? Wikipedia suggests that is 820ft ASL.

Rhymney at 268m (879ft), Ebbw Vale Town at 276m (906 ft), both beaten by Llangynllo Tunnel 309m (1014 ft).

 

[Zomboid]

I'm going to suggest that Chiltern's summit is somewhere around Saunderton, at about 120m

 

[Snow1964]

Okehampton does indeed seem the highest for the GWR at 258m

Next highest on other GWR lines appear to be:

- 154m where the Berks & Hants crosses the Thames / Wiltshire Avon watershed at Burbage (where it passes above the canal summit tunnel)
- 129m crossing the Thames / Warwickshire Avon watershed 1km north of Moreton-in-Marsh.

Interesting question indeed.

It must be close to the already mentioned 129m near Warminster too

There are a token number of SWR services that also use this line, so might be second to Haslemere area for SWR

 

[Magdalia]

I'm going to suggest that Chiltern's summit is somewhere around Saunderton, at about 120m

Sadly I think that the highest point of Chiltern is not in the Chilterns.

It will be somewhere in the West Midlands, possibly the Hawthorns or Old Hill Tunnel.

 

[bunnahabhain]

Does East Midlands Railway operate along any part of the GB network which is higher in altitude than partway inside Cowburn tunnel (between Chinley and Edale) on the Hope Valley line? That would be around some 860 feet (= 262 metres) above sea level.

Cowburn is indeed the highest point on the EMR network. The lowest is almost certainly going to be between Ely and Lakenheath.

 

[AlterEgo]

The highest station Avanti serve is Wolverhampton.

 

[Sheddyone]

I'm going to suggest that Chiltern's summit is somewhere around Saunderton, at about 120m

Rowley Regis is higher, around 550 feet, possibility highest point for WMR too.

 

[cjw714]

Sadly I think that the highest point of Chiltern is not in the Chilterns.

It will be somewhere in the West Midlands, possibly the Hawthorns or Old Hill Tunnel.

Would be fitting as I think The Hawthorns is also the highest football league ground in the country.

 

[ChrisC]

Cowburn is indeed the highest point on the EMR network. The lowest is almost certainly going to be between Ely and Lakenheath.

I think some of the land between Whittlesea and March could be very slightly lower but as the railway runs along an embankment it might not be the lowest.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

The highest station Avanti serve is Wolverhampton.

This surprises me, Wolverhampton is higher than Oxenholme? And Beattock Summit will be the highest point overall.

 

[AlterEgo]

This surprises me, Wolverhampton is higher than Oxenholme? And Beattock Summit will be the highest point overall.

Oxenholme station is 92m above sea level, Wolverhampton station 146m. Oxenholme is in a valley.

 

[Magdalia]

Oxenholme station is 92m above sea level, Wolverhampton station 146m. Oxenholme is in a valley.

Penrith is also somewhere around 140-150m. The nearby Castle mound goes above 150m.

Carstairs is much higher, the 200m contour almost goes through the station, but I think Avanti don't stop there?

 

[AlterEgo]

Penrith is also somewhere around 140-150m. The nearby Castle mound goes above 150m.

Carstairs is much higher, the 200m contour almost goes through the station, but I think Avanti don't stop there?

Last time I wrote a trivia quiz on this Penrith came in at 145m so very close! Avanti don’t stop at Carstairs.

 

[===gricer===]

At Okehampton station there is an ODN cut mark @ 220m above sea level - Ordnance Datum Newlyn (ODN) is the national height system for mainland Great Britain and forms the reference frame for heights above mean sea level.

https://www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm76992

 

[ac6000cw]

However on that theme, if you are driving over those summits is there any noticeable engine performance downgrade as you are over 1000' and therefore lower air pressure?

Going from 0 to +1000ft is only about a 3% decrease in air density/pressure, and turbocharging (which most rail diesel engines have) offsets a lot of the effect of that.

