Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[LDECRexile]

Bolton platform 5 makings on the building are from the days when the platform was used for parcel and postal traffic when each "bay" between the white lines was a different destination, numbered so that the destinations could be changed without altering the markings
they could be used for loading or unloading trains of vans

Very interesting, thank you.

 

[42626]

Without doing a forensic comparison with previous photosets the only progress on 'pure' electrification I could see was some danglification between Salford Central and Windsor Bridge North Jct inclusive.

'Danglification' Love it

 

[GRALISTAIR]

'Danglification' Love it

Yes I think we need a wiki with Dave"isms" in it. TGBU -would obviously be top of the list - Thundering Great Big 'Uns for those whose memory needs a jog.

 

[LDECRexile]

I travelled Southport-Bolton-Buckshaw Parkway and return today.

If I had a gun at my head and was told I had to describe Bolton-Buckshaw electrification in one word only I would say "becalmed."

I have three hats ready to eat if someone can show evidence that I'm wrong, and will be delighted to do so.

The one and only pleasant surprise was at the very end of "our" manor, as I was putting my camera and clobber away having passed under the new bridge at Lostock I spotted a mast standing as proud as a peacock next to the eastbound track on the Westhoughton line. I've alerted Wrinkley who will venture forth tomorrow to show me to be fair or fool.

Uprights have been installed for the footbridge-to-be which will replace the foot crossing at Heath Charnock.

Alas, ALX400's photos of Orangemen working north of Blackrod the other day turn out not to have been on Anderton Hall crossing footbridge-to-be. I could see no sign of work there or at Red Bank Bridge foot crossing north of Horwich.

There was some sign of work on Adlington station, but I couldn't make it out.

Bradshaw Fields footbridge looks done and dusted, but remains closed to pedestrians.

There may have been some new masts and/or danglification, but not strikingly so.

I've added today's photos to the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157661069863633

 

[Joseph_Locke]

I travelled Southport-Bolton-Buckshaw Parkway and return today.

If I had a gun at my head and was told I had to describe Bolton-Buckshaw electrification in one word only I would say "becalmed."

I have three hats ready to eat if someone can show evidence that I'm wrong, and will be delighted to do so.

I doubt it will cause you reach for the millinery condiments, but work is well underway to remove the Electricity North West oversail north of Lostock - the back ties and new cable were all installed by this morning so I'm guessing the culprit will be gone this weekend. At the weekend I also noticed a mast or two at Chorley station, but haven't been for a while so they may not be new.

 

[Greybeard33]

I doubt it will cause you reach for the millinery condiments, but work is well underway to remove the Electricity North West oversail north of Lostock - the back ties and new cable were all installed by this morning so I'm guessing the culprit will be gone this weekend.

Any sign of progress yet on the multiple National Grid oversails east of Kearsley? Last week nothing seemed to be happening.

 

[LDECRexile]

I doubt it will cause you reach for the millinery condiments, but work is well underway to remove the Electricity North West oversail north of Lostock - the back ties and new cable were all installed by this morning so I'm guessing the culprit will be gone this weekend. At the weekend I also noticed a mast or two at Chorley station, but haven't been for a while so they may not be new.

Indeed, I included shots of the electric grid work in my photoset, but forgot to list it above. Wrinkley is on a mission to have a proper shufty today.

I reckon the Chorley masts have been there for a couple of weeks, but I'll be delighted to be proven wrong.

One thing I failed to mention or photograph yesterday was fairly extensive de-veging at different locations between Lostock and Buckshaw.

 

[CAF397]

I'm catching the train from Lostock this morning. And there are indeed some masts up on the Westhoughton line. Due to the bridge work I could only get these shots. From what I could see only one mast and two TTCs were visible.

 

[CAF397]

This was discussed way back, probably on this thread somewhere. With Platform 5 being new it has to be risk-assessed and the conclusion must have been that it needed an emergency exit. Platforms 1-3, despite probably being busier, are still in their previous condition so benefit from "grandfather rights". I think it follows that the new footbridge won't be useable except in emergency.

If a footbridge was required to meet new standards because Platform 5 was new, why is Platform 5 open and the footbridge still closed? You can't access it due to the on-going platform works.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

If a footbridge was required to meet new standards because Platform 5 was new, why is Platform 5 open and the footbridge still closed? You can't access it due to the on-going platform works.

