Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[LNW-GW Joint]

Wigan and Windermere wiring is now in CP6, according to the Hendy report.
They will only reach GRIP 3 during CP5, so no physical work on these routes before 2019.
It's impossible to decode the remaining NW milestones for Stalybridge-Blackpool, or the Northern Hub work, except that they will be in CP5 (2019).
More detail supposedly in the milestones update next month.

 

[thealexweb]

That is very disappointing to hear. Surely this had blown a huge hole in the next Northern's rolling stock plans.

 

[QueensCurve]

Bolton News item on Farnworth tunnel:

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news...in_a_lifetime_job_quot__at_Farnworth_Tunnels/

Several pictures of the tunnel but still none showing any filling in of the bottom. What's keeping them?

I passed through Farnworth Yesterday. There is some ballast in the base of the tunnel, and quite a few track panels stockpiled elsewhere.

There seems to be a lot of work to do to have the line opened a week on Monday.

Elsewhere, there seem to be foundations for the OHLE over most of the route.

I can't say I was particularly impressed by "the St Pancras of the North" at Manchester Victoria. It looked like a mish-mash of schemes to titivate a derelict edifice.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I can't say I was particularly impressed by "the St Pancras of the North" at Manchester Victoria. It looked like a mish-mash of schemes to titivate a derelict edifice.

You went to the wrong place.
Manchester Central is/was the St Pancras of the north.

Victoria is at least dry now.
But the main platforms are still dark, bare and unwelcoming, and there is a distinct lack of retail outlets.
A bit like Birmingham New St before the recent facelift at platform level.
For a real taste of a derelict edifice, you just have to go 1km west to Salford Central.

 

[snowball]

I passed through Farnworth Yesterday. There is some ballast in the base of the tunnel, and quite a few track panels stockpiled elsewhere.

Old news. LDECR's album has pictures, and a the NP Twitter feed also has a picture.

There seems to be a lot of work to do to have the line opened a week on Monday.

It's opening a fortnight on Monday.

 

[LDECRexile]

I'm glad that Joe Callaghan feels better enough to have taken and sent three shots of a crane at work on Cemetery Road bridge overnight.

The crane arrived around midnight and was gone by 06:00. Does anyone know what it was up to?

I've added Joe's shots to his album here:

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

and to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Joe
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Wrinkley has kindly sent half a dozen shots he took this afternoon at Orlando St bridge, showing progress in action. I've added them to his album here:

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

and to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Wrinkley

 

[snowball]

The NP Twitter feed shows sleepers in Farnworth tunnel.

https://twitter.com/networkrailnp

 

[edwin_m]

The NP Twitter feed shows sleepers in Farnworth tunnel.

https://twitter.com/networkrailnp

Better wake them up and tell them to get on with the job.

 

[Elecman]

Up Line now laid in the tunnel and quite a bit of the downline is sleepered

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Up Line now laid in the tunnel and quite a bit of the downline is sleepered

Hope they've cleared a space for MP620 ...

 

[Ploughman]

Hope they've cleared a space for MP620 ...

Sounds like a very high mileage for a milepost.

 

[snowball]

New rule, all mileages to be measured from Thurso.

Alternatively, perhaps it's a signal.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Sounds like a very high mileage for a milepost.

New rule, all mileages to be measured from Thurso.

Alternatively, perhaps it's a signal.

Up line, controlling the tunnel entrance. Having been past, not yet ...

 

[deltic08]

Victoria is at least dry now.
But the main platforms are still dark, bare and unwelcoming, and there is a distinct lack of retail outlets.

The last time I was at Victoria on a wet day it was not very dry for me. The bay platforms adjacent to the tram platforms are still very exposed. The new roof should have been extended a span or two more towards the road overbridge as both coaches of my train to Halifax were in the open as there were two units in the same platform for two services.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The NP Twitter feed shows sleepers in Farnworth tunnel.

https://twitter.com/networkrailnp

Looks like another few feet of ballast has been added before laying sleepers as there is no sign of the membrane showing as on the earlier photo.

 

[LDECRexile]

Lots going on this morning, many trades on show at Farnworth and Orlando St.

Sleepers being laid along Down (northbound) trackbed through the tunnel.

