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Manchester - Stalybridge Electrification

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twpsaesneg

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I hope so, they were designed and installed in 1998 with OLE in mind; should just need the platforms caging.
All are retained however there are significant modifications needed to one for Signal Sighting purposes.
 
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td97

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Minor progress over the weekend - fitment of 1 pair of registration arms on each of the 3 newest portals on the west side of the viaduct was the only definite change I noticed. There may have been more SPS up on the preceding (further east) portals, but it could have equally likely been my imagination.
 

td97

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Some photos...
Not recent work, but don't think there are any photos to show:
  • IMG_20180813_165624.jpg STC at east end of P2
  • IMG_20180813_165714.jpg Mast with registration arm at east end of P1 (mast in front of the Sprinter is for P3 and live)
  • IMG_20180813_165752.jpg Gravity bases like these line the viaduct (couldn't put a number on them though)
  • IMG_20180813_165755.jpg Portal with 50% SPS
  • IMG_20180813_165759.jpg Portal with ~60% SPS
  • IMG_20180813_165805.jpg 2 bases on either side of the track await mast fitment (also note the cavity between the fast and slow lines)
  • IMG_20180813_165807.jpg Wooden frame for aforementioned cavity - presumably waiting for a concrete pour
  • IMG_20180813_165812.jpg 2 masts await fitment (which I haven't noticed before)
  • IMG_20180813_165815.jpg Another concrete base
 

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td97

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The weekend progress which I mentioned this morning; each registration arm is new
IMG_20180813_165820.jpg IMG_20180813_165823.jpg IMG_20180813_165826.jpg
And a slightly better photo of a mast from last week (photo 4), which shows the full extent of the portal, and the mast with the tensioners
IMG_20180813_165829.jpg
 

td97

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1 additional portal up, 2 registration arms are all I noticed from the weekend work. Must be a one-man-job fitting the SPS at this rate. Will see if I can get a photo or 2 later
 

ajdunlop

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Still quite a few gaps in the cable trunking. They have recently cleared a path through the trees from the National Grid distribution place north of Stalybridge to the railway.
 

td97

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Photos from Monday, usual disclaimer about moving tram, unclean windows, bumpy ride etc...
  • The latest portal to go up (behind the signal gantry)IMG_20180820_170910.jpg
  • Additional registration arms have been installed for the track heading to platform 4 (i.e. the rightmost fixtures) IMG_20180820_170917.jpg, for the before see here
  • (and actually I've only just noticed an extra piece of SPS on the portal behind at the very left)
 
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td97

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Think there's 2 more portals that have gone up over the weekend, and a few bits of SPS here and there. The most promising development is the delivery of a fair bit of steelwork to the site, which gradually built up over last week. Hopefully in anticipation for some more manpower now that the Bolton blockade is over.
Will see about some photos later, but the tram this morning had a full Vodafone livery with no chance of any legible photos out of the windows.
Edit: only 1 new portal
 
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takno

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Apparently there were some gantries at Newport that were supposed to be OLE-compatible but turned out not to be!
I thought they were approved and designed just before the electrification plan. There's an argument that non-compliant stuff shouldn't be installed at all, but if you're talking about a resignalling that was planned hundreds of miles from the nearest wire in the region that doesn't do the leccy. Subsequent plans and the crazy new clearance regs don't make the installation of standard equipment a mistake
 

snowball

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I thought they were approved and designed just before the electrification plan.
My claim about Newport was based on something I read, probably in the GWR electrification thread on here. Other sources agree with what you say, so you're probably right.
 

takno

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My claim about Newport was based on something I read, probably in the GWR electrification thread on here. Other sources agree with what you say, so you're probably right.
It was something I read on here too, and I've only read the contrary in this month's Modern Railways. They've definitely been planned and installed around long enough to give the original engineers the benefit of the doubt though.
 

td97

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How's the extension lead coming along?
There's some equipment/materials in place for the UTX shown here:
IMG_20180903_171330.jpg IMG_20180903_171334.jpg IMG_20180903_171345.jpg (between the blue fences for anyone unfamiliar)
And the current extent of the HV cable ducting is here (just left of the graffitied wall)
IMG_20180903_171350.jpg IMG_20180903_171354.jpg
I'll double check to see how it continues from this stage, but I'm fairly sure it's more track side ducting. There is some existing, but it looks quite old so I presume it's signalling cables
Edit: UTX is under track crossing
 
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td97

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As for the portals etc.:
IMG_20180903_171414.jpg This one is the latest addition
IMG_20180903_171417.jpg This one was installed about 2 weeks ago and has now acquired the 2 SPS fixings
IMG_20180903_171422.jpg The leftmost SPS fixings are new
IMG_20180903_171424.jpg The outermost SPS fixings on both sides are new
IMG_20180903_171427.jpg SPS on the left is new
IMG_20180903_171431.jpg No changes here
IMG_20180903_171434.jpg IMG_20180903_171434_1.jpg Same portal on both shots - typical that both photos end up obscured by a mast. Don't think anything's changed since last month anyway
IMG_20180903_171436.jpg The portal in the foreground at the bottom - the registration arms are new on the left
Notice throughout that there's quite a lot of site materials. The main storage site is shown in the last three photos; if you zoom in enough you can make out various bits of steel for installation hopefully very soon

Edit: the attached file which I forgot to mention in the summary shows one of the portals at the station end which is unchanged.
It also may help to right click and open the photos in a new tab to be able to zoom in better if you so wish to!
 

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td97

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I'll double check to see how it continues from this stage, but I'm fairly sure it's more track side ducting. There is some existing, but it looks quite old so I presume it's signalling cables
So the HV cables are ground level until the point I mentioned and then are on/in ducting along the parapet wall, with everything non-HV moved to ground level. When the wall finishes everything's back to ground level.
 

