OLD HILL BANK ASCENT RECORDS.
Over the past nine years, on occasions, I have timed trains ascending Old Hill Bank. This is usually kept to loco' hauled trains, with a few HST's on the odd occasion. Please find below a list of them, starting with the fastest average speed climb at the top, going down to the lowest at the bottom. Please note;- loadings may be different for each train, so true comparisons may not be possible. All trains listed had a clear run up the bank & were timed for 2.5 miles from SJ 50 signal at Cradley Heath Station to the Birmingham end of the up platform at Rowley Regis Station. Hope you find the info' of interest.
NOTE;- STEAM RECORDS IN GREEN, DIESEL RECORDS IN BLUE. TIMES ARE IN MINUETS & SECONDS.
1, 29/09/02, 1S69, 09.10, Plymouth to Edinburgh, 5-car HST, 03.40.95 min's, 40.73mph.
2, 29/09/02, 1S68, 09.35, Bristol Temple Meads to Edinburgh, 5-car HST, 03.42.96 min's, 40.36mph.
3, 12/07/08, 1E46, 10.32, Paignton to Newcastle, HST 43302 + 9 + 43057, 3.45.61 min's, 39.89mph.
4, 16/05/09, 1Z58, 17.10, Gloucester to Tyseley Warwick Road (Tyseley BRM), 5043 "Earl of Mount Edgcumbe" & 5049 "Nunney Castle" + 2 Mk I's & 8 Mk II's = 348 tonnes, 03.47 min's, 39.64mph.
5, 20/09/09, 1S55, 12.21, Plymouth to Edinburgh, HST 43207 + 8 Mk III's + 43303, 03.51min's, 38.96mph.
6, 04/10/09, 1E67, 15.21, Plymouth to Leeds, HST 43301 + 8 Mk III's + 43378, 03.54 min's, 38.46mph.
7, 04/10/09, 1E73, 15.30, Penzance to Leeds, HST 43321 + 8 Mk III's + 43357, 03.55 min's, 38.297mph.
8, 26/05/09, 6W55, 12.00, Clarbeston Road to Bescot DS, 66136 + 10 (autoballaster) = 270 tonnes, 03.55 min's, 38.29mph.
9, 01/11/09, 1E67, 15.27, Plymouth to Leeds, HST 43304 + 7 Mk III's + 43366, 03.56 min's, 38.13mph.
10, 03/12/04, 5Z29, 15.40, Bristol Temple Meads to Tyseley BRM, class 37 no. 37261 + 3 mk I's & 2 mk II's, 03.59.91 min's, 37.51mph.
11, 29/05/04, 1Z73, 16.05, Penzance to Birmingham International, class 67 no. 67005 "Queens Messenger" + 12 mk I's, 04 min's, 37.5mph.
12, 18/11/06, 1Z65, 07.35, Cardiff Central to Chester, class 67 no. 67029 + 8 mk II's & 2 mk I's = 369 tonnes, 04.07 min's, 36.43mph.
13, 03/01/03, 6M67, Bridgwater to Crewe, class 20's nos. 20313 & 311 + 2 loaded wagons = 153 tonnes, 04.20.80 min's, 36.17mph.
14, 22/09/02, 5Z24, 08.25, Bishops Lydeard (West Somerset Rly') to Tyseley BRM, 6024 "King Edward I" + P.O.B, 04.12.00 min's, 35.71mph.
15, 03/07/04, 5Z50, 07.20, Kidderminster SVR to Bescot D.S, 60009 "Union of South Africa" + P.O.B, 04.13.52 min's, 35.50mph.
16, 02/11/06, 6M67, Bridgwater to Crewe, 37510 & 37194 + 2 wagons = 152 tonnes, 04.14 min's, 35.43mph.
17, 07/01/08, 0Z47, 11.30, Tavistock Jn' to Tyseley LMD, D1015 "Western Champion" + 47727 (dead) = 119 tonnes, 04.26.58 min's, 33.76mph.
18, 22/09/02, 5Z30, 21.55, Swindon to Crewe CS, class 47 no. 47760 + 13 = 437 tonnes, 04.35.76 min's, 32.63mph.
19, 04/10/09, 6E37, 14.57, Margam to Lackenby, 66165 + 19 empty BBA's, 497 tonnes, 04.37 min's, 32.49mph.
20, 17/08/02, 1Z15, 16.48, Worcester Shrub Hill to London Paddington, class 52 no. D1015 "Western Champion" + 12 mk I's = approx' 398 tonnes, 04.39.15 min's, 32.20mph.
21, 01/06/04, 6M12, 18.17, Alexandra Dock Jn' to Bescot ES, 37698 + 3 loaded & 6 empty wagons = 226 tonnes, 04.44.54 min's, 31.57mph.
22, 10/10/09, 1Z76, 05.52, Worcester Shrub Hill to Carlisle, 66152 + 12 Mk I's & 1 Mk II = 446 tonnes, 04.47 min's, 31.35mph.
23, 29/02/04, 1Z27, Cardiff Central to Bolton, class 47 no. 47854 + 12 mk I's, 05.00.00 min's, 30mph.
24, 22/10/06, 7W10, 02.00, Abbotswood Jn' to Bescot ES, class 66 no. 66043 + 40 loaded & 1 empty wagon + 66141 (banking as required) = 2052 tonnes, 05.04.00 min's, 29.6mph.
