Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[D60]

I am pleased to say I caught this train from Preston; not many on in coaches A, B,C ..
Obviously it was non-stop to BPN. The last time I did that journey, a few weeks ago, I went both ways by Rail Replacement bus, so a much improved and quicker experience !
After a short delay, there was the Official naming of 390013 Blackpool Belle. Short speeches by a VIP from Virgin , a man from Blackpool Heritage who was also a Virgin train driver,and a female Councillor (I never was good with names, sorry ) pus the Blackpool town crier with bell and many o-yeys and a small gathering of about 30, some media . Some nice fish and chips followed with ice cream ....thanks Virgin West Coast ! Then back at 1302 to Preston.

This auspicious occasion captured and recorded for posterity and uploaded onto YouTube for our appreciation and enjoyment by Nodrog in his usual entertaining and inimitable style..

Includes a quick video montage style summary recap of what's gone into the project over the foregoing months.. plus a neat account of the occasion..

Well worth a look... Congrats to all concerned..! Sorry can't post links on this rubbish phone...Hopefully some kind person might oblige..!

 

[spongsdad]

Referring to post #7412.
Thank you, Dave, for all the excellent photographs but also for a very measured and thoughtful commentary on your travels on Monday. Whilst most of the people on this forum will be enthusiasts or professionals, we should not lose sight of the raison d'être for the railway in the first place. It surely exists to serve its customers. The guards you singled out are a fine example of customer service; would that they were all like that. As I have said before, the dispute over single manning of trains displays a degree of pig-headedness on the part of both the TOC and the RMT. Worse, such strikes only further erode the confidence in service reliability that the travelling public should have.
The introduction of the new timetables seems to have come as a bit of a surprise to the TOCs. Certainly, the whole affair seems to have been characterised by a lack of planning. Where are the drivers? Where is the rolling stock?
In the North of England it should not be forgotten that many passengers DO have a choice of how they travel. They will not use a railway which cannot deliver, is unreliable and cancels services at short or even no notice.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

This auspicious occasion captured and recorded for posterity and uploaded onto YouTube for our appreciation and enjoyment by Nodrog in his usual entertaining and inimitable style..

Includes a quick video montage style summary recap of what's gone into the project over the foregoing months.. plus a neat account of the occasion..

Well worth a look... Congrats to all concerned..! Sorry can't post links on this rubbish phone...Hopefully some kind person might oblige..!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

A few observations from a disrupted run round today.
Taking the early Pendolino from Wigan, the near-silent progress made me realise there is still quite a lot of jointed track on the Fylde branch.
It's particularly noticeable east of Kirkham.
All the new track is welded of course, but there is plenty left to do.
Maybe that's the reason for the lack of speed upgrades.
The old semaphore signal wires are still in place around Carlton/Poulton.
P1 at Blackpool North has no shelter whatever over its Pendolino stopping length.
No problem on a sunny day like today, but some people are going to get very wet.

Despite obvious progress on the Bolton route, there is still much to do.
Viewing the Down line, there are no wires from Chorley Arches to just short of the M62 bridge.
There are earth wires through Bolton station now, and from Windsor Bridge South to Salford Central.
But the problem areas still look like problem areas, eg through stations and around Lostock where significant steelwork is missing.

 

[LeylandLen]

This auspicious occasion captured and recorded for posterity and uploaded onto YouTube for our appreciation and enjoyment by Nodrog in his usual entertaining and inimitable style..

Includes a quick video montage style summary recap of what's gone into the project over the foregoing months.. plus a neat account of the occasion..

Well worth a look... Congrats to all concerned..! Sorry can't post links on this rubbish phone...Hopefully some kind person might oblige..!

As I said in my previous post, I was at the naming of 390013 Blackpool Belle.Does anyone know the names of the VIPS, including the female Councillor ( she was in black) ???
Im answering my own question ..I see the info is on the Blackpool Gazette website with a short video of what happened.

 

[Lyca]

Was just going to film the tram tracks but I took a little detour to film the Pendolino Class 390 016 leaving the station.

the tracks you see at the beginning of the video are the new tram tracks that will link Blackpool North Station to the tramway. I'm recording the whole process for my channel.

 

[jonesy3001]

Was just going to film the tram tracks but I took a little detour to film the Pendolino Class 390 016 leaving the station.

the tracks you see at the beginning of the video are the new tram tracks that will link Blackpool North Station to the tramway. I'm recording the whole process for my channel.

nice vid, just watch out this joseph jolly fellow doesnt nick it and claim its one of his, seems to be quite a few on youtube.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

It's Alstom by the way, not Alstrom (it used to be Alsthom, from the original firm of Alsace Thomson!).

