This bit caught my eye in the article (yes, I know its not the Okehampton route):
Mr Grayling said his department was reviewing the costs and business case for partial electrification and track alignment work between Totnes and Plymouth.
What's all that about then....
This suggests that
DfT» are aware of the limitations of Bi-modes, i.e in climbing and fast running.
Totnes - Plymouth includes Rattery and Hemerdon banks but the wires would need to start at Newton Abbot to include Dainton, not to mention Whiteball.
A similar glimmer of sense appears to be in
NR» now debating where the
MML» wires should stop, as there are summits at Desborough, south of Market H and to the north at Kibworth. After Leicester the line is easily graded so Bi-modes would/might be satisfactory.
Why the steep Box and Middle Hill tunnels aren't wired ASAP defeats reason.
Exeter - Plymouth via Okehampton would be a terrific climb, 1/75 for 25 miles each way!
Get shovelling,
OTC
I can see that this might be a better post in the Pedant section but it is worth mentioning. Exeter to Plymouth via Okehampton is approximately 58 miles. It is not quite the 1 in 75 stated for 25 miles in each direction.
The steepest part of the line is 1 in 73 on the currently open section from St Budeaux to Bere Alston. Between Bere Alston and Lydford the gradient is 1 in 75 in many places, though this is not continuous. There are patches of 1 in 78 between Lydford and the summit at Sourton. All of these gradients are interspersed with easier climbs and level sections. These are merely the steepest gradient on that portion. The distance between St Budeaux and the Summit is about 25 miles.
The other portion of the route has gradients that are at most 1 in 76 or 1 in 77 between North Tawton and Sourton, though they do continue for much of this 10 miles. The gradients between Coleford and North Tawton are largely much less severe. The 10 miles between Exeter and Coleford (just after Yeoford) do not rise steeply, and in fact are part of the
Tarka▸ line. If you add up the mileage of the steepest climbs then it is 35, not 50 miles.
The general profile of the route is to climb up to Dartmoor the back towards sea level it is true. This does hide the other issue with the steep banks mentioned in the previous posts in South Devon. It is worth pointing out that South Devon has 3 of the 10 steepest banks in the country. They are:
3rd. Dainton, between 1 in 36 and 1 in 57
4th. Hemerdon, 1 in 42
7th. Rattery, between 1 in 45 and 1 in 90, though the first part of the climb is between 1 in 45 and 1 in 70
Whilst the curvature of the track is similar to the portion of the Okehampton route between St Budeaux and Lydford, the gradients are so much more severe on the current line, particularly with Dainton and Rattery. Either way round is a challenge for different reasons but it would be a generally easier climb now for diesel traction. I wont say electric because we will be lucky if we get the main line via Totnes electrified at all!!
Note that I see the current route as always being the main line. It serves the population centres of Devon
I do subscribe to the point of view though that the 'Northern Route' would be a good ADDITIONAL line. Normally used for local traffic and any freight but also with a capability for diversions. Maybe 2 trains per hour in each direction.