25, 08/12/07, 1Z58, 19.00, Minehead to Tyseley Warwick Road (Tyseley B.R.M), 47773 + 8 Mk II's & 33029 (dead) = 283 tonnes, 05.06 min's, 29.41mph.
26, 24/05/03, 1Z30, Worcester Shrub Hill to Tyseley Warwick Road (Tyseley BRM), 4965 "Rood Ashton Hall" + 7, 05.16.67 min's, 28.42mph.
27, 15/06/09, 6M98, 02.38, Cardiff Tidal Sidings to Handsworth Queens Head Sidings (All Metal Recovery Sidings), 66199 + 17 MBA's = 509 tonnes, 05.17.00 min's, 28.39mph.
28, 29/02/04, 1Z28, Cardiff Central to Bolton, class 57 no. 57601 + 12, 05.21.08 min's, 28.03mph.
29, 03/12/09, 6P60, 04.45, Stourbridge Junction to Bescot DS, 66082 + 10 empties (autoballaster) + 66082 (dead), 396 tonnes, 05.22 min's, 27.95mph.
30, Date unknown, 5Z64, 22.45, Worcester Shrub Hill to Tyseley L.M.D, 47826 + 12 (assorted Mk I's & II's) + 47760 (dead) = 425 tonnes, 05.24 min's, 27.77mph.
31, 02/05/09, 1Z57, 06.43, Worcester Shrub Hill to Blaenau Ffestiniog, class 47's nos. 47826 + 479786 (dead) + 9 Mk I's = 320 tonnes, 05.26 min's, 27.60mph.
32, 22/12/02, 6E09, 08.49, Margam TC to Lackenby, class 37's nos. 37689 & 695 + 4 loaded & 6 empty wagons = 519 tonnes, 05.30.35min's, 27.24mph.
33, 23/09/07, 1Z45, 13.05, Kidderminster S.V.R to Birmingham Snow Hill, 4936 "Kinlet Hall + 7 Mk IIs = 238 tonnes, 05.31.29min's, 27.16mph.
34, 31/01/08, 7M12, 19.03, Alexandra Dock Jn' to Bescot ES, 66157 + 20 loaded & 1 empty = 958 tonnes, 05.36.80min's, 26.72mph.
35, 31/03/07, 1Z53, 17.10, Penzance to Birmingham International, class 47 no.47854 + 11 mk I's + class 57 no. 57601 = 497 tonnes, 5.40.82min's, 26.40mph.
36, 26/04/04, 4Z08, Tyseley TMD to Tyseley TMD via Worcester Yard, class 31 no. 31190 + 4 mk II's + class 31 no. 31601 = 152 tonnes, (track recording train), 06.01.04 min's, 24.92mph.
37, 21/10/06, 1Z53, 06.00, Worcester Shrub Hill to Appleby in Westmorland, class 47 no. 47854 + 12 mk I's + class 47 no. 47245 (dead), 06.10.00 min's, 24.32mph.
38, 10/08/04, 6M12, 18.17, Alexandra Dock Jn' to Bescot ES, class 37 no. 37425 + 15 empty wagons = 387 tonnes, 06.05.73 min's, 24.21mph.
39, 10/08/04, 6E50, 05.38, Cardiff Tidal Sidings to Rotherham Steel Terminal, class 66 no. 66224 + 23 loaded wagons = 1018 tonnes, 06.12.78 min's, 24.14mph.
40, 17/08/04, 7M12, 18.17, Alexandra Dock Jn' to Bescot ES, class 37 no. 37422 + 634 tonnes, 06.12.87 min's, 24.13mph.
41, 30/11/08, 6E47, 15.52, Llanwern to Tees Yard, class 66 no. 66162 + 1048 tonnes, 06.39 min's, 22.55mph.
42, 04/12/07, 7M12, 18.43, Alexadra Dock Jn' to Bescot ES, class 66 no 66046 + 6 loaded & 14 empties = 991 tonnes, 06.39.55 min's, 22.52mph.
43, 11/12/03, 6M12, Alexandra Dock Jn' to Bescot ES, class 37 no. 37684 + 12 empty wagons = 420 tonnes, 06.50.80 min's, 21.94mph.
44, 12/11/02, 6M67, Bridgwater to Crewe, class 20's nos. 20313 & 307, 2 loaded wagons = 153 tonnes, 07.04.74 min's, 21.18mph.
45, 05/10/09, 6E80, 23.45, Cardiff Tidal Sidings to Rotherham, 66097 + 24 empty MBA's, 719 tonnes, 07.07 min's, 21.07mph.
46, 27/05/04, 6M12, 18.17, Alexandra Dock Jn' to Bescot ES, class 37 no. 37698 + 34 empty wagons = 505 tonnes, 07.24.50 min's, 20.24mph.
47, 27/03/08, 6M12, 19.03, Alexandra Dock Jn' to Bescot ES, 66043 + 8 loaded & 21 empties = 970 tonnes, 07.27.25 min's, 20.12mph.
48, 22/10/06, 6W12, 06.00, Abbotswood Jn' to Bescot ES, class 60 no. 60079 + 6 loaded & 20 empty wagons = 1036 tonnes, 07.33.00 min's, 19.86mph.
49, 20/07/05, 1Z52, 15.30, Penzance to Birmingham International, class 67 no. 67028 + 3 mk I's & 10 mk II's, 08.23.17 min's, 17.88mph.
