Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[edwin_m]

I've just read August's "Modern Railways" report of the 2018 Railway Industry Innovation Awards. The Small Scale Business Project award reported on page 63 made my lower jaw drop. The preamble says the award "recognises innovations which may not figure large on the national stage but are still worthwhile initiatives that deserve to be recognised."

The text reads:

"The winning entry here concerned an innovative solution for electrification of the railway beneath the Cardiff Intersection Bridge, where the Queen Street lines cross the Great Western main line east of Cardiff Central station […] this particular bridge has very low clearances and could have cost as much as £50 million to rebuild […] Consultancy firm Andromeda Engineering worked with Network Rail for a radical new solution to resolve this problem, which cost less than £1 million and caused minimal disruption […] This saw a coating applied to the underside of the bridge to insulate it from the wires on the main line."

Am I missing something, or could this mean that (say) the line into Wigan Wallgate could be electrified by the simple expedient of painting the underside of the road bridge instead of demolishing half the town and taking a lifetime to get the OK to do it then a few years to do it at huge cost?

I have just pinched myself, I am awake, I haven't had a drink and I've re-read it three times. Worramimissing?

PS: "may not figure large on the national stage but are still worthwhile initiatives" ?! Couldn't this change the future of electrification?
PPS: here's a shot I took of the said bridge in 2013. Not a trivial structure:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/15579576553/in/album-72157656353108448/

It would depend on the detail of the bridge in question. There would have to be some clearance on the Cardiff one, enough for the wire to be set at the minimum pantograph working height and far enough from the roof of a train to avoid arcing. Possibly this clearance existed already (GWR had a slightly bigger loading gauge than other companies) or could be created by moderate lowering of the track.

We don't know what the exact clearance is at Wallgate. Also it has a platform immediately after, which may make track lowering more difficult and definitely raises the thorny question of minimum wire height at the platform, constrained by the maximum gradient the wire can take when coming out from under the bridge. The platform at Cardiff is at least 400m from the bridge so plenty of room to slope the wire up in between.

 

[Class 170101]

We don't know what the exact clearance is at Wallgate. Also it has a platform immediately after, which may make track lowering more difficult and definitely raises the thorny question of minimum wire height at the platform, constrained by the maximum gradient the wire can take when coming out from under the bridge. The platform at Cardiff is at least 400m from the bridge so plenty of room to slope the wire up in between.

But is 400 metres enough? How far is it at Steventon between the level crossing and the Bridge in question?

 

[PN27]

But is 400 metres enough? How far is it at Steventon between the level crossing and the Bridge in question?

Distance is only part of it, line speed has a big effect. I imagine you can get a steeper wire gradient at 30-40mph (I forget the speed limit under the Valleys bridge) than 125mph. As I understand it, trains with pantographs raised are limited to 60mph through Steventon.

No wires through the tunnel or the succession of bridges up to and including Newport St bridge. The mystery missing mast I that area is in the narrow gap between the first and second stone bridges west of Newport St bridge. I thought that mast had been up for a couple of weeks (see Photo A732m) but either 1. I had got the location wrong or 2. it was up but has been taken down pending erecting lighter-looking steelwork (see photos).

Yes, that 'T' shaped structure seems to have been erected and then taken down again.

I could see no changes from Newport St bridge to a few hundred yards north of Green Lane bridge, where C&C resume in earnest. I reckon they run continuously over the Down (northbound) track from there to well south of Kearsley station, including under the pair of National Grid wires which cross the tracks near the site of the one-time Kearsley power station. This gives me some comfort that the oversail problem there is resolved or never existed.

Down is wired from just south of Kearsley station (believe it's the site of the former Kearsley Jn- in any case, it's roughly adjacent to the engineer's compound) to the site of Burnden Jn. Up is wired from the location at Kearsley mentioned above to a point just south of the National Grid complex- I don't know how best to describe that location. It's a single wire run, at any rate. This is quite unusual, the practice elsewhere has been to install a wire run on one line and wire the adjacent line the next night.

 

[inianin]

Some pictures from Chorley
Chorley arches area activity:

Unfortunately the opposite side of the tunnel is completely out of sight from above (the street) because of plants.
I also wanted to throw a bit of light on a progress about river Chor aqueduct.
I found it somehow with a help of Google Maps/Street View and good people.
I did some pictures but I can't upload them here, because it have displayed now they are too big.