GRALISTAIR

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A tweet showing what it calls "our fifth & final substation" being installed at Heyrod.

https://twitter.com/TheGNRP/status/1037295581876695041

I assume the count includes all sites that are part of the NW electrification of recent years, so Ordsall Lane, the one near Newton-le-Willows, Lostock, ... ?
That is what I assumed yes. I know the item (don't think it is a substation) at Euxton is being upgraded but I am sure that is part of the power supply upgrade for the WCML and thus not strictly p[art of NW Electrification.

I also assume that Heyrod will also partially supply TP electrification if it gets the go ahead.
 

The_Engineer

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A tweet showing what it calls "our fifth & final substation" being installed at Heyrod.

https://twitter.com/TheGNRP/status/1037295581876695041

I assume the count includes all sites that are part of the NW electrification of recent years, so Ordsall Lane, the one near Newton-le-Willows, Lostock, ... ?

I just had to look up where Heyrod is! I see it's to the east of Stalybridge, beyond the electrification from Manchester. However, it's next to a national grid switching station , so I can see why it is located there!!
 
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edwin_m

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I just had to look up here Heyrod is! I see it's to the east of Stalybridge, beyond the electrification from Manchester. However, it's next to a national grid switching station , so I can see why it is located there!!
Useless fact: There was a power station here until the 1970s (which explains all the power lines converging and why it is a good place to feed power to a railway). It was supplied with coal from an unloading terminal on the other side of the valley, served by the Micklehurst Loop line. Part of the coal conveyor is still visible with other remains in the overgrowth.
 

The_Engineer

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Useless fact: There was a power station here until the 1970s (which explains all the power lines converging and why it is a good place to feed power to a railway). It was supplied with coal from an unloading terminal on the other side of the valley, served by the Micklehurst Loop line. Part of the coal conveyor is still visible with other remains in the overgrowth.
Yes, I can recall seeing the power station from the train when I first travelled to Leeds from Cheshire. I recall that part of the loop was still in use as far as the power station then…...
 

edwin_m

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Yes, I can recall seeing the power station from the train when I first travelled to Leeds from Cheshire. I recall that part of the loop was still in use as far as the power station then…...
I never saw it in use but remember being taken by my father to "explore" the sidings, which must have been not long after the closed as there was still some track in place. These looked like coal unloading - I believe the power station converted to oil at some point, though the brief entry on Wikipedia doesn't mention this. But I'm not sure if the oil ever came in by rail.
 

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GRALISTAIR

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No I would assume its Clifton, Lostock, Blackrod, Ordsall Lane and Heyrod

Well I am getting confused then. There are connections to the National Grid of which Heyrod is one and then there are AT stations and Track Sectioning Stations.
Only Heyrod classifies as a National Grid connection out of these IIRC
 

deltic08

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I also assume that Heyrod will also partially supply TP electrification if it gets the go ahead.
With Heyrod already commissioned, I hope common sense prevails and the uphill track is electrified as far as Diggle all the way from Man Vic.
 
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Trapper

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With Heyrod already commissioned, I hope common sense prevails and the uphill track is electrified as far as Diggle all the way from Man Vic.
Unfortunately I don't think there will be any rapid movement on electrification. Looking at the PWI lecture notes previously mentioned in this thread shows there is likely to be major junction works planned to take place first. This is based on the idea of 'Don't go slow' - the notes show speed increases up Miles Platting bank from 50 to 60 then from 30 to 60 at Miles Platting junction. A speed increase of that magnitude can only be achieved by a major rebuild of the junction. From Miles Platting junction to Ashton the increase is 76/60 to 80, that suggests Level Crossings may need to be removed. The next area of major work would seem to be the speed increase from 54/40 to 75/70 around Ashton station and finally an increase from 25 to 80 at Stalybridge junction. The speed increases from Stalybridge to Diggle are generally a 65 to 80mph uplift leading to 100 through the Standedge tunnel itself. From that there would appear to be a plan to rebuild 2 junctions and 1 station and relaying all the track before actually electrifying the line. So with no more work to start until the next CP, I would say there is no chance of electrification happening for at least 3 more years. This may be what was hinted about when they talked about taking a major possession of the line in the order of months to get the work done, with TPE running via Calder Valley during the possession.
 

deltic08

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Unfortunately I don't think there will be any rapid movement on electrification. Looking at the PWI lecture notes previously mentioned in this thread shows there is likely to be major junction works planned to take place first. This is based on the idea of 'Don't go slow' - the notes show speed increases up Miles Platting bank from 50 to 60 then from 30 to 60 at Miles Platting junction. A speed increase of that magnitude can only be achieved by a major rebuild of the junction. From Miles Platting junction to Ashton the increase is 76/60 to 80, that suggests Level Crossings may need to be removed. The next area of major work would seem to be the speed increase from 54/40 to 75/70 around Ashton station and finally an increase from 25 to 80 at Stalybridge junction. The speed increases from Stalybridge to Diggle are generally a 65 to 80mph uplift leading to 100 through the Standedge tunnel itself. From that there would appear to be a plan to rebuild 2 junctions and 1 station and relaying all the track before actually electrifying the line. So with no more work to start until the next CP, I would say there is no chance of electrification happening for at least 3 more years. This may be what was hinted about when they talked about taking a major possession of the line in the order of months to get the work done, with TPE running via Calder Valley during the possession.
Welcome Trapper. You sound well informed.
I wasn't indicating when, just hoping electrification happens when they have gone to the trouble of building Heyrod.
If there is going to be a long possession you would expect electrification as well following straight after remodelling.
 
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