Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[LDECRexile]

Joe Callaghan has kindly sent some more photos of Farnworth and the tunnel works.

I've put them in his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157651953947345

and woven them into Series 4338 and 4342 in the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157648767927083

Thank you Joe

 

[WatcherZero]

*deleted*

 

[PDG1949]

4314d - I always wondered what the miles of concrete troughing were for: a continuous lineside seat for a brew...

Aha! Not quite - only at selected places; notice 'x' marks the spot...

 

[Inox]

Out of interest - how long would it take them to bore through from one end to the other? just wondering.

 

[snowball]

Out of interest - how long would it take them to bore through from one end to the other? just wondering.

I think it's expected to take about 7 weeks. (Assuming you mean Farnworth.)

 

[Inox]

yeah, sorry. I was looking at the pictures and had Farnworth tunnel on my mind

 

[snowball]

A tweet on the Northern Programme feed confirms Broughton Road bridge has opened.

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailNP

And I see it's only 4 days to the date advertised a considerable while ago for the A673 bridge.

Not many left now. I wonder when they'll return to Grimeford Lane?

 

[LDECRexile]

A tweet on the Northern Programme feed confirms Broughton Road bridge has opened.

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailNP

Fab, thank you

 

[LDECRexile]

Armed with a Northern 'Family and Friends' Rail Ranger each Paul and I did a railtour today covering Lime St-Man Vic-Blackpool-Wigan NW-St Helens Central and Southport, with stops en route.

The big news was no news, we couldn't see any increase in the number of mast bases in place and no masts have sprung up, so LNW-GW's selfless ploy of going away failed, alas.

At lunchtime there were severe operational problems at Ordsall Lane Junction which we could see, and see the effects of, but couldn't understand. It APPEARED that a 319 failed whilst travelling from Man Vic westwards over Ordsall Lane junction, fouling it for all traffic except Eccles to Man Vic eastbound.

As we were leaving the area a 319 APPEARED to be being sent to rescue the 'failed' unit.

At Salford Crescent some nifty work was being done to re-route people to Man Vic instead of Man Picc, including detraining some people and running some trains non-stop through the westerly through line and some trains N to S along the normally northbound westernmost platform.

Station staff were visible, audible and a credit to their profession.

Info on the real story would be appreciated.

Paul last travelled by train to Blackpool behind steam, I last did so c1988.

Bridgeoscope below.

Photos later.

EDIT: the 319 described as conked out at Ordsall Lane Jct shows on realtimetrains as 2F29 which was cancelled there with brake problems

 

[PDG1949]

Armed with a Northern 'Family and Friends' Rail Ranger each Paul and I did a railtour today covering Lime St-Man Vic-Blackpool-Wigan NW-St Helens Central and Southport, with stops en route.

The big news was no news, we couldn't see any increase in the number of mast bases in place and no masts have sprung up, so LNW-GW's selfless ploy of going away failed, alas.

At lunchtime there were severe operational problems at Ordsall Lane Junction which we could see, and see the effects of, but couldn't understand. It APPEARED that a 319 failed whilst travelling from Man Vic westwards over Ordsall Lane junction, fouling it for all traffic except Eccles to Man Vic eastbound.

As we were leaving the area a 319 APPEARED to be being sent to rescue the 'failed' unit.

At Salford Crescent some nifty work was being done to re-route people to Man Vic instead of Man Picc, including detraining some people and running some trains non-stop through the westerly through line and some trains N to S along the normally northbound westernmost platform.

Station staff were visible, audible and a credit to their profession.

Info on the real story would be appreciated.

Paul last travelled by train to Blackpool behind steam, I last did so c1988.

Bridgeoscope below.

Photos later.

EDIT: the 319 described as conked out at Ordsall Lane Jct shows on realtimetrains as 2F29 which was cancelled there with brake problems

National Rail Enquiries quotes the following for yesterday dinnertime -

"Incident created
15/06/2015 12:46
Route affected
DownloadMapof route afected
Arriva Trains Wales between Chester and Manchester Airport.
First TransPennine Express between Blackpool North and Manchester Airport
Northern Rail between Southport and Manchester Airport.

Train operator affected
Arriva Trains Wales; First TransPennine Express; Northern Rail;
Description
Trains are now running normally between Salford Crescent and Manchester Oxford Road following a broken down train between Salford Crescent and Deansgate."

 

[snowball]

From NR's Northern Programme Twitter feed, a new view of the Kearsley portal of Farnworth tunnel with a row of drill holes (or something) showing where the enlarged bore will begin.

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailNP/status/610802878211588096

The feed is at

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailNP

The tunnelling shield will soon be transported in several pieces from the makers' at Oldham and reassembled in front of this portal.

 

[76020]

Armed with a Northern 'Family and Friends' Rail Ranger each Paul and I did a railtour today covering Lime St-Man Vic-Blackpool-Wigan NW-St Helens Central and Southport, with stops en route.

