Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[BelleIsle]

I have been informed by a good source that as part of GBRf's 'Out of the Ordinary' charity railtour this year an electric locomotive(s) will be visiting Blackpool North in September. It is likely to be a pair of 86s. However, the official website contradicts this with the closest approach being Preston. Does anyone know which is correct?

 

[59CosG95]

I have been informed by a good source that as part of GBRf's 'Out of the Ordinary' charity railtour this year an electric locomotive(s) will be visiting Blackpool North in September. It is likely to be a pair of 86s. However, the official website contradicts this with the closest approach being Preston. Does anyone know which is correct?

The tour details read that, on the overnight leg, a Class 92 will haul the train up the WCML up to Preston and then into Blackpool North in the dead of night.
Two Class 73/1s will then haul it back to Preston, and the 92 then leads it again, now continuing north to Scotland.

 

[rebmcr]

up the WCML up to Preston

now continuing north

Did you mean "down to Preston"?

 

[59CosG95]

Did you mean "down to Preston"?

Whoops, yes I did! Wasn't fully awake then; I can only apologise.

 

[snowball]

From the Twitter feed - nearest thing we've seen to a traditional electrification train.

https://twitter.com/TheGNRP/status/963013306448580609

Also this:

https://twitter.com/TheGNRP/status/963010428363210752

 

[TBSchenker]

First trip via Bolton since early December. Nice to see progress around the Flying Arches & Chorley Tunnel.

Sad to say the signage for the Neutral Section at Euxton Jn is STILL wrong. Sign displayed is that for a neutral section warning (white lines on black background), not a site board (black lines on white background). First spotted incorrect last summer.

 

[59CosG95]

From the Twitter feed - nearest thing we've seen to a traditional electrification train.

https://twitter.com/TheGNRP/status/963013306448580609

Good to see some wires actually going up on the route! Does anyone more familiar with the area know where the OLE pictures are in the tweet?

 

[TBSchenker]

The one with the green bridge in the background, and the one with the TTCs are between Horwich and Lostock, the wiring train being on the Up Bolton.

The one from above I think is taken from Lostock Lane looking towards Lostock (Up Bolton line on the left)

 

[ALX400]

We’ve got wires

Just been down to Lostock Lane Bridge and wires are up from as far back towards Lostock Station, they stop short Just past the work site access point, The wiring train has certainly been busy I’m guessing it’ll be back at weekend, the areas ready look to be between the stations so looking at it finishing this current run short of Horwich then next run may stop short at Blackrod then the next from North Blackrod stopping short of Adlington and so on to Chorley the masts are certainly ready for it.

Photos I’ve too sent to Dave

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Looks like the first catenary/contact wire between the two ends of the route (short stretches of earth/AT wires were up already).
I'd guess the wiring train is part of what was the Windhoff WCRM rewiring train.

 

[Elecman]

It looks like one of Network Rails OCR units, if so it looks like OCR are actually running out thevwiring which is good news

 

[ALX400]

It looks like one of Network Rails OCR units, if so it looks like OCR are actually running out thevwiring which is good news

The wiring train numbers were DR98009 DR98012 and DR98014 passed through Leyland at 23.20 returning to Crewe

 

[HowardGWR]

It looks like one of Network Rails OCR units, if so it looks like OCR are actually running out thevwiring which is good news

Optical Character Recognition I am familiar with - what's this one please?

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Optical Character Recognition I am familiar with - what's this one please?

Overhead Contact Renewals, at a guess. I thought NR had an OCS team, Overhead Contact Systems?

 

[furnessvale]

Overhead Contact Renewals, at a guess. I thought NR had an OCS team, Overhead Contact Systems?

OCS? That was the way of getting a penny off a cup of tea in the buffet when I was a lad!
( OCS = On Company Service )

 

[LDECRexile]

I was out and about yesterday and took a couple of snaps at Poulton, I'll be very happy when the line reopens again getting the RRB to Preston just takes an age.

Please may I add these photos to the Combined Volume?

Have you any other recent shots?

Best wishes

Dave

 

[Codville]

Please may I add these photos to the Combined Volume?

Have you any other recent shots?

Best wishes

Dave

You may and unfortunately I don't have any other pictures, I'll be popping back to Poulton on Friday so I might be able to get a few more shots.

 

[LDECRexile]

Thanks to ALX400 and Codville. I'll add their shots this evening.

I've had an update on the Poulton signalbox demolition: Monday and Tuesday next, 19th & 20th Feb are now scheduled for manual demolition inside, removing small parts. Machine demolition of the building is scheduled for Weds 21st Feb, starting at 07:00.