I saw those lengths of rail outside Blackpool North station yesterday, and didn't connect them with the tram extension.
I thought they must have been left over from the NR station work.

 

[Lyca]

nice vid, just watch out this joseph jolly fellow doesnt nick it and claim its one of his, seems to be quite a few on youtube.

thanks for the heads up, I think mine should be okay though as they have my name on them, but I'll keep an eye out nonetheless.

 

[Lyca]

It's Alstom by the way, not Alstrom (it used to be Alsthom, from the original firm of Alsace Thomson!).

I saw those lengths of rail outside Blackpool North station yesterday, and didn't connect them with the tram extension.
I thought they must have been left over from the NR station work.

Thanks, I didn't notice that. I'll change the title.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Went on a day out today with Dave aka LDECRExile. I got a ride with my daughter to Salford Crescent and then had time to photograph. Then got train to Bolton where Dave joined me and we both took photos. Then drove to quite a few locations including some of Dave’s favourite bridges and locations and Horwich Parkway. From there Dave went back home and I got the train to Preston. Photos will follow later but I will also give some highlights and I am sure Dave will too.

I will start with Salford Crescent. Stove pipes under bridge now are endanglied and I count only 1 missing base. I think there are 3 missing masts and the photos will show the huge new problem bases that have gone in recently.

 

[Fylde Coaster]

Hi Folks, just a quick question. Does anybody know of any footpath/pedestrian rail crossing temporary closures which are still in place now that the BPN - Preston line is electrified and back in service? We still have one outside Poulton which was temporarily closed at the beginning of the upgrade works and is still in place without any alternative works (ie a footbridge) having been started. Planning permission for a footbridge was applied for by NR to Wyre Borough Council but that application is still at "pending consideration". Having contacted WBC the ball appears to be in NR's court. NR's stance is " Unfortunately due to a number of factors this is taking slightly longer than expected". I also contacted Lancashire County Council who are responsible for controlling footpath closures etc but I'm still waiting for an update. The current "temporary" closure notice runs out in July. Interestingly a new pedestrian footbridge was installed at Preese Hall a little further down the line and that one did appear in the "fly through" video clip that NR put out at the beginning of the project. The one that I'm talking about at Holts Lane didn't !!!!!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I could not get photographs but there were at least two sets of endanglied cantilevers in the Chorley arches.

 

[billio]

Hi Folks, just a quick question. Does anybody know of any footpath/pedestrian rail crossing temporary closures which are still in place now that the BPN - Preston line is electrified and back in service? We still have one outside Poulton which was temporarily closed at the beginning of the upgrade works and is still in place without any alternative works (ie a footbridge) having been started. Planning permission for a footbridge was applied for by NR to Wyre Borough Council but that application is still at "pending consideration". Having contacted WBC the ball appears to be in NR's court. NR's stance is " Unfortunately due to a number of factors this is taking slightly longer than expected". I also contacted Lancashire County Council who are responsible for controlling footpath closures etc but I'm still waiting for an update. The current "temporary" closure notice runs out in July. Interestingly a new pedestrian footbridge was installed at Preese Hall a little further down the line and that one did appear in the "fly through" video clip that NR put out at the beginning of the project. The one that I'm talking about at Holts Lane didn't !!!!!

I was just wondering why it is necessary to have a footbridge for a public footpath crossing an electrified line. There are two footpaths at Copmanthorpe, just south of York, which cross the four track, east coast mainline. Crossing there is controlled by lights. I must admit it is pretty scary when waiting for the green light, especially on the Copmanthorpe side as the crossing is on a curve and the trains appear out of nowhere. However, it seems to be a safe arrangement.

 

[Ianno87]

I was just wondering why it is necessary to have a footbridge for a public footpath crossing an electrified line. There are two footpaths at Copmanthorpe, just south of York, which cross the four track, east coast mainline. Crossing there is controlled by lights. I must admit it is pretty scary when waiting for the green light, especially on the Copmanthorpe side as the crossing is on a curve and the trains appear out of nowhere. However, it seems to be a safe arrangement.

Might be because the increase in services, longer trains or higher speeds enabled by the electrification impacts the level of safety risk/risk score at the crossing, thus requires mitigation to bring back down again.

The Copmanthorpe crossings have had a broadly similar train service over them for many years, so are likely to have some element of "grandfather rights" with their safety risk - but doesn't mean it is legally defensible to make other crosdings knowingly more risky just because there are already risky crossimgs elsewhere on the network.

 

[LDECRexile]

Went on a day out today with Dave aka LDECRExile. I got a ride with my daughter to Salford Crescent and then had time to photograph. Then got train to Bolton where Dave joined me and we both took photos. Then drove to quite a few locations including some of Dave’s favourite bridges and locations and Horwich Parkway. From there Dave went back home and I got the train to Preston. Photos will follow later but I will also give some highlights and I am sure Dave will too.

