Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[GRALISTAIR]

Haven't we seen some blue on some of the other bridges in this project? What would that be made of?

Here's a blue one:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/16967873396/in/photolist-rRoMBj

Looks like an elastomeric paint membrane that is pigmented with Titanium Dioxide and Phthalo Blue pigment to me.

 

[LDECRexile]

Joe Callaghan has kindly sent a couple of shots with a difference.

I've added them to his album here:

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

and to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Joe.

 

[Bullfield WEst]

What's wrong with slab track through there, it would seem to make sense from a long term maintenance perspective

Won't Earth and Ballast act as a vibration damper between rails and tunnel lining? Something to be avoided I would think it being pre-cast concrete.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Newly constructed tunnels such as on the DLR in London always seem to include a side walkway these days, like a continuous platform at door height; now I know it could be argued either way whether this is a "new" tunnel or not, but will it include such a safety feature?

And with the p-way needing to access the tunnel, would it actually be safer to have the safe walkway/authorised walking route at track level? What is the standard on Network Rail for new construction?

Farnworth isn't long enough to need these.

 

[WatcherZero]

December 14th reopening announced.

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...table-to-resume-between-manchester-and-bolton

 

[Chrisyd]

Bolton News are currently selling this as a good news story, how long until the reality that two weekends before Christmas (when last year Northern Rail added supplementary services to cope with demand), there will be no trains to Manchester? I know you cant make an omelette without breaking eggs etc, but would waiting until Christmas or early in the New Year, really have been that bad?

 

[thealexweb]

...services have been less frequent but more carriages have been added to trains to maintain the usual level of capacity.

I do not buy this at all. The number of two car diagrams at peak times has been shameful. They simply cannot claim capacity between Manchester - Bolton - Preston / Wigan has been maintained when it hasn't. For example, there is normally three trains per hour between Bolton and Wigan (see here). In its place there has been an hourly shuttle running with a single Class 150/1.

 

[LDECRexile]

Joe Callaghan has received this tweet from Network Rail:

Hi Joe, sorry for the delay in our response. Pleased to advise that a full timetable resumes on 14 Dec

 

[snowball]

Farnworth has now made it to the front "News" (as distinct from "Press") section of the NR website. Little if any new info though:

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/news/2015/nov/Farnworth-Tunnel/

 

[swt_passenger]

I was wondering how the new Farnworth tunnel portals will be finished off, and how they'll be 'architecturally' merged into the existing stonework.

Has anyone heard anything about it, or seen any info?

 

[Philip Phlopp]

I was wondering how the new Farnworth tunnel portals will be finished off, and how they'll be 'architecturally' merged into the existing stonework.

Has anyone heard anything about it, or seen any info?

It's as it is at the moment, I'm afraid.

Image from Network Rail/Ruth Jackson Planning

 

[swt_passenger]

It's as it is at the moment, I'm afraid.

Cheers for that. It does look as though the concrete face will be extended to cover the whole vertical area. Must admit I wasn't actually expecting matching stonework, and a vertical boundary (extending over the whole height) between old and new seems reasonable.

 

[LDECRexile]

Further to recent debate about what the tracks will stand on in the new tunnel, Wrinkley, Paul and I attended a superb Network Rail presentation this morning where the engineer said it will be concrete slab with ballast on top.

Work is in progress pouring the concrete.

Fuller report later.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Wrinkley has kindly sent some shots showing progress at Ladybridge and Moses Gate station.

I've added them to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157654034635234

and to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Wrinkley
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Paul Gaskell and I took some photos at Farnworth yesterday.

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

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

and added all our shots to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Paul

 

[LDECRexile]

As mentioned the other day, Wrinkley, Paul and I had the pleasure of attending a presentation on the Farnworth project by Beth Dale, Network Rail Project Manager.

We would like to record our warm appreciation to Network Rail, Buckingham and Murphy for setting this up, to Karen of Murphy for organising it and to Beth for delivering a superb piece by any standards. Beth clearly gave from the heart as well as head.

I attach below

1. our notes from the presentation. We take responsibility for any errors and omissions.
2. The presentation slides, split into five to fit this forum's 2MB max attachment size.

PS: Deltic08 and ALX400 have both sent photos, which I will process tonight. Thank you both.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

As mentioned the other day, Wrinkley, Paul and I had the pleasure of attending a presentation on the Farnworth project by Beth Dale, Network Rail Project Manager.

Brilliant job Dave. You all deserved to be in the audience.
Clearly a splendid engineering achievement.
Now all we have to do is "just add trains".

