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==Gradient Profile==
The gradient profile of the SVR between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth is shown below. The diagram, which is reproduced from the SVR Visitor Guide Eighth Edition (2001), is based on official GWR documents.
[[File: SVR_Gradient_Profile.jpg|500px]]
Gradient posts showing changes in gradient can be seen at the lineside. The number design varies, but generally follows the principle of this prominent example near Northwood Halt.<gallery>File:Northwood gradient post.jpg | Gradient post</gallery> ==Mileages==The location of stations, bridges and other structures on the railway network are measured from a datum point (normally a major terminus). For the majority of the railways associated with the SVR the datum point was London Paddington (the exact zero point being the Paddington Suburban Tunnel boundary with the Metropolitan Railway). The individual routes used to reach those locations are identified by [[Engineer's Line References]] (ELRs). The maps of the SVR shown below have been annotated with mileages taken from the relevant ELRs. All figures are shown in miles and chains (one chain is equal to 22 yards or 1/80th of a mile). ===Oxford Worcester and Wolverhampton Line (OWW)===The ELR for the OWW began at Wolvercote Junction near Oxford (66 miles 32 chains from Paddington via Didcot). It ended at Priestfield Junction (140 miles 23 chains) near [[Wolverhampton]]. The section most relevant to the SVR is shown below. {| class="wikitable"|-|135.46 [[File:BSicon_BHFlocal.png|25px]] [[Kidderminster]] (main line)<br/>135.21 [[File:BSicon_HSTlocal.png|25px]] Mileage reversal point for BYK<br/>135.09 [[File:BSicon_ABZrflocal.png|25px]] [[Kidderminster Junction signal box#Kidderminster Junction | Kidderminster Jct]] for BYK<br/>132.15 [[File:BSicon_ABZlglocal.png|25px]] [[Hartlebury Junction | Hartlebury Jct]] for SVB<br/>131.68 [[File:BSicon_BHFlocal.png|25px]] [[Hartlebury]]<br/>120.40 [[File:BSicon_BHFlocal.png|25px]] [[Worcester]]|-|} The SVR's [[Kidderminster | Kidderminster Town]] station is measured as 135 miles 40 chains (exactly 135½ miles) from London. A milepost showing this distance is included in the gallery below. ===Severn Valley Branch (SVB)===The ELR for the gradient Severn Valley Branch began in each the south at Hartlebury Junction and ended at the junction with the Shrewsbury and Hereford Line (SHL) near Sutton Bridge Junction. Shrewsbury was deemed to be the principal terminus on the S&H, with mileages measured southwards towards Hereford (see map of SHL below). {| class="wikitable"|-|171.59 [[File:BSicon_ABZrflocal.png|25px]] [[Sutton Bridge Junction | Severn Valley Jct]] with SHL<br/>168.12 [[File:BSicon_HSTlocal.png|25px]] [[Berrington]]<br/>165.43 [[File:BSicon_HSTlocal.png|25px]] [[Cound Halt]]<br/>164.12 [[File:BSicon_HSTlocal.png|25px]] [[Cressage]]<br/>160.23 [[File:BSicon_vSTRg+rlocal.png|25px]] To Much Wenlock<br/>160.23 [[File:BSicon_vBHFlocal.png|25px]] [[Buildwas]]<br/>160.05 [[File:BSicon_SPLelocal.png|25px]] <br/>160.01 [[File:BSicon_ABZlflocal.png|25px]] Buildwas East Jct (To Madeley Jct, Wellington)<br/>158.68 [[File:BSicon_HSTlocal.png|25px]] [[Ironbridge and Broseley]]<br/>157.55 [[File:BSicon HSTlocal.png|25px]] [[Jackfield Halt | Jackfield Halt 1]]<br/>157.37 [[File:BSicon_HSTlocal.png|25px]] [[Jackfield Halt | Jackfield Halt 2]]<br/>156.68 [[File:BSicon_HSTlocal.png|25px]] [[Coalport]]<br/>154.24 [[File:BSicon_HSTlocal.png|25px]] [[Linley]]<br/>149.74 [[File:BSicon_BHFlocal.png|25px]] [[Bridgnorth]]<br/>147.59 [[File:BSicon_HSTlocal.png|25px]] [[Eardington]]<br/>145.33 [[File:BSicon_HSTlocal.png|25px]] [[Hampton Loade]]<br/>144.07 [[File:BSicon_HSTlocal.png|25px]] [[Country Park Halt]]<br/>143.61 [[File:BSicon_HSTlocal.png|25px]] [[Alveley Halt]]<br/>143.20 [[File:BSicon_HSTlocal.png|25px]] [[Highley]]<br/>140.74 [[File:BSicon_HSTlocal.png|25px]] [[Arley]]<br/>138.77 [[File:BSicon_HSTlocal.png|25px]] [[Northwood Halt]]<br/>138.22 [[File:BSicon vSTRg+rlocal.png|25px]] [[Tenbury Wall| Divergance with TBY]]<br/>137.39 [[File:BSicon_SPLelocal.png|25px]] [[Bewdley North signal box|Bewdley Jct North]] with TBY <br/>137.28 [[File:BSicon_BHFlocal.png|25px]] [[Bewdley]]<br/>137.12 [[File:BSicon_ABZlflocal.png|25px]] [[Bewdley South signal box|Bewdley Jct South]] with BYK<br/>135.19 [[File:BSicon_HSTlocal.png|25px]] [[Burlish Halt]]<br/>134.54 [[File:BSicon_BHFlocal.png|25px]] [[Stourport]]<br/>132.15 [[File:BSicon_ABZrglocal.png|25px]] [[Hartlebury Junction | Hartlebury Jct]] with OWW|} ===Shrewsbury and Hereford Line (SHL)===The section (most relevant to the vertical scale Severn Valley branch is exaggeratedshown below. {| class="wikitable"|-|0.00 [[File:BSicon_BHFlocal.png|25px]] [[Shrewsbury]] <br/>0.11 [[File:BSicon_ABZlflocal.png|25px]] Wellington Junction to [[Wolverhampton]]<br/>0.28 [[File:BSicon_ABZrglocal.png|25px]] English Bridge Junction to [[Wolverhampton]] <br/>0.45 [[File:BSicon DSTlocal.png|25px]] [[Shrewsbury#Shrewsbury Shed |Coleham Depot]]<br/>0.62 [[File:BSicon_ABZlflocal.png|25px]] [[Sutton Bridge Junction | Severn Valley Jct]] with SVB <br/>0.68 [[File:BSicon_ABZrflocal.png|25px]] [[Sutton Bridge Junction]] to Aberystwyth|-|} The S&H line continued south via Church Stretton, Craven Arms and Ludlow, where it was joined by the Tenbury Branch at Berrington, from where it continued south to Hereford.{| class="wikitable"|-|32.06 [[File:BSicon_ABZrglocal.png|25px]] Tenbury Branch Junction to [[Bewdley]] <br/>32.11 [[File:BSicon_BHFlocal.png|25px]] Woofferton|-|} ===Bewdley to Kidderminster Curve (BYK)===The [[Kidderminster Loop Line | Loop]] between Kidderminster and Bewdley does not lie on a direct route from London Paddington. Distances to places on the Loop as set out in the [[Engineer's Line References]] were therefore measured on the basis that you would proceed towards Kidderminster and after passing [[Kidderminster Junction signal box#Kidderminster Junction | Kidderminster Junction]] at 135 miles 9 chains, thus reach a reversal point 12 chains further on. Returning over the 12 chains to the Junction on leaving Kidderminster the loop line initially goes downhill with a gradient of 1 (now 135 miles 33 chains), mileages are measured until Bewdley South Junction is reached at 138 miles 21 chains. However Bewdley South Junction was only 137 miles 12 chains via the direct route from Hartlebury; this lower figure becomes the base mileage for measuring distances onwards towards Bridgnorth and Tenbury. This accounts for the change in mileage at Bewdley South Junction in 112the profile above.{| class="wikitable"|-|135.21 [[File:BSicon_HSTlocal.png|25px]] Mileage reversal point for BYK<br/>135.33 [[File:BSicon_ABZlflocal.png|25px]] [[Kidderminster Junction signal box#Kidderminster Junction | Kidderminster Jct]] for OWW<br/>136.32 [[File:BSicon_HSTlocal.png|25px]] [[Foley Park Halt]]<br/>137.43 [[File:BSicon_eHSTlocal.png|25px]] [[Rifle Range Halt]]<br/>138. 21 [[File:BSicon_ABZrflocal.png|25px]] ‘L’ indicates level[[Bewdley South signal box|Bewdley Jct South]] with SVB (137.12)<br/>|-|}