P4 is closed and the timetable hasn't got any extra trains in it yet! It's not a public footbridge anyway, its a fire escape.

 

[LDECRexile]

TBSchenker kindly posted three shots direct to this thread. I've added them to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157668239371996

Wrinkley has kindly sent shots of the electrical clearance work north of Lostock. I've added them to his album here:

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

I've added the lot to the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157661069863633

Thank you TB and Wrinkley.

PS: After publication Wrinkley added extra commentary in his shots from today, I have added it to his images. Thanks for the clarification Mr W.

 

[Geeves]

There's a notice up at Vic that 90m of platform 4 is to become available soon for a shuttle service to Blackpool. Not sure what this service is other than it's going to Blackpool. Should have read the notice more clearly!

 

[Joseph_Locke]

TBSchenker kindly posted three shots direct to this thread. I've added them to his album here:


PS: After publication Wrinkley added extra commentary in his shots from today, I have added it to his images. Thanks for the clarification Mr W.

Re: the Gibraltar Farm oversail: The cables over the railway are to be removed and a subsurface cable installed through the directionally-drilled microtunnel fitted near the footbridge. The work in the images is convert the old single intermediate poles to double-leg termination structures - you can see the three legs of the new subsurface cable on the south-side termination already. They look like they will also remove about three spans on the north side, back to just west of the footbridge (where the microtunnel is - marked in yellow paint on the fence on the north side of the line).

 

[GRALISTAIR]

God I love this thread. People cooperating and sharing information and photos. Some very informed sources giving us information. No snarkiness. I look forward every morning and other times to checking in here and seeing what is going on.

 

[rebmcr]

God I love this thread. People cooperating and sharing information and photos. Some very informed sources giving us information. No snarkiness. I look forward every morning and other times to checking in here and seeing what is going on.

Hear, hear! Let us hope that 'they' don't find it...!

 

[CAF397]

At the weekend I also noticed a mast or two at Chorley station, but haven't been for a while so they may not be new.

Just been through, no masts on the platforms themselves, one TTC on the downside approach to the station though.

 

[wrinkley]

Re: the Gibraltar Farm oversail: The cables over the railway are to be removed and a subsurface cable installed through the directionally-drilled microtunnel fitted near the footbridge. The work in the images is convert the old single intermediate poles to double-leg termination structures - you can see the three legs of the new subsurface cable on the south-side termination already. They look like they will also remove about three spans on the north side, back to just west of the footbridge (where the microtunnel is - marked in yellow paint on the fence on the north side of the line).

Thanks for the information Mr Locke, now that I understand what's happening I will go back and look at the south side, weather permitting, there's a lot of water on the footpath to the bridge.

 

[LDECRexile]

Please see the comments which have been attached to Photos 8332m and 8328m.

 

[CAF397]

Sorry for poor quality, taken from train. Shows wire

 

[LDECRexile]

An observant reader has pointed out that the line in the Progressometer showing masts etc at Bolton station is plain wrong.

There are no masts up at Bolton station.

The spreadsheet error was operator malfunction (my cockup.)

Apologies

D

 

[LDECRexile]

I will be away until Monday pm, 25th Sept.

Please send photos as usual, I will be pleased to wang 'em on when I get back.

 

[Starmill]

I've had a trip both ways today on 185s which was nice. One of them was non-stop and felt fairly fast. I'm aware that it was fairly fast anyway when non-stop but I wonder if anyone knows if permissible speed has been increased for these? Bearing in mind that they can't use the MU speeds which I see are now signed all over. Still seem to be a few temporary restrictions here and there. One thing I did notice, the 20 miles/hour through platform 5 seems to start awfully soon. Trundling through the several hundred metres at 20, preceeded by harsh braking down from 75 and then accelerating back up to it was really noticeable. I also think we may have been coming up on a red, does anyone know what current / future speed is passing platform 3? I would have hoped for 25 at least around those curves rather than 20, ah well. Generally, I'm truly impressed with the scale and pace of works.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

I've had a trip both ways today on 185s which was nice. One of them was non-stop and felt fairly fast. I'm aware that it was fairly fast anyway when non-stop but I wonder if anyone knows if permissible speed has been increased for these? Bearing in mind that they can't use the MU speeds which I see are now signed all over. Still seem to be a few temporary restrictions here and there. One thing I did notice, the 20 miles/hour through platform 5 seems to start awfully soon. Trundling through the several hundred metres at 20, preceeded by harsh braking down from 75 and then accelerating back up to it was really noticeable. I also think we may have been coming up on a red, does anyone know what current / future speed is passing platform 3? I would have hoped for 25 at least around those curves rather than 20, ah well. Generally, I'm truly impressed with the scale and pace of works.