 

[snowball]

Now all we have to do is "just add trains".

And wires of course.

There's a picture of Farnworth temporary signalling panel on page 53 of the current issue (787) of Rail magazine, as part of a feature on signalling in the NW.

 

[LDECRexile]

ALX400 and Deltic08 have kindly sent photos from Farnworth.

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

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157651121057352

I've created an album for Deltic08 and added his shots to it here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157661185273766

I've added all their material to the Combined Volume here:

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

Their shots will appear in the Combined Volume in chronological order, so you may reckon it's easier to find them in his album.

Welcome aboard Deltic08

Thank you to both of you.

 

[LDECRexile]

Oops

First significant omission spotted.

Please see new section 35 below, re budget.

 

[Philip Phlopp]

Oops

First significant omission spotted.

Please see new section 35 below, re budget.

Your work has been impressive, as always.

 

[Darren R]

As mentioned the other day, Wrinkley, Paul and I had the pleasure of attending a presentation on the Farnworth project by Beth Dale, Network Rail Project Manager.

We would like to record our warm appreciation to Network Rail, Buckingham and Murphy for setting this up, to Karen of Murphy for organising it and to Beth for delivering a superb piece by any standards. Beth clearly gave from the heart as well as head.

I attach below

1. our notes from the presentation. We take responsibility for any errors and omissions.
2. The presentation slides, split into five to fit this forum's 2MB max attachment size.

PS: Deltic08 and ALX400 have both sent photos, which I will process tonight. Thank you both.

Thank you for taking the time to keep us all informed, LDECRexile. As an aside, looking at the artist's impression on page 11 of part 1 of the pdf you attached, I can't help wonder how long this has been in the planning: that is clearly a Derby 108 emerging from the tunnel alongside the TBM!

Is there any definite news yet on when closure will take place for the double track to be plumbed-in?

 

[snowball]

Is there any definite news yet on when closure will take place for the double track to be plumbed-in?

According to the item on Network Rail's website that I linked in #2109, it's the weekend of 12-13 Dec, immediately before the start of full service on the 14th.

The next big phase of the project will involve switching the track and signalling over from the current alignment to the new one through the tunnel, on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December, with a closure of the route during this time. Passengers are advised to check their journey plans on the National Rail website before travelling.

www.networkrail.co.uk/news/2015/nov/Farnworth-Tunnel/

This confirms the assertion in #2051.

 

[deltic08]

If anybody missed the caption to 5282i, is this the only photo showing a concrete ring oustide the tunnel? Other photos taken after 31st October do not show this ring especially after Fillie was completely dismantled.

Was this fitted to allow Fillie to push completely out before dismantling and then removed?

Can anybody comment please?

 

[snowball]

If anybody missed the caption to 5282i, is this the only photo showing a concrete ring oustide the tunnel? Other photos taken after 31st October do not show this ring especially after Fillie was completely dismantled.

Was this fitted to allow Fillie to push completely out before dismantling and then removed?

Can anybody comment please?

My first guess would have been that it's the last ring and only partially protruding, and the protruding part was later cut off.

However in the comments on 5282i in the album, JRichardC first puts forward this theory, then says that 5336c disproves it.

So the most likely remaining theory is that it was needed for Fillie to push herself out of the tunnel and was then removed.

Some earlier pictures of the Kearsley portal show several partial rings outside the tunnel, just the bottom part of a ring in each case.

 

[Geeves]

As snowball says on the Kearsley end it was several rings out so Fillie could push herself in using the tunnel pit and rings and as said this was repeated at the other end to finish the job.

 

[ironstone11]

Brilliant job Dave. You all deserved to be in the audience.

I second that.

Many thanks Dave.

 

[LDECRexile]

Warm thanks to people who have made supportive remarks recently; very encouraging.

I've added a few shots today, here:

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

 

[furnessvale]

My very first job as a junior draughtsman was designing handrails for a bridge between Bolton and Lostock Jcn. I suppose they have now gone with all the rebuilding.

I know my second job had an even shorter life, new main doors on Bolton loco shed!

 

[Whistler40145]

Anyone know what the Network Rail train with a DRS 37 on doing at Blackpool North, it's been in Platform 1 since yesterday afternoon and was still there at 8am?

 

[glbotu]

Does anyone know what the plan is (if there is one at all) for the tunnel currently in use?

 

[furnessvale]

Does anyone know what the plan is (if there is one at all) for the tunnel currently in use?

Cable route I believe.