 

[Trackman]

Farnworth wiring (don't know if this is old news) Looks like on the down only

 

[LDECRexile]

Some pictures from Chorley
Chorley arches area activity:
View attachment 51276 View attachment 51280
Unfortunately the opposite side of the tunnel is completely out of sight from above (the street) because of plants.
I also wanted to throw a bit of light on a progress about river Chor aqueduct.
I found it somehow with the help of Google Maps/Street View and good people.
I did some pictures but I can't upload them here, because it displayed now they are too big!

Perhaps you should change your name from inianin to Intrepid!

I've sent you a message containing my email address, you might be able to send me large pictures that way, it's what most contributors do.

Great to have you on board.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Perhaps you should change your name from inianin to Intrepid!

Great to have you on board.

Indeed we really do have great team of contributors here.

 

[LDECRexile]

I've added inianin's shots to his album (together with enlargements of their centres) here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157669390542677

and added Mark's shot of Farnworth (as forwarded by Trackman) to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157669932299228

and both sets to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thanks to all three of you.

 

[edwin_m]

Distance is only part of it, line speed has a big effect. I imagine you can get a steeper wire gradient at 30-40mph (I forget the speed limit under the Valleys bridge) than 125mph. As I understand it, trains with pantographs raised are limited to 60mph through Steventon.

Indeed so. Where the wire goes down the extra pressure of pushing the pantograph down increases wear, and where the wire goes up the pantograph must be able to rise fast enough that it doesn't lose contact with the wire and cause arcing. So the maximum wire gradient depends on the permitted speed for trains with raised pans.

 

[inianin]

I'm trying again to upload resized in Paint pics of electrification progress about river Chor aqueduct.

Uhhh!
The aqueduct seen from the East, so wires on its left are obviously on its South.


A look from farther South.


And more to the South.

I tried to send full version of these pictures to David by email in the morning and a few times later, but again something didn't work.
Even an explaining email without pics was rejected every time.
Life can be hard...

 

[LDECRexile]

I'm trying again to upload resized in Paint pics of electrification progress about river Chor aqueduct.

View attachment 51290 Uhhh!
The aqueduct seen from the East, so wires on its left are obviously on its South.


View attachment 51292 A look from farther South.


View attachment 51293 And more to the South.

I tried to send full version of these pictures to David by email in the morning and a few times later, but again something didn't work.
Even an explaining email without pics was rejected every time.
Life can be hard...

I've just seen this and my email, three photos arrived safe and sound by email! Fear not, we're getting there.

I'll wang 'em on soon.

Dave

 

[LDECRexile]

...and here are inianin's shots, added to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157669390542677

and to the Combined Volume here:

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

Great stuff, the first shots I've ever seen of the aqueduct other than from trains or the track; with wires to boot!

Thank you inianin.

 

[42626]

Reinforcement/Stabilisation work by Murphys at Ridgway Bridge near Blackrod:



More in the album.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Reinforcement/Stabilisation work by Murphys at Ridgway Bridge near Blackrod:

Some great shots thanks. Earth work is of course all part of getting the line up to 21st century standards - not just stringing the wires. BTW - some nice shots of the wires too -looks pretty complete in this area.

 

[LDECRexile]

Wrinkley has kindly sent shots of work at Lostock at Bolton today.

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.

 

[TBSchenker]

Wires on the Down Bolton now continuous through Agecroft, bridging he precious gap between South and North Junctions. The South Jn crossover is wired, I didn’t actually look at the North Jn. Part of the Down Goods/Reception line is also wired from the South Jn.

 

[TBSchenker]

Wires on the Down Bolton now continuous through Agecroft, bridging he precious gap between South and North Junctions. The South Jn crossover is wired, I didn’t actually look at the North Jn. Part of the Down Goods/Reception line is also wired from the South Jn.

 

[snowball]

bridging he precious gap between South and North Junctions.

I'm not sure why that gap should be precious but I note that the C and V keys are next to each other.

 

[wrinkley]

The AT wire is now installed on the down line from Moor Lane to Dean Clough, this makes AT and earth wires complete from Moor Lane to Lostock station.
The AT wire is also installed on the up line between Moor Lane and Mayor Street, when it is installed from Mayor Street to Dean Clough then the Up line AT and earth wires will also be complete from Moor Lane to Lostock station. Hopefully a visit from the wiring train during the blockade next week. Pictures to go to Dave next.

