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Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

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SansHache

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Successful night's testing completed with 390104, Alstom Pendolino, on the Preston - Bolton - Manchester route. The first round trip was performed at 40mph followed by a second round trip at line speed (75mph maximum). This included running through the new Platform 5 at Bolton. Line voltage remained nice and steady throughout. Pantograph performance was monitored by the pantograph CCTV system installed on this train.
A photo between tests at Preston and not very good quality video stills as passing through Bolton and Salford Crescent.
390104 is set to go in for re-paint at Widnes on Friday and will lose its distinctive Alstom branding.
20181213_021901aa.jpg
Bolton Video Still.JPG Salford Crescent Video Still.JPG
 
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EE Andy b1

EE Andy b1

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Glad all went well. Same again tonight.

Then let's get them electrics running!!
 
LNW-GW Joint

LNW-GW Joint

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DJH1971 said:
It's finally happened at long last.
Some 2 years overdue, but better late than never.
Click to expand...

Just Victoria-Salford Crescent to test (and the east side of Victoria, eventually).
Thanks to the nocturnal ramblers for the pictures, great perseverance given the cold.
What a strange job the security people had last night.
Presumably to keep the public away in case of flashovers and such.
 
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SansHache

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All testing was performed with the 69504 car (only) pantograph raised. It is not possible to raise both pantographs simultaneously in normal conditions. Both pantographs were illuminated by floodlights which may have given the impression they were both raised.
 
EE Andy b1

EE Andy b1

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I know the overhead is 25KV but is there something about 50KV testing which more modern electric units can cope with or have I got it wrong?
 
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TBSchenker

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Not sure about other traction, but if Siemens 350s detect voltage a certain amount above 25kV the computer kicks in and opens the VCB (protecting the train from the overheads) . Happens sometimes in the evening where the voltage increases suddenly due to the reduction of electric traction in the section.
 
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SansHache

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TBSchenker said:
Not sure about other traction, but if Siemens 350s detect voltage a certain amount above 25kV the computer kicks in and opens the VCB (protecting the train from the overheads) . Happens sometimes in the evening where the voltage increases suddenly due to the reduction of electric traction in the section.
Click to expand...
Trains equipped with regenerative braking (such as Class 390 or Class 350) are only allowed to regenerate up to a maximum voltage of 27.5kV. This is to avoid the situation where older Traction units may shut down on overvoltage as in the past the maximum voltage was defined as 27.5kV (the latest standards define a higher voltage of up to 29kV for 5 minutes). However trains such as Class 390 may not be able to maintain regen brake if the off-load line voltage is close to 27.5kV and there are no other trains drawing load in the section. In this situation the braking energy is dissipated in the brake resistors rather than regenerated back into the grid.
Reference to 50kV supply is related to the auto-transformer feeding arrangement. The feeder stations have a 50kV output but with a centre-point connection, effectively producing -25kV and +25kV feeds. The train only sees 25kV but the return current is halved and the voltage drop is much less over long sections. This is the arrangement on the Bolton line and allows the long feeding section (from Parkside (Willow Park) to Ordsall Lane and then up to Euxton Junction).
 
themiller

themiller

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Thanks for that. I saw the leading pantograph in the video in post 9082 and, with the light shining in the trailing pantograph well, I thought that both were raised.
 
EE Andy b1

EE Andy b1

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SansHache said:
Reference to 50kV supply is related to the auto-transformer feeding arrangement. The feeder stations have a 50kV output but with a centre-point connection, effectively producing -25kV and +25kV feeds. The train only sees 25kV but the return current is halved and the voltage drop is much less over long sections. This is the arrangement on the Bolton line and allows the long feeding section (from Parkside (Willow Park) to Ordsall Lane and then up to Euxton Junction).
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, I knew there was something about 50kv.
 
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driver_m

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Was going to say about the twin pans, it's impossible to have 2 up at the same time and pointless anyway with the bus line running from 695 to 698 coaches.

Anyway, great to see a pendo going through and hopefully some extra work now for my colleagues over at Piccadilly .
 
LDECRexile

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Good news: despite the messages it was sending me at 03:00 flickr has accepted my films without further ado. In both I started the camera too early (better early than late) but they work.

I've received Wrinkley's shot from Lostock and incorporated Sans Haches' shots he published in this forum.

Railrover 700's flickr album has been linked to the Combined Volume for some time, to access it via that route click on the very first image then look down the "Comments" to 07: He's got some cracking stuff in there.

Bertie the Bus has shown his constructive side overnight, I do not have his permission to link his album to the Combined Volume, but the link he has provided shows riches galore.

Muenchener: If you drop me a message though this forum I will be pleased to send you my email address, which is worth a try.

The end result in the Combined Volume is here:

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

A cracking night. Warm thanks to all who have contributed.
 
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Bertie the bus

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LDECRexile said:
Bertie the Bus has shown his constructive side overnight, I do not have his permission to link his album to the Combined Volume, but the link he has provided shows riches galore.
Click to expand...
Sorry, I didn't know you wanted my permission as the photo is in the public domain anyway. I skim read your post last night before going to bed and assumed you were doing it. Please link if you wish.
 
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superkev

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So assuming all went well with the test trains when can we expect sign off by the ORR etc and see the first electric trains with passengers?
K
 
td97

td97

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superkev said:
see the first electric trains with passengers
Click to expand...
Northern's line is 'We are hoping to run electric trains once Network Rail have fully completed the electrification work'.
Whether that requires the extension lead to be completed is another question.

Does anyone from Northern know whether drivers on this route already have the necessary traction knowledge for 319s/323s from other electrified routes? Or will another comprehensive training programme be required? Or able to elaborate on their statement further?
 
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LDECRexile

LDECRexile

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Bertie the bus said:
Sorry, I didn't know you wanted my permission as the photo is in the public domain anyway. I skim read your post last night before going to bed and assumed you were doing it. Please link if you wish.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much, I always seek explicit permission to use material I haven't created. I have added a link to your album to the Combined Volume, to access it all a user has to do is click on the very first image then look down the "Comments" to a host of links, with yours as number 17. You don't need to do anything more, everything you add to the album will automatically become visible by this route. In effect you have gained an extra shop window for your work.

The updated Combined Volume is here:

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

Aictos

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jonesy3001 said:
When do northern start testing their EMUs on the line or do they have to wait for ORR to clear the electrification?
Click to expand...

They have to wait for the ORR to approve the electrification for operation once they green light the use of it then electric trains can start to use it which is what I believe happens.
 
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InOban

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In Scotland much of the recent testing was carried out by the emus which were going to operate the services. AFAIK the ORR certifies it for passenger use.
 
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