There's a regular hourly Northern service that way (Man Air - Barrow/Windermere), plus gets used by Southport & Preston - Manchester services as a diversion fairly often. It's also a diversion route for TPE, with at least one service a day operating that way (rather than via Bolton), presumably to retain route knowledge.Surprised there are crews that sign Ince Moss Junction to Golborne Junction. Can't be a regularly used route with the limited paths available to cross the WCML.
There's a regular hourly Northern service that way (Man Air - Barrow/Windermere), plus gets used by Southport & Preston - Manchester services as a diversion fairly often. It's also a diversion route for TPE, with at least one service a day operating that way (rather than via Bolton), presumably to retain route knowledge.
Weekends when Bolton & Atherton are both closed. They don't always do it, but usually hourly, non-stop Wallgate - Victoria.Never heard of a Southport going that way - when did that happen?
Some not-insignificant damage to the railway (not my pictures).
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From what I've seen the fire was quite ferocious near the bridge, so I'm not sure if that's damaged, and I don't know if the overheads were also affected.Looks to be mainly confined to linside equipment and a 10 metre or less stretch of the nearside track.
Looks to be mainly confined to linside equipment and a 10 metre or less stretch of the nearside track.
The photos posted by skyhigh show at least two well-scorched OLE masts, so very likely the overheads were affected. Also severe scorching on the bridge and its abutment, so that will need a close examination to confirm it's OK - or not as the case may be.From what I've seen the fire was quite ferocious near the bridge, so I'm not sure if that's damaged, and I don't know if the overheads were also affected.
It's a paper briefing, if you sign the routes at both ends of the chord it's acceptable to learn the route by this method (Ince Moss to Bamfurlong that is).Surprised there are crews that sign Ince Moss Junction to Golborne Junction. Can't be a regularly used route with the limited paths available to cross the WCML.
Surprised there are crews that sign Ince Moss Junction to Golborne Junction. Can't be a regularly used route with the limited paths available to cross the WCML.
It's a paper briefing, if you sign the routes at both ends of the chord it's acceptable to learn the route by this method (Ince Moss to Bamfurlong that is).
The current situation with fewer trains has also helped with being able to run services this way as under a normal timetable it would be trickier.
Which section of the line in the Earlestown area is affected?
Thanks. Presumably that's in the vicinity of Sankey Viaduct on the Western side of Earlestown station.The west side towards St Helen's Junction. The Chester services through platforms 4 & 5 are unaffected.
Reported with regards to OLE that around a dozen droppers, an earth clamp and two cantilevers need replacement.The photos posted by skyhigh show at least two well-scorched OLE masts, so very likely the overheads were affected. Also severe scorching on the bridge and its abutment, so that will need a close examination to confirm it's OK - or not as the case may be.
There also appears to be a damaged Location cabinet - which may affect signalling?
By the way, the black on the track is not fire damage - it's an on/off loading point for road/rail machines used for repairs and maintenance.
The location is about halfway between the station and the viaduct. Photo taken just over 6 years ago as electrification works had just started (click on it to go to the larger original):Thanks. Presumably that's in the vicinity of Sankey Viaduct on the Western side of Earlestown station.
CorrectReported with regards to OLE that around a dozen droppers, an earth clamp and two cantilevers need replacement.
Wont the contact wire need re-tensioning too? Must have softened in the heat surely?Correct
Wont the contact wire need re-tensioning too? Must have softened in the heat surely?
Of course it is - silly me.It's auto-tensioned isn't it, so it should have maintained the tension?
Auto tension within ambient limits presumably. Not necessarily working correctly to cover the effects of external heat?Of course it is - silly me.
It's only external heat over a short part of the wire run, so the actual amount of expansion shouldn't be great. Not sure how hot it needs to get before the tension stretches the copper plastically (irreversibly) or introduces some change to the metallurgy.Auto tension within ambient limits presumably. Not necessarily working correctly to cover the effects of external heat?
Maybe not so silly you after all.
The fire must have been pretty intense, as i could see the smoke from the fire about an hour after the fire started & i live more than 20 miles away.
The fire must have been pretty intense, as i could see the smoke from the fire about an hour after the fire started & i live more than 20 miles away.
I managed to see a train branch off after Bryn to go south on the WCML. It was about 10 minutes late which meant I clapped in the middle of an empty woodland for key workers. My video is apparently too big to upload but will try again later.
I never expected to ever see such a service but it's a good job we still have this otherwise redundant curve. I think a biomass train also used the curve but was too late to see it actually on those rails.