But a 1000ft rail summit isn't that high in world terms - e.g. there's a good few mainlines in the US that have 3000 to 6000+ foot summits (the now-mothballed Tennessee Pass line in Colorado has a 10221ft summit, the highest mainline in North America). China has the highest altitude mainline in the world at over 16000ft (which was diesel operated when opened).

Probably the biggest problem with operating powerful diesel trains in the mountains is dealing with exhaust gas clearance in very long tunnels, often involving doors at one end of a tunnel and powerful fans to push fresh air in and exhaust gasses out when the doors are closed (after a train has passed through). If the train has multiple locos, the exhaust from the leading locos fills the tunnel so the trailing loco diesel engines are using air with reduced oxygen content, resulting in inefficient/incomplete combustion (and black smoke pouring out of the high end of the tunnel when a train emerges).

 

[InkyScrolls]

Higher the airport, the lower the air pressure and pilots have to compensate; although that wouldn't apply to the UK! However on that theme, if you are driving over those summits is there any noticable engine performance downgrade as you are over 1000' and therefore lower air pressure? I can't imagine, but if you start in a low-pressure deep depression, then going higher won't help?

I drive over that height frequently and I have never noticed any difference at all!

 

[PLY2AYS]

I'm going to suggest that Chiltern's summit is somewhere around Saunderton, at about 120m

This is crazy. I was driving through Saunderton last night (at almost exactly this time) thinking “this must be the highest point on the route” unless of course around Gt. Missenden/Amersham trumps it in some way on the Met?

but they are the biggest negative numbers...
9 posts - and not much chance of many more, why not extend it this way?

I know GWR operated an 08 to -3ft below sea level along Ocean Sidings by Laira a few years ago.

Not strictly on any route map (or even any track for that matter).

 

[Haywain]

The MML is higher just north of Leagrave, adjacent to the source of the River Lea where the surrounding land is around 120m and the railway is elebated above that.

The surrounding land is a touch under 120m, and the elevation of the railway above that can be judged from the adjacent rail over road bridge having a clearance of 4.2m. I would say that puts the actual rail level at about 121m. And it's literally around the corner from where I grew up!

 

[Man of Kent]

For South Eastern, it is likely to be Knockholt or Sole Street, both of which probably fail to reach even 100m above sea level.

 

[DarloRich]

Looking at LNWR but removing WMT (so WCML services and branches ) where would the highest point be?

 

[D6130]

For South Eastern, it is likely to be Knockholt or Sole Street, both of which probably fail to reach even 100m above sea level.

What about the Tunbridge Wells/High Brooms area?

 

[FGW_DID]

Alright, it’s not a mainline station and not served by a TOC/FOC as per OP but Snowdon Summit Station is at 3494ft!

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Cairngorm Mountain Rly says Hi - 3599ft. Has it acually reopened yet?

 

[chrisjo]

The station at Blaenau Ffestiniog, which I think is some 710 feet (= 216 metres) above sea level, or somewhere likely higher on the way there from Llandudno Junction using TfW, such as in the middle of Ffestiniog tunnel?

Not even close. Rhymney is about 278m. I haven't checked the other Valleys lines.

Not even close. Rhymney is about 278m. I haven't checked the other Valleys lines.

Llangynllo on the HOWL is about 295m.

 

[Taunton]

Highest on the DLR is where the outbound Lewisham line climbs over the Poplar lines at West Ferry, part of the roller-coaster switchback there.

 

[greatkingrat]

Highest on the DLR is where the outbound Lewisham line climbs over the Poplar lines at West Ferry, part of the roller-coaster switchback there.

That might be the highest above ground level, but I think Tower Gateway is higher overall.

 

[Skiddaw]

Last time I wrote a trivia quiz on this Penrith came in at 145m so very close! Avanti don’t stop at Carstairs.

Gosh, I'd have put money on Penrith being higher than Wolverhampton.

We had a wonderful view over to Dent station from the summit of Whernside when we were out walking a few weeks back.

 

[Acey]

For South Eastern, it is likely to be Knockholt or Sole Street, both of which probably fail to reach even 100m above sea level.

Entrance to Polhill tunnel ( London end )140 m apparently