Todmorden viaduct

There is a relatively new (to me) speed restriction in the eastbound direction, which is presumably mirrored in the westbound as well.

The viaduct has a quite noticeable dip on the far side from the station, and it appears to have worsened in the last year. That seems to explain the speed restriction. There is frequent freight across the bridge, and I recall that it is now restricted to 20mph with DMUs down to 40mph.

Is it too pessimistic to expect this to go the way of some of the other infrastructure deterioration recently noted? Castleton is being replaced in September, but presumably the blockade will be Rochdale to Victoria so there won't be an opportunity to take a closer look at this one.

This seems like it would be a lengthy project if significant work is required. There is no turnback option until just before littleborough.

Depends which direction you’re travelling in. From the East you can turn back at Hebden Bridge or Todmorden. From the west you can turn back at Rochdale. The ground frame at Littleborough hasn’t been used in a long time and if I recall is no longer complete track wise.

Tractor37 said:

The ground frame at Littleborough hasn’t been used in a long time and if I recall is no longer complete track wise.

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I think I noticed the other day that the track has now been reinstated but I might have been wrong.

With regards to the speed restriction I’m assuming your meaning the 20/40 TSR over the M62 at Castleton? As looking at the Weekly Operating Notices this morning there is no mention of any speed restriction over Todmorden viaduct - temporary (in the WON) or emergency (in the late notice case) at my booking on point.

Admittedly it has been a while since I was on the platform at Tod - it was probably around two weeks ago I spotted it. Perhaps the TSR has been removed. I suppose the broader point is that the viaduct is looking a bit lumpy. I had assumed the two were related.

I thought the dip in the viaduct has been there a long time since steam ran on the L&YR railway so my dad who is a keen railway enthusiast former shed basher and used to tour sheds with their abc books taking loco numbers he now collects hornby triang trains and comes to Todmorden market and a shop that sells hornby locos in Todmorden. He has been told by old local engine men who worked at rose Grove loco shed at one of the pubs he drinks in todmorden the dip in the viaduct has been there quite a numerous decades either caused by a steamer derailing or the the 170 years of heavy freight trains trundling over it for years namely coal trains I would presume the heaviest freight.

Tractor37 said:

Depends which direction you’re travelling in. From the East you can turn back at Hebden Bridge or Todmorden. From the west you can turn back at Rochdale. The ground frame at Littleborough hasn’t been used in a long time and if I recall is no longer complete track wise.

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Do you recall when the ground frame there was last used?
I must have used that line near 15 years and cannot recall it, I actually recall them running bang road back to Rochdale rather than using the ground frame!

Tractor37 said:

Depends which direction you’re travelling in. From the East you can turn back at Hebden Bridge or Todmorden. From the west you can turn back at Rochdale. The ground frame at Littleborough hasn’t been used in a long time and if I recall is no longer complete track wise.

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I checked on my way over this afternoon and as far as I could see it was complete.

Bungle965 said:

Do you recall when the ground frame there was last used?

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I commuted from the Calder valley into Manchester between 2016 and the start of the covid lockdown and there was definitely at least one occasion then when it was used, as I remember hearing about it and then checking the state of the rails a day or two later and them having lost some of their rust.

In 21 years of driving at Northern I’ve used it once. And that was in the first 5 years! It hasn’t been used since due to Network Rail’s reluctance to provide PILOT people.

skyhigh said:

I checked on my way over this afternoon and as far as I could see it was complete.

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It’s definitely still working, I was in Preston PSB last month chatting to the signaller about it.

Dave S 56F said:

I thought the dip in the viaduct has been there a long time since steam ran on the L&YR railway so my dad who is a keen railway enthusiast former shed basher and used to tour sheds with their abc books taking loco numbers he now collects hornby triang trains and comes to Todmorden market and a shop that sells hornby locos in Todmorden. He has been told by old local engine men who worked at rose Grove loco shed at one of the pubs he drinks in todmorden the dip in the viaduct has been there quite a numerous decades either caused by a steamer derailing or the the 170 years of heavy freight trains trundling over it for years namely coal trains I would presume the heaviest freight.

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The dip has been there a long time, longer than any of us have been alive I believe.