Gradient posts

[Wexford70]

Are there any pictorial guides to gradient posts used on the different railways in Ireland?

Have seen this offered on line.

 

[jhb171achill]

Each company had their own design. Several of the railway books over the years show those of the major companies. That one is one of two types used by the GSWR. I think West Cork ones were not that different. MGWR, GNR & NCC were different again - will try to find images. Not sure of BCDR or CDRJC. 

Smaller companies often had those similar to main line companies adjacent to them. The Loughrea & Attymon company had wooden posts with numbers painted on them, though these were replaced by standard MGWR ones some years later, even though the L&A remained technically a separate company until 1925.

[cheesy_peas]

Not a lot of photographers went out of their way to take photos of gradient posts but a small number on IRRS Flickr.

The one at LNWR North Wall is likely to be one of the LNWR standard patterns, quite possibly also supplied to the DN&GR.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53508849649/in/photolist-2pwq4Lf-2pwxcZo-2rsAFci-2pwmRin-2pwEpAi-2pBQDzX-2pwoQMg-2pwnd9R-2pwo1Pw-2pwoN76-2pweb2H-2pvqx1K-2pwoMAm-2pwD4Lo-2pwq58s-2pwe46u-2pwphT8-2pwDR12-2pvvdMe-2pvvRwZ-2pvv4W8-2pwDR1n-2pwDq6T-2pwe46E-2pvwCgE-2pvv54T-2pvwCgK-2pwnaWK-2pvvREz-2pBSehN-2pvxenH-2pwp7aX-2pwD9oW-2pw7UoV-2pweCTq-2pwDJsU-2pvxfvj-2pw7Un2-2pwcte5-2pw7UmR-2pw7UmW-2pvHHCW-2pvB2b2-2pvH7ey-2pvFyyd-2pwoCZJ-2pwoCZP-2pvHHDc-2pwBy7d

The other GS&WR type with unique 5000 at Drumcondra.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53508523891/in/photolist-2pwq4Lf-2pwxcZo-2rsAFci-2pwmRin-2pwEpAi-2pBQDzX-2pwoQMg-2pwnd9R-2pwo1Pw-2pwoN76-2pweb2H-2pvqx1K-2pwoMAm-2pwD4Lo-2pwq58s-2pwe46u-2pwphT8-2pwDR12-2pvvdMe-2pvvRwZ-2pvv4W8-2pwDR1n-2pwDq6T-2pwe46E-2pvwCgE-2pvv54T-2pvwCgK-2pwnaWK-2pvvREz-2pBSehN-2pvxenH-2pwp7aX-2pwD9oW-2pw7UoV-2pweCTq-2pwDJsU-2pvxfvj-2pw7Un2-2pwcte5-2pw7UmR-2pw7UmW-2pvHHCW-2pvB2b2-2pvH7ey-2pvFyyd-2pwoCZJ-2pwoCZP-2pvHHDc-2pwBy7d

One in the DSE section, possibly wooden with stencilled on numbers.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishrailwayarchive/53508901425/in/photolist-2pwq4Lf-2pwxcZo-2rsAFci-2pwmRin-2pwEpAi-2pBQDzX-2pwoQMg-2pwnd9R-2pwo1Pw-2pwoN76-2pweb2H-2pvqx1K-2pwoMAm-2pwD4Lo-2pwq58s-2pwe46u-2pwphT8-2pwDR12-2pvvdMe-2pvvRwZ-2pvv4W8-2pwDR1n-2pwDq6T-2pwe46E-2pvwCgE-2pvv54T-2pvwCgK-2pwnaWK-2pvvREz-2pBSehN-2pvxenH-2pwp7aX-2pwD9oW-2pw7UoV-2pweCTq-2pwDJsU-2pvxfvj-2pw7Un2-2pwcte5-2pw7UmR-2pw7UmW-2pvHHCW-2pvB2b2-2pvH7ey-2pvFyyd-2pwoCZJ-2pwoCZP-2pvHHDc-2pwBy7d

 

 

 

[leslie10646]

I'm sure that the IRRS will forgive me giving outsiders a free view of this - a collection of gradient posts and mileposts off the Valencia line as taken by the late David Soggee.

Copyright IRRS, David Soggee collection

[Broithe]

A modern one, protecting an older one.

[cheesy_peas]

13 hours ago, Broithe said:

A modern one, protecting an older one.

Early GS&WR cast iron oval milepost. 

[seagoebox]

[cheesy_peas]

On 2/8/2026 at 6:46 PM, leslie10646 said:

I'm sure that the IRRS will forgive me giving outsiders a free view of this - a collection of gradient posts and mileposts off the Valencia line as taken by the late David Soggee.

Copyright IRRS, David Soggee collection

They salvaged the cast-iron posts for scrap following closure, the stone GS&WR variety were far too much bother to remove, like icebergs there's a lot more of them beneath the surface!

I remember spotting a few around Borris, still in situ.

[Wexford70]

I thought this one was unusual with a gradient of one in 136.6? Seems very specific?

I believe it is GSWR.

[seagoebox]

Yes, GS&WR, there were very few of these precise gradient posts, I attach a scan of a GS&WR gradient profile showing 130.6 and 851.5 between Cabra and Glasnevin. 

[Wexford70]

@seagoebox

Interesting!!

Is there a searchable database of gradients? Would be interested in identifying the gradient sign in the picture. I believe it is from the southeast. 

 

[Mol_PMB]

I have a printed set of gradient diagrams for Ireland. 
I can’t remember where they came from. 
 

[Wexford70]

13 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said:

I have a printed set of gradient diagrams for Ireland. 
I can’t remember where they came from. 
 

What year are they from?

[Mol_PMB]

7 minutes ago, Wexford70 said:

What year are they from?

Old, but gradients don’t change much. I’ll have to look when I get home. 

[seagoebox]

[Wexford70]

3 minutes ago, seagoebox said:

@seagoebox Could you look in plate 10 if there is a mention of 136.6 anywhere?

[seagoebox]

There is just a single gradient with a decimal point ( 121.6) on plate no. 10, between Rosslare Junction (Strand) and Rosslare Harbour

[Wexford70]

@seagoeboxThe mystery continues. Could you scan the other plates for 136.6 if you have time?

 

[seagoebox]

I have done, twice, no sign of that 136.6, there are quite a few very short changes of gradient with no markings at all.

[Wexford70]

@seagoebox many thanks for looking.

[Mol_PMB]

I've had a look at mine too. My GSWR diagrams are a lower-quality copy of what seagoebox has.

The diagrams I have for other lines don't have any decimal points. The MGWR gradients are mostly even more rounded to the nearest 10.  

It's quite possible that the gradient posts were more precise than the diagrams - even without decimals the text on the diagrams can be tiny and hard to read in places.

[cheesy_peas]

On 28/10/2026 at 1:59 PM, Wexford70 said:

I thought this one was unusual with a gradient of one in 136.6? Seems very specific?

I believe it is GSWR.

Yes it's a GSWR post.

Could be that the gradient was simply rounded up on the published list of gradients. Posts with decimals are really rare here.