The big news was no news, we couldn't see any increase in the number of mast bases in place and no masts have sprung up, so LNW-GW's selfless ploy of going away failed, alas.

At lunchtime there were severe operational problems at Ordsall Lane Junction which we could see, and see the effects of, but couldn't understand. It APPEARED that a 319 failed whilst travelling from Man Vic westwards over Ordsall Lane junction, fouling it for all traffic except Eccles to Man Vic eastbound.

As we were leaving the area a 319 APPEARED to be being sent to rescue the 'failed' unit.

At Salford Crescent some nifty work was being done to re-route people to Man Vic instead of Man Picc, including detraining some people and running some trains non-stop through the westerly through line and some trains N to S along the normally northbound westernmost platform.

Station staff were visible, audible and a credit to their profession.

Info on the real story would be appreciated.

Paul last travelled by train to Blackpool behind steam, I last did so c1988.

Bridgeoscope below.

Photos later.

EDIT: the 319 described as conked out at Ordsall Lane Jct shows on realtimetrains as 2F29 which was cancelled there with brake problems

If there has not been hardly action on electrification phase 4 recently, does anybody know if there has been any mast foundations appear on phases 3 & 5 yet, or have Balfour Beatty put there feet up for a bit?
On his website NW sparks states that phase 5 start date for main works is June 2015 and phase 3 is Sept 2015.

 

[ironstone11]

If there has not been hardly action on electrification phase 4 recently, does anybody know if there has been any mast foundations appear on phases 3 & 5 yet, or have Balfour Beatty put there feet up for a bit?

Perhaps the workforce has been moved south to work on Crossrail between Airport Junc. and Reading. This too is running late, not as far as Crossrail is concerned, but because it forms part of the GW electrification.

 

[LDECRexile]

I've now processed the photos Paul and I took yesterday.

I've added Paul's to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157649792560381

I've added all of his and all of mine to the Blackpool-Manchester album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157648767927083

I've also added some of them to the Liverpool-Manchester album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157648494725811

Thank you Paul.

 

[L&Y Robert]

I was at Blackpool North last Friday (12th). It seems to be a bright and cheerful place, although track-side it's a bit seedy. Is it to be re-built as part of this job? How will the proposed tramway extension be accommodated - are there any layout plans?

 

[LDECRexile]

thealexweb has sent another fine set of photos of progress at Ladybridge and Dean Clough bridge.

I've added them to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157652232138430

and to the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157648767927083

Thank you thealexweb.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Alas, Paul was poorly today, so I toured the bridges by myself.

Broughton Road looks smashing, nice finish, the lot. Good job.

Lots going on at Farnworth Tunnel, I slipped and fell (again!) going to the south end so I aborted that, but the north end rewarded getting wet and cold. Piling was taking place for the replacement Cemetery Road bridge and digger work was taking place on the approach to the new tunnel-to-be. A really unexpected item was in a nearby yard, nowt to do with the railway, hopefully a picture will end the suspense.

Lots has happened at Dean Clough, concrete was being poured on the ends whilst I was there, a cheerful Orangeman reckoned there's likely to be 7 to 10 days extension beyond this Friday's original target reopening date. He added that there's very little leeway as an 'Ironman' event will pass over the bridge in July and it would be unwise to mess with them!

I drove over the bridges at Blackrod and Adlington, just for the hell of it, adventurous soul that I am.

The mystery surrounding the fenced off crossing in Adlington deepens, it now carries a sign saying the crossing has been closed to enable works to take place elsewhere, which might be tracklaying, as the crossing's foot sections (I don't know the term, sorry) have been removed. The notice includes words to the effect that it isn't yet clear what will become of the crossing; watch this space.

The skew bridge has come on a long way, too. A team were drawing electricity cables through ducts when I was there, with another digging a trench. The bridge looks increasingly like a bridge, but the parapets aren't complete and what remains to do below span level is unclear to me.

Having left the area wet and cold, the sun is cracking the flags now I'm home.

Photos later.

Dave
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I've added today's shots to the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157648767927083

Please be aware that nights are now drawing in.

 

[Llama]

Your dedication knows no bounds Dave. The foot crossing in Adlington is known as Bradshaw Fields (http://www.networkrail.co.uk/Transp... Fields&View=onList&postcode=bl5 5ab&radius=7). As the proposed permissible speed for trains on that section of route will be 100mph I can't see the crossing surviving. It has whistle boards on approach in each direction but I suspect that it pushes the standards for a crossing of its type as far as user visibility is concerned even at the current line speed (75mph).

If I am not mistaken the line through Adlington was only relaid fairly recently in both directions, there have been TSRs on that section intermittently though before and since it was relaid, and I do remember that there was an earthworks issue on the Up side a few years ago, slight landslip.