Maximum PS for a 185 is 80mph, not yet commissioned. The 20 through Bolton (its on all platforms that go over MVE2/3 (the former parcels subway)) is bridge related, compounded by having nowhere else to start it that suited everyone. At the moment you're doing 75PS - (50TSR though Moses Gate) - 75/100MU (not that that it can be achieved) - 50PS south of Burnden - 50mph facing turnout - 50PS - 20PS - 75PS from Bolton West onwards. Eventually the 75/100MU will start at Agecroft on the Down line.

The curve north/west of Bolton will always be 20mph due to track geometry, and the fact that almost all trains call at Bolton (and would continue to even if Bolton was 110PS).

 

[CAF397]

The works completed so far haven’t had much effect. With Sprinter trains only able to do 75mph, and 185s restricted to 80 (but has been pointed out a blanket 75mph is in place from Bolton to Chorley anyway for whatever reason), the works has been basically a minor resignalling project.

When trains capable of doing the higher speeds arrive then that is when the enhancement will be noticed.

The only immediate improvement that has had a direct input into improving performance has been the resignalling of Agecroft to Salford.

Prior to this any train which required the platform (Up & Down Bolton) at salford Crescent was signalled Down to a red, which due to TOC defensive driving meant slowing down to 15mph before the signal would be able to clear. This signal was also on a right hand bend.

Now, with the addition of an extra signal, a 75mph approach is permitted as the signal controlling access into the platform has been moved so it is visible at the end of the straight, and can now signal trains straight in. With the slightly higher speed into the platform of 30mph, and a PSR of 50mph just before, it means trains can brake for the station and not the signal.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

The only immediate improvement that has had a direct input into improving performance has been the resignalling of Agecroft to Salford.

All it took was a close look at the speed on the facing crossover (raised from 25 to 30 with no major work required) and reducing the short and nearly pointless 50 PS to 40 earlier and lo! the MAR is removed. There aren't any extra signals - MP512 and MP510 have just been moved to better places.

No-one could understand why it was how it used to be ...

 

[XDM]

All it took was a close look at the speed on the facing crossover (raised from 25 to 30 with no major work required) and reducing the short and nearly pointless 50 PS to 40 earlier and lo! the MAR is removed. There aren't any extra signals - MP512 and MP510 have just been moved to better places.

No-one could understand why it was how it used to be ...

I wish the wise person who initiated this could be patted on the back & allowed to put their skills to the scores of places over the UK where similar restrictive speed limits could be removed at little or no cost. But I suspect Network Rail does not work like this.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I see this week from the Twitter feed, that there is piling going on at both Poulton and Layton. I am so pleased they are doing stuff well before the blockade.

 

[LDECRexile]

Wrinkley has kindly sent shots of remedying the wire oversail between Lostock and Horwich.

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/72157661069863633

Thank you Wrinkley.

 

[Malay States]

I went to a Northern event in Leeds today, and the NR bloke in attendance said categorically that the Euxton-Manchester electrification was on time for completion by the end of December. So there we are! There were mutterings of disbelief among my group.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I went to a Northern event in Leeds today, and the NR bloke in attendance said categorically that the Euxton-Manchester electrification was on time for completion by the end of December. So there we are! There were mutterings of disbelief among my group.

Wrinkley has kindly sent shots of remedying the wire oversail between Lostock and Horwich.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157661069863633 Thank you Wrinkley.

To me - one huge obstacle was the wires oversail - now this is done I am a little less concerned. Obviously there is the huge electrical substation/whatever at Lostock - but I guess even that is one weekend to deliver and install and then it can be worked on during the day - does not even need nights to do it.

Trying to remember if there are still any footbridges etc to do.

I am even more confident about Preston - Blackpool -so we should have full electric service for May 2018. Great stuff