Piling going in immediately north of Cemetery Rd bridge, eastern end.

Stone facing being built at eastern entrance ramps to Farnworth station.

Cemetery Rd bridge parapets near finished, services all through.

The beams Wrinkley photographed being installed the other day at Orlando look done and dusted, Orangeman on site reckons March for job done.

Photos later.

 

[Lurpi]

Lots going on this morning, many trades on show at Farnworth and Orlando St.

Sleepers being laid along Down (northbound) trackbed through the tunnel.

Piling going in immediately north of Cemetery Rd bridge, eastern end.

Stone facing being built at eastern entrance ramps to Farnworth station.

Cemetery Rd bridge parapets near finished, services all through.

The beams Wrinkley photographed being installed the other day at Orlando look done and dusted, Orangeman on site reckons March for job done.

Photos later.

I guess the piling is part of the Farnworth station works, rather than within the scope of the (presumably as yet unsigned) Carillion contract?

 

[Philip Phlopp]

I guess the piling is part of the Farnworth station works, rather than within the scope of the (presumably as yet unsigned) Carillion contract?

The working drawings did have a piled retaining will between the tunnel portal/wall and Cemetery Road bridge, but that has possibly changed.

 

[LDECRexile]

Yesterday's shots now wanged on, here:

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

 

[snowball]

The working drawings did have a piled retaining will between the tunnel portal/wall and Cemetery Road bridge, but that has possibly changed.

I think it was changed to the slope you can see in 5454e and 5370k-m, which I think is soil nailed?

(Edit to correct the first number which originally had a typo)

There may be better pictures if you look back far enough.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

I think it was changed to the slope you can see in 5454e and 5370k-m, which I think is soil nailed?

The detail changed to soil nails quite a while ago; was going to be a piled wall as an extension of Cemetery Road bridge abutment. The sheet piles now going in will make space for MP620 signal base to go in, nothing like the 11th hour!

p.s. If anyone is stood on Phythians bridge (north of Farnworth station) is there any chance of a photo looking north, showing the new signal base about 200m away on the up side?

 

[Karl]

Yesterday's shots now wanged on, here:

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

Another excellent set of shots showing the latest progress.

I've thoroughly enjoyed watching this project's progression thanks to this thread.

Thank you.

 

[LDECRexile]

Another excellent set of shots showing the latest progress.

I've thoroughly enjoyed watching this project's progression thanks to this thread.

Thank you.

Thank you very much for your kind and encouraging remarks.

 

[stockport1]

Thank you very much for your kind and encouraging remarks.

Shame there is only one of you! would be nice to follow the progress on the gw and other projects with such detail and commensurate ease

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Shame there is only one of you! would be nice to follow the progress on the gw and other projects with such detail and commensurate ease

I actually stated that on the GWML thread - I said -we really could do with a Dave on this thread.

 

[LDECRexile]

I'm at a loss what to say, other than thank you both very kindly.

I would love to do the biz on the GWML, but it's not practicable.

Very much appreciated.

Dave

 

[YorkshireBear]

Didn't happen to be taking photos from the fence above Farnworth Down platform yesterday were you?

 

[Joseph_Locke]

As at 07:40 this morning:

Up line now largely complete, tamper now on site. Sheet piles installed between Farnworth platform and Cemetery Road bridge, MP620 base shuttered ready for concrete. 75% of sleepers on the Down line laid out.

Lookin, good!

 

[LDECRexile]

As at 07:40 this morning:

Up line now largely complete, tamper now on site. Sheet piles installed between Farnworth platform and Cemetery Road bridge, MP620 base shuttered ready for concrete. 75% of sleepers on the Down line laid out.

Lookin, good!

Fab! Fingers, toes etc etc all crossed. Dry weekend forecast if anyone can get there with a camera.

I expect to go on Monday, I wonder who was shooting yesterday, it wasn't me.

 

[swt_passenger]

I had a quick check through the photos but didn't see anything, but presumably there was a fairly normal six foot drain laid in the tunnel before the ballasting started? Although I expect the actual tunnel lining will be fairly waterproof though, so perhaps there might not be a need for anything major?

 

[Cletus]

The Northern twitter team are currently showing live pictures from the Farnworth Tunnel.