 

[snowball]

The skew bridge has come on a long way, too. A team were drawing electricity cables through ducts when I was there, with another digging a trench. The bridge looks increasingly like a bridge, but the parapets aren't complete and what remains to do below span level is unclear to me.

I don't think anything remains to be done below span level except to remove ("strike") the formwork that was used to shape the triangular cast-in-situ ends of the superstructure, and its temporary supports (the "falsework"). However they're evidently leaving that till last.

I always wonder about stringing cables through ducts. Presumably every duct comes ready fitted with string. They must lose the ends of the string sometimes. What do they do then? Send a cat or a ferret through, with string tied to it?

I think the hawser you ask about in 4444e is just the lifting loops, one or two for each section of the parapet, that you've commented on on other bridges and that in this case have not yet been cut.

When I saw the name of the tracklaying contractors in 4456a I thought they sounded more like solicitors or estate agents. However my learned friend Professor Google suggests they've taken their name from a popular singing combo.

 

[Magicake]

You are quite right about losing the string - it can be a disaster. They come fitted with a string and normally the first thing you would do after cutting a length is pull through two strings from that one so that you have a spare. If you manage to lose the strings before it's in the ground you can tie a small stick to a string and have a frustrating afternoon trying to shake the stick all the way through. If the duct is already installed you are totally screwed.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I did another tour today (Euxton-Ordsall Lane and return) after a couple of weeks absence, but sad to say not much progress to report on the mast base front.
Maybe a few more on the Up between Chorley and Adlington, up to 52 now from 48, but that's all.
A cross marker with a gantry number has appeared on the Up platform at Chorley for a future mast.
There's been a lot of excavation just east of Chorley station, but it appears to be for a new cable route (the big black plastic pipes).
New track has gone in where the trackbed was lowered recently through the bridges west of Bolton.
I'm just a little surprised they are not making more use of the weekend possessions for electrification work, away from the bridge sites.

The Farnworth timetable seemed to be working fine.
I came across a TPE/NT 2x156 Airport-Blackpool train at Wigan NW and it was pretty empty.

 

[Elecman]

You tie a plastic bag to another string and blow it through the duct with compressed air

 

[ALX400]

Received news about Skew Bridge in Adlington, it will now not re open until at least the 17th July and even then it may be put back further, target date was 28th June but due to various issues and this "uncharted" mine shaft things have gone a bit adrift.

 

[LDECRexile]

Your dedication knows no bounds Dave. The foot crossing in Adlington is known as Bradshaw Fields (http://www.networkrail.co.uk/Transp... Fields&View=onList&postcode=bl5 5ab&radius=7). As the proposed permissible speed for trains on that section of route will be 100mph I can't see the crossing surviving. It has whistle boards on approach in each direction but I suspect that it pushes the standards for a crossing of its type as far as user visibility is concerned even at the current line speed (75mph).

If I am not mistaken the line through Adlington was only relaid fairly recently in both directions, there have been TSRs on that section intermittently though before and since it was relaid, and I do remember that there was an earthworks issue on the Up side a few years ago, slight landslip.

Thanks for the 'dedication' comment. I claim no halo, it's actually good fun; I've met lots of interesting, amusing and informed people of goodwill, scarcely any whingers and blamers; I see good work going on; I've taken up photography and I keep active. If it ever stops being fun I'm sure my dedication will wither pretty quickly.

I agree with all you say about Bradshaw Fields foot crossing. What has come as a surprise is that it isn't yet agreed what to replace it with, if anything. It seems to be a bit late in the day for that.

Kind regards

Dave
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I don't think anything remains to be done below span level except to remove ("strike") the formwork that was used to shape the triangular cast-in-situ ends of the superstructure, and its temporary supports (the "falsework"). However they're evidently leaving that till last.

I always wonder about stringing cables through ducts. Presumably every duct comes ready fitted with string. They must lose the ends of the string sometimes. What do they do then? Send a cat or a ferret through, with string tied to it?

I think the hawser you ask about in 4444e is just the lifting loops, one or two for each section of the parapet, that you've commented on on other bridges and that in this case have not yet been cut.

When I saw the name of the tracklaying contractors in 4456a I thought they sounded more like solicitors or estate agents. However my learned friend Professor Google suggests they've taken their name from a popular singing combo.

I thought lean apprentices were for rethreading ducts.

Could rodding poles with hooks or magnets on the end be used? I speak as someone who 'enjoyed' a blocked drain a few weeks ago.

We come at Professor Google from opposite directions, I had heard of the collective noun for the artistes, so I looked up their names.