 

[wrinkley]

In the light of info gleaned in the last couple of days here's an updated Salford-Euxton Jct worry list:

11. Stalactites in Bullfield Tunnel?
12. Missing base(s) between Bullfield Tunnel and Newport Street, Bolton?
13. Big electric kit at Lostock Junction Latest intelligence says work will get cracking in March 2018
14. Incomplete footbridge Anderton Hall Lane Bridge complete but not signed off by NR, therefore not yet open.
15. Red Moss foot crossing between Horwich and M61 Work has started on a replacement footbridge
16. Missing bases on Yarrow viaduct south of Chorley? Work has started on fixings ("bases") on the outside of the structure
17. Stalactites in Chorley Tunnel?
18. Major problem base south of Lever Street footbridge? (new, additional item.)

Stalactites spotted just inside Bullfield tunnel (Moor Lane) at both ends on the up line, could not see the down line from the train.

 

[LDECRexile]

I have added ALX400's and Codville's shots to their albums here:

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

and here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157676830624615

and both sets to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thanks to them both.

 

[reg]

Bolton - new masts in place next to platform 5 track either side of Orlando St. bridge.Will send pics.

 

[LDECRexile]

Thanks to Wrinkley for spotting Bullfield tunnel stalactites. Here's the worry list updated accordingly:

1. Missing bases Salford Crescent Platform 2
2. Missing bases Pendleton Old to Cockrobin Bridge
3. Missing bases North of Agecroft Road bridge
4. Structure to be installed between Agecroft Road bridge and Clifton station? Work has started on this next to Bridge MVE1/16 off Lumns Lane.
5. Power lines oversailing between M60 and Kearsley?
6. Foot crossings either side of M60 Work has started on diverting the footpaths to meet at a new footbridge on which work has also started, steelwork expected to be lowered on by rail crane April 2018.
7. Sorted
8. Missing bases Farnworth station to Squeeze Belly Entry footbridge
9. Lever Street footbridge, demolish, replace, leave as is? New electric wires warning signs suggest the bridge is expected to survive past electrification.
10. Missing base Bolton Platform 5
11. Stalactites in Bullfield Tunnel? Reported as visible at both ends, can anyone confirm the middle?
12. Missing base(s) between Bullfield Tunnel and Newport Street, Bolton?
13. Big electric kit at Lostock Junction Latest intelligence says work will get cracking in March 2018
14. Incomplete footbridge Anderton Hall Lane Bridge complete but not signed off by NR, therefore not yet open.
15. Red Moss foot crossing between Horwich and M61 Work has started on a replacement footbridge
16. Missing bases on Yarrow viaduct south of Chorley? Work has started on fixings ("bases") on the outside of the structure
17. Stalactites in Chorley Tunnel?
18. Major problem base south of Lever Street footbridge?

 

[LDECRexile]

Bolton - new masts in place next to platform 5 track either side of Orlando St. bridge.Will send pics.

Fab. Do you know if the missing base mid-platform 5 has been installed?

 

[reg]

Fab. Do you know if the missing base mid-platform 5 has been installed?

As of yesterday no, but will be looking again over next few days.

 

[LDECRexile]

As always, Reg has kindly followed up with his promised photos.

I've added them to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157671732263863

and to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Reg.

 

[LDECRexile]

NB: I recommend readers keep an eye on the albums linked to the Combined Volume, in particular the newest one concerning Blackpool, which includes photos showing masts at North station!

To access them, go into the Combined Volume, click on the very first photo then look down the Comments, clicking on the links as you see fit.

 

[Grumpy]

Looking at the photos of the new platforms at Blackpool North (for which thanks to the photographers), makes me wonder what the fuss was at Low Moor where the new station was delayed by ORR dislike for platforms on curves. The new platforms at Blackpool seem much curvier.

 

[snowball]

Looking at the photos of the new platforms at Blackpool North (for which thanks to the photographers), makes me wonder what the fuss was at Low Moor where the new station was delayed by ORR dislike for platforms on curves. The new platforms at Blackpool seem much curvier.

I don't know how curvy they are compared with other sites such as Low Moor, but they're straighter than they were before. Presumably this is made possible by the reduction from 8 to 6.

 

[Elecman]

I don't know how curvy they are compared with other sites such as Low Moor, but they're straighter than they were before. Presumably this is made possible by the reduction from 8 to 6.

That is indeed the case

 

[LDECRexile]

The appearance of the sharpness of the platform curves is greatly exaggerated by the use of zoom.

Zoom has this effect on all curves, so crests can appear mountainous and sidings can appear to veer off like on my old Hornby O gauge train set.