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Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

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SodTheDrummer

SodTheDrummer

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14 May 2015
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Bolton
Visiting parents at Poulton today, they have received a letter from NR stating stretch between PRE and BPN will be energised from 14 April. Took a picture of said letter, will send onto Dave, don't know if the upload thing on my phone will work.
IMG_20180224_155242848.jpg

Edit: Dad said he was walking along the path behind Aldi on Wednesday, and saw a bloke with a camcorder filming the demolition of the box - guess that would've been you Dave?
 
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AngelicUpstart

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8 Aug 2014
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While out and about yesterday, I noticed that wires were being run between Layton and Poulton and had crossed across Carleton Crossing.
 
LDECRexile

LDECRexile

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Southport, UK
I've come back from a weekend away to find very welcome and encouraging material here and in my inbox.

Please note that Railrover700's heartening shots of work to cement the mounting blocks north of Chorley Tunnel are also accessible via the Combined Volume, click on the very first image and look down the "Comment"s. This is thanks to his earlier generosity in setting up a link to the album he cites above.

If anyone is out and about and has their mobile phone in their pocket they are cordially invited to send images of things they see as well as written reports, just send me a Private Message via this forum and I'll set the ball rolling.

Sod the Drummer sent the photo of the letter to his parents which he attached above, I've added it to his album here.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157674289208123

ALX400 has sent shots of action at Blackrod, which I've added to his album here:

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

and Gralistair has toured the line from Fylde Junction to half a mile east of Kirkham and Wesham. I've added his photos to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157651259517065

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

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

Thank you all.
 
LDECRexile

LDECRexile

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Southport, UK
SodTheDrummer said:
Visiting parents at Poulton today, they have received a letter from NR stating stretch between PRE and BPN will be energised from 14 April. Took a picture of said letter, will send onto Dave, don't know if the upload thing on my phone will work.
View attachment 43190

Edit: Dad said he was walking along the path behind Aldi on Wednesday, and saw a bloke with a camcorder filming the demolition of the box - guess that would've been you Dave?
Click to expand...

1. The upload thing on your phone worked a treat, see above. Thanks.
2. The chap with a camcorder is more likely to have been nodrog, I have a small, conventional, point and click camera.
 
LDECRexile

LDECRexile

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Southport, UK
I travelled Southport-Bolton-Salford Crescent and back by train today, pausing at Bolton.

First, the bad news: I have been saying for a while that there is a base still to install opposite Platform 5 at Bolton. I've paced it out today and I now fear there are at least two bases still to install there, possibly even three. I would welcome second opinions.

Now the poor news:

I couldn't see any evidence of work on missing bases at:
1. Salford Crescent Platform 2
2. Walled stretch north of Agecroft Road bridge
3. Rawson Street to Balustraded bridge, Farnworth

I've no idea what's what on the power line oversail(s?) south of Kearsley

Finally, the good news:
1. the siding serving the Tarmac plant (it may be a different company now, please advise) opposite the waste disposal site at Agecroft was shiny for the first time I've seen it for ages. Is that traffic back on rail?
2. Definitely action on the very difficult base locations on the southbound side near Pendleton Old station site, a way to go, but clear progress.
3. Lots of de-veging throughout, including Bolton-Lostock
4. Weston St to Moses Gate looks close to wire-ready
5. Burnden area mastier and danglier
6. Clear work in progress on the footbridge and footpath to replace the foot crossings near the M60 bridge
7. More orange on show than the last couple of times I've done this trip, not a lot, but a decent sprinkling
8. Huge cast slab bases with concrete curing at southern mouth of Bullfield Tunnel Bolton, north of site of Dixon Fold, in the vee of the junction immediately north of Salford Crescent and on the east side of the tracks near that vee
9. Bolton platforms 98% open to the public, just two tiddly fenced off areas. Canopies look done and dusted. Work in progress near Platform 2 buffers, but I couldn't tell what.
10. Fencing at southeastern end of the station made permanent, suggesting no further access needed for non-rail plant
11. More masts up between station and Newport St bridge
12. Half a dozen Orangemen working on the Ziggurat where the mega electrical thingy will go at Lostock

Some of these observations may repeat things others have said, if so apologies.

Photos later.
 
QueensCurve

QueensCurve

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22 Dec 2014
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1,914
Many thanks for all the photos. It is starting to look like an electrified railway at long last.

LDECRexile said:
Paul and I sat next to Elecman at this excellent and encouraging presentation. We travelled to the venue via significant sites, as you do.

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

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

and both of our endeavours to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Paul.
Click to expand...
ng
 
F

furnessvale

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LDECRexile said:
I travelled Southport-Bolton-Salford Crescent and back by train today, pausing at Bolton.

Finally, the good news:
1. the siding serving the Tarmac plant (it may be a different company now, please advise) opposite the waste disposal site at Agecroft was shiny for the first time I've seen it for ages. Is that traffic back on rail?
Click to expand...
Stone from the new siding at Arcow quarry. Perhaps one train a week but I am not sure.
 
LDECRexile

LDECRexile

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30 Jan 2014
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Southport, UK
Joseph_Locke said:
re: 9660v - Monitoring for settlement; there are big issues around here caused by shallow mineworkings.
Click to expand...

Interesting and informative, thank you.

The thingies look as if they have an antenna each, are they sending data to each other and/or somewhere else? If the latter, does this enable remote monitoring of real-time data? (As in "Ey up, that bu**er moved another mm when the RHTT passed.")
 
E

edwin_m

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21 Apr 2013
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Location
Nottingham
I assume those must be GPS-based, possibly using a "differential GPS" which improves accuracy in a local area. Elsewhere I've seen a thing like a small dalek which continually swivels and tilts to aim some kind of light beam at a selection of reflective prisms, but these things have the advantage of looking much less worth stealing.
 
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kaiser62

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10 Sep 2011
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43
Location
Suffolk
edwin_m said:
I assume those must be GPS-based, possibly using a "differential GPS" which improves accuracy in a local area. Elsewhere I've seen a thing like a small dalek which continually swivels and tilts to aim some kind of light beam at a selection of reflective prisms, but these things have the advantage of looking much less worth stealing.
Click to expand...
g
GPS, and particularly differential GPS will help with geolocation, but assuming they know where they put them that may not matter too much. Getting the signal 'back to base' isn't helped by GPS, so they would need another method such as cellular data 'dalekmaybe via GSM-R?

As far as the 'dalek' devices are concerned they are working with the latest in theodolite technology and bounce a laser of mirrors to produce hyper-accurate measurement of objects such as buildings where minute amounts of subsidence could be an early indicator that something is up. These are all over the Crossrail project and put to very good use.
 
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