 

[reg]

Bolton-C&C wires up as far as Lever St footbridge, up line only.will forward pic

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

We don't know what the exact clearance is at Wallgate. Also it has a platform immediately after, which may make track lowering more difficult and definitely raises the thorny question of minimum wire height at the platform, constrained by the maximum gradient the wire can take when coming out from under the bridge. The platform at Cardiff is at least 400m from the bridge so plenty of room to slope the wire up in between.

As things stand the clearance at Wallgate is the least of the problems. The talk of a major rebuilding exercise stems from the fact that the bridge is in poor condition in as much as one of the metal arches is cracked, hence the jacking supports that are in place there. But not going to be an issue with the current SoS's preferred options for modernisation. [/OT]

 

[LDECRexile]

The AT wire is now installed on the down line from Moor Lane to Dean Clough, this makes AT and earth wires complete from Moor Lane to Lostock station.
The AT wire is also installed on the up line between Moor Lane and Mayor Street, when it is installed from Mayor Street to Dean Clough then the Up line AT and earth wires will also be complete from Moor Lane to Lostock station. Hopefully a visit from the wiring train during the blockade next week. Pictures to go to Dave next.

...thank you to Wrinkley. I've added his photos to his album here:

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

Bolton-C&C wires up as far as Lever St footbridge, up line only.will forward pic

...and thank you Reg. I've added his photo to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157671732263863

I've added both sets to the Combined Volume here:

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

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Dave I arrive home Friday (but 100% family for this visit) but to save them coming to MAN to pick me up I am getting the train to PRE. Any bit you would like me to focus on? Salford Crescent ? Sounds like Bolton is well covered. Chorley? Other?

 

[LDECRexile]

Dave I arrive home Friday (but 100% family for this visit) but to save them coming to MAN to pick me up I am getting the train to PRE. Any bit you would like me to focus on? Salford Crescent ? Sounds like Bolton is well covered. Chorley? Other?

For me the best thing you bring to the party in this context is your "occasional" eyes. In particular I would be especially interested in your "Wow! and What?" observations, ie things which look really encouraging and things which look the opposite.

We are only a few weeks from the most recent heads-will-roll-if-not date and I for one am uneasy, and there's no greater cheerleader of the project than me.

 

[wrinkley]

Looking at reg's photo a932m, why is there an insulator on the contact wire?

 

[LDECRexile]

Looking at reg's photo a932m, why is there an insulator on the contact wire?

Yes, and on the AT wire above it. Note also that they don't attach to the arm in the left foreground.

I believe (layman warning!) that those wires are going off left of shot to terminate, probably on autotensioners, so if they didn't have insulators on then there's be trouble.

 

[wrinkley]

Yes, and on the AT wire above it. Note also that they don't attach to the arm in the left foreground.

I believe (layman warning!) that those wires are going off left of shot to terminate, probably on autotensioners, so if they didn't have insulators on then there's be trouble.

Well spotted, I have checked some older photos, the autotensioners are on the mast of the portal in the foreground.

 

[deltic08]

As things stand the clearance at Wallgate is the least of the problems. The talk of a major rebuilding exercise stems from the fact that the bridge is in poor condition in as much as one of the metal arches is cracked, hence the jacking supports that are in place there. But not going to be an issue with the current SoS's preferred options for modernisation. [/OT]

What happens when further jacking is needed across the trackbed and blocks the line to Southport? Grayling's wonderful bimodes wont get him out of that fix.

He is now blaming Manchester Council for the cancellation of 4-tracking Piccadilly to Oxford Road live on television with no-one to contradict him. He is blaming them for the late opening of the Ordsall Chord which I think was caused by a court case beyond their control, Unbelievable front of the man. He should be sacked as he hasn't two brain cells to rub together.

 

[deltic08]

Dave I arrive home Friday (but 100% family for this visit) but to save them coming to MAN to pick me up I am getting the train to PRE. Any bit you would like me to focus on? Salford Crescent ? Sounds like Bolton is well covered. Chorley? Other?

We want you to count the missing masts as no-one has told us for over a week. Surely it must only be one or two now?
Network Rail proudly announced when all the bases were in but have heard nothing about completing mast erection.

 

[TBSchenker]

Down Bolton / Platform 4 line only also has C&C wire to the same approximate location.

The wire run terminated a few stanchions beyond the points to take you into Platform 5 (not yet wired).

Also noted at Lostock Jn lying in the downside cess are new Switch blades.