I will start with Salford Crescent. Stove pipes under bridge now are endanglied and I count only 1 missing base. I think there are 3 missing masts and the photos will show the huge new problem bases that have gone in recently.

A smashing jaunt, apart from the weather.

Highlights:

Salford Crescent, more kit up as Graham says
Cock Robin Bridge: no change
Agecroft: no obvious change
Clifton: mast base in the southbound platform, looks likely to support a TTC
Kearsley: disruption "following overrunning engineering works", this does the engineers a disservice, in the course of overnight electrification works they discovered that some edging slabs on the northbound platform were unsafe, which was nothing to do with their tasks; they reported it and the slabs were lifted, rendering the platform unusable.
Lever Street footbridge: the bridge itself looks in even worse nick, will it survive? More danglies in place, bridge users are able to see them at close quarters.
Bolton station: Recent marks on the underside of the road bridge suggest mast "stovepipes" may be affixed there, serving Platforms 3 and 4. Still no hint where the missing base/wall fixing/bridge fixing will go towards the northern end of Platform 1
Ladybridge: no obvious change, but it looks a treat with fresh green foliage
Lostock: Orangemen at work in the Vee between the Wigan and Horwich lines, west of the station overbridge
Horwich: new wires to accompany those which have been there for a while north of the station. Good news: work has resumed on the footbridge which will replace Reg Moss foot crossing between the station and the M61.

I will add our combined photoset later this evening or more likely tomorrow.

 

[LDECRexile]

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

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

and both of our contributions to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Graham; fab shots, fab trip.

 

[Trackman]

Farnworth this morning, there is one to the right too. It's as big as it looks! Photos thanks to my mate.
Click for bigger.

 

[Trackman]

New platform edges at Salford Crescent.
https://twitter.com/TheGNRP/status/1000339309583568896
I hope they are doing Kearsley too, part of the platform collapsed last week!
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news...disruptions_after_platform_damage_at_station/

 

[GRALISTAIR]

New platform edges at Salford Crescent.
https://twitter.com/TheGNRP/status/1000339309583568896
I hope they are doing Kearsley too, part of the platform collapsed last week!
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news...disruptions_after_platform_damage_at_station/

Dave has posted photos of this above in his link

 

[td97]

New platform edges at Salford Crescent.

The first photo also shows the unusual triangular steel sections on the bridge, but doesn't give anything away about their use.

 

[reg]

Bolton-plenty of activity this morning.
-problem area NW of Newport Street full of men and plant
-stalactite spotted under Dawes St (Morrisons) footbridge
-platform 5 one mast short of a full run from Newport St to Weston St
-likewise platform 1 from Bradshawgate tunnel to Weston St.
will forward pics later.

 

[LDECRexile]

Farnworth this morning, there is one to the right too. It's as big as it looks! Photos thanks to my mate.
Click for bigger.

Wow! Journey to the centre of the earth?

1. You say "photos", are there more?
2. Please may I add it/them to the Combined Volume? If I may, who do I give credit to?

Keep 'em coming!

Thank you

Dave

 

[LDECRexile]

The first photo also shows the unusual triangular steel sections on the bridge, but doesn't give anything away about their use.

Guess why.

Dave

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Kearsley: disruption "following overrunning engineering works", this does the engineers a disservice, in the course of overnight electrification works they discovered that some edging slabs on the northbound platform were unsafe, which was nothing to do with their tasks; they reported it and the slabs were lifted, rendering the platform unusable.

Aargh, the dreaded pre-cast "harp" units - the poorest design coupled to the worst of 50s/60s concrete, what could possibly go wrong? It will be these (vertical) elements that have failed and thus not good enough to put the copings back on.

 

[Ploughman]

Guess why.Dave

To stop sheep.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-44259321

 

[WatcherZero]

Ive always been a fan of the old school massive 1m(Yard?) by 1m paving slabs of York stone as platform edges though im sure they are practically impossible to adjust. Kind of reminds me of the oldschool massive rectangular stone pavement slabs on old streets you never see nowadays, long since replaced with a few exceptions with the smaller concrete ones (though now everything seems to be asphalt instead).

 

[LDECRexile]

Reg has kindly sent four more first class shots of work in Bolton.

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]

To stop sheep.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-44259321

You must be baaarmy.

 

[Lyca]

I think this one turned out better than my last video. I got a much better vantage point and was able to film from closer. I'm also recording the entire process of extending the new tram lines from the promenade to the station. I probably won't put the video links up here (unless people want them) but they will be on my channel either way.