<gallery>
Loop Line map.jpg|Milepost near the site of Rifle Range Halt
</gallery>
===Mileposts===
Early railway fares were set by distance, therefore it was necessary for railway companies to provide their passengers with a means of determining the distance travelled. The Railways Clauses Consolidation Act 1845 Section 94 stated "''The company shall cause the length of the railway to be measured, and milestones, posts, or other conspicuous objects to be set up and maintained along the whole line thereof, at the distance of one quarter of a mile from each other, with numbers or marks inscribed thereon denoting such distances''.<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/8-9/20#pb9-l1g104 Railways Clauses Consolidation Act 1845] Retrieved 23 May 2016</ref>
Mileposts showing the distance from London Paddington, as measured above, can be seen at the lineside. In the second example shown, the distance just south of Arley Station is 140¾ miles (the vertical bars below the number show the number of quarter miles). One milepost is situated at the foot of Highley Signal Box, showing that it is exactly 143¼ miles from Paddington.
<gallery>
File: Broad gauge rail 1.jpg|Mile post at Kidderminster
File: Mile_Post_1.jpg|Mile post near Arley
File: Mile_Post_2.jpg|Mile post at Highley Signal box
</gallery>
<gallery>
File: Gradient_PostKidderminster_Junction_OS.JPG | 1903 OS map of Kidderminster Junction</gallery> Although the mileposts seen today were re-created in the modern era, they closely follow the historical design. The remains of this original milepost can still be seen next to the trackbed between Ironbridge and Buildwas. <gallery>File:Original_Milepost_20170402.jpg | Gradient postRemains of an original milepost</gallery> ===Mileage oddities===In addition to the 'discontinuity' in the mileage at Bewdley South Junction referred to above, the present day SVR being situated on three different ELRs gives rise to some other apparent oddities. Leaving Kidderminster, the mileage initially decreases as you pass the first milepost by the carriage shed but then increases again as you continue (due to setting off towards London but then curving away from it). Reaching Kidderminster Junction, this is two different distances from London, depending on whether you are on the OWW line or the Severn Valley Branch (due to the latter being approached by the reversal point). Finally, on Safari Park Curve you pass milepost 137¾, and a short time later you enter Bewdley Station passing another milepost 137¾ (the former being reached via the Loop and the latter direct via Hartlebury. ===Modern distance markers===Evidence of another measurement system used for operational purposes can also be seen on the SVR. The distances have been measured from Kidderminster in kilometres, with a small marker tag attached to the web of the rail every 100 metres. The locations of these have been highlighted by white paint on the chair or sleeper adjacent to the marker. Examples can be clearly seen from the platform at Bewdley (5.700) and near the Highley cattle dock (15.100).<gallery>Bewdley_20180825.jpg|Marker at BewdleyHighley_20180825.jpg|Marker at Highley</gallery>
==See also==
[[Engineer's Line References]]<br>
[[Main Page]]
==References==
<references />
[[Category: The Severn Valley Railway in preservation]]
[[Category: Miscellaneous articles]]