Aha, now I've seen Jurassic and elecman's professional answers re loose ends, thanks both of you.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I did another tour today (Euxton-Ordsall Lane and return) after a couple of weeks absence, but sad to say not much progress to report on the mast base front.
Maybe a few more on the Up between Chorley and Adlington, up to 52 now from 48, but that's all.
A cross marker with a gantry number has appeared on the Up platform at Chorley for a future mast.
There's been a lot of excavation just east of Chorley station, but it appears to be for a new cable route (the big black plastic pipes).
New track has gone in where the trackbed was lowered recently through the bridges west of Bolton.
I'm just a little surprised they are not making more use of the weekend possessions for electrification work, away from the bridge sites.

The Farnworth timetable seemed to be working fine.
I came across a TPE/NT 2x156 Airport-Blackpool train at Wigan NW and it was pretty empty.

Lack of mast etc work is disquieting, isn't it.

Has anyone seen or heard of anything resembling:

1. an electrification train here or on other lines, such as the GW?
2. an electrification worksite or storage site on or near our line?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Joe Callaghan has kindly sent me two fab shots of work at Farnworth.

I've woven them in among the shots I took on Monday, as 4456i and 4456k

I've added them to Joe's album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157651953947345

and to the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157648767927083

Thank you Joe.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Not going to quote the above but:

Yes, on behalf of the industry thank you for all your effort and attention, I'm just sorry that some of the things we (the industry) does may seem odd and that we can't always explain the details.

That said, the OLE construction programme is relatively under control for the majority of the Phase 4 route (e.g. up to Kearsley and north of Lostock).

I understand that several of the specialist trains which should be out and about "banging in bases", including the one that ran away at Bryn, are currently laid up with "issues".

Bradshaw Fields FP crossing is currently down to be replaced by a footbridge.(in fact all the FP crossings are, as I type).

Prep works have started at MVE2/25 just north of Lostock, BTW.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Not going to quote the above but:
Yes, on behalf of the industry thank you for all your effort and attention, I'm just sorry that some of the things we (the industry) does may seem odd and that we can't always explain the details.
That said, the OLE construction programme is relatively under control for the majority of the Phase 4 route (e.g. up to Kearsley and north of Lostock).
I understand that several of the specialist trains which should be out and about "banging in bases", including the one that ran away at Bryn, are currently laid up with "issues".

Bradshaw Fields FP crossing is currently down to be replaced by a footbridge.(in fact all the FP crossings are, as I type).
Prep works have started at MVE2/25 just north of Lostock, BTW.

Thanks for the update, can't be an easy project to manage.
I did notice a new work site taking shape on the north side of the line east of Lostock, not near a bridge or anything.
It made me wonder where the electrical feeders would be on the route (other than at both ends, presumably).
Lostock would seem an obvious place.

 

[LDECRexile]

Not going to quote the above but:

Yes, on behalf of the industry thank you for all your effort and attention, I'm just sorry that some of the things we (the industry) does may seem odd and that we can't always explain the details.

That said, the OLE construction programme is relatively under control for the majority of the Phase 4 route (e.g. up to Kearsley and north of Lostock).

I understand that several of the specialist trains which should be out and about "banging in bases", including the one that ran away at Bryn, are currently laid up with "issues".

Bradshaw Fields FP crossing is currently down to be replaced by a footbridge.(in fact all the FP crossings are, as I type).

Prep works have started at MVE2/25 just north of Lostock, BTW.

And thanks to you and others from the industry who take the time and trouble to put us right, keep us informed and get us up to speed.

Having, by sheer fluke, photographed a Roedeer at MVE2/25 over the winter I have an irrational attachment to the place, any tips on when it's to be demolished and lifted in would be warmly received.

I feared wiring trains might be hors de combat.

Best wishes

Dave

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Having, by sheer fluke, photographed a Roedeer at MVE2/25 over the winter I have an irrational attachment to the place, any tips on when it's to be demolished and lifted in would be warmly received.
Dave

I'm worried about all those rabbits around Buckshaw Parkway.
The place teems with them rushing around as a train goes past.
How are they going to get through all the upcoming piling and banging?

Mind you, in Finland last week an enormous hare ran across the tracks - in Turku town centre!
They have reindeer trouble too.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

I'm worried about all those rabbits around Buckshaw Parkway.
The place teems with them rushing around as a train goes past.
How are they going to get through all the upcoming piling and banging?

Rabbits are pests under the 1974 Pests Act. Being piled sounds a humane solution to me.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Lostock would seem an obvious place.

Blackrod and Clifton are equally obvious

 

[Elecman]

There won't be any additional electrical feeders as it will be fed from the new ATS at Ordsall and from the New ATS at Euxton I assume.

 

[ALX400]

Rabbits are pests under the 1974 Pests Act. Being piled sounds a humane solution to me.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Blackrod and Clifton are equally obvious

Now then, Blackrod you say, hummm I wondered where those new Electricity ducks were going to when they were doing the bridge, they seemed to teeter off down towards the station then was covered up and filled in quickly, certainly new as nothing like that was there before.