Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[The_Engineer]

BSV

Translation please….

 

[SodTheDrummer]

Not sure if it's the same stretch, but saw catenary and contact wire whilst passing through Salford crescent today

Doh! Ignore me, just noticed posts above!

Edit. Will they leave wiring Salford central and wherever the other end is until the end as they are at the live ends so to speak?

 

[jwbuchanan]

Translation please….

Buckshaw Parkway (in Buckshaw Village hence BSV)

 

[LDECRexile]

I toured "our" line by rail today.

1. I agree with others' reports of catenary and contact (C&C) wiring from north of Lostock to north of the M61. They make for fine views from Horwich Parkway - full wires stretch in both directions as far as the eye can see. Smashing.
2. Quite a bit more earth wire up since last week, notably through Blackrod. A large majority of the route now has at least one wire up.
3. The exciting C&C wire in Salford reported by others extends from a point west of Salford Central almost to Windsor Bridge South Junction on the Down (northbound) side and from more or less the same start point almost to Frederick Road bridge north of Salford Crescent on the Up (southbound) side. Only the easternmost ("goods") line through Salford Crescent has C&C wires so far. There are no wires up at Salford Central.
4. I've seen an estimate of 50 missing masts somewhere (sorry, I can't remember where); I think this is an overestimate, the only ones I could see missing were Yarrow Viaduct (3), east of Dean Clough (2) the portal near Newport St bridge (2). the wicketkeeper at Platform 2 at Bolton (1). Let's assume I'm out by a factor of three, that makes 24 to go.

Very encouraging.

Photos later.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I toured "our" line by rail today.

4. I've seen an estimate of 50 missing masts somewhere (sorry, I can't remember where); I think this is an overestimate, the only ones I could see missing were Yarrow Viaduct (3), east of Dean Clough (2) the portal near Newport St bridge (2). the wicketkeeper at Platform 2 at Bolton (1). Very encouraging.

59CosG95 in his GSoP update

 

[snowball]

59CosG95 in his GSoP update

His post #7911 of Tuesday morning says 90, not 50.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

His post #7911 of Tuesday morning says 90, not 50.

Mmm the plot thickens - sorry for my mistake.

 

[snowball]

There were 117 masts left to do on 26 June according to the press release in #7761. If anyone knows of a more recent official figure, please yell.

If it's now down to 24 or fewer, that means at least 93 have been done in 23 days, so the remaining ones might perhaps only take a week or so, unless there's concrete still setting or other special difficulties (I suppose the Yarrow viaduct might fall in that category).

 

[GRALISTAIR]

There were 117 masts left to do on 26 June according to the press release in #7761. If anyone knows of a more recent official figure, please yell.

If it's now down to 24 or fewer, that means at least 93 have been done in 23 days, so the remaining ones might perhaps only take a week or so, unless there's concrete still setting or other special difficulties (I suppose the Yarrow viaduct might fall in that category).

93/23 = 4 so about 4 per night and we have weekend possessions so that sounds reasonable.

 

[LDECRexile]

I've added today's shots to the Combined Volume here:

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

 

[DJH1971]

I've added today's shots to the Combined Volume here:

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

Salford Crescent in particular is looking temptingly almost ready.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

So I know we need Salford Central doing to get to Man Vic but quite a few services could convert to electric even if that bit was left to the very last.

 

[snowball]

So I know we need Salford Central doing to get to Man Vic but quite a few services could convert to electric even if that bit was left to the very last.

Is there another bit also being left to last, between Windsor Bridge South and Ordsall Lane?

 

[Bertie the bus]

So I know we need Salford Central doing to get to Man Vic but quite a few services could convert to electric even if that bit was left to the very last.

Could be won't. Northern have already said they won't be running an electric service until next year. That is what is going to happen irrespective of whether you think it is a ploy to get good PR when they run one earlier.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

My point was not meant to be political but merely meant to point out it is not disastrous if via Salford Central runs late.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Is there another bit also being left to last, between Windsor Bridge South and Ordsall Lane?

Can not be otherwise you have no joined up railway that is electrified. Either via Salford Central is left to last or Windsor Bridge South to Ordsall Lane - one or the other - definitely not both does not make sense.

 

[TBSchenker]

Can not be otherwise you have no joined up railway that is electrified. Either via Salford Central is left to last or Windsor Bridge South to Ordsall Lane - one or the other - definitely not both does not make sense.

I’m guessing both connections to the 25kV AC Network will be done simultaneously to avoid too many isolations of the Ordsall Lane area.

 

[TBSchenker]

More progress! Wires now through to Blackrod, terminating (as of Thursday evening) just shy of Blackrod Junction.

Unable to check what has been done overnight until this evening.

One thing is clear the Catenary and Contact Wire isn’t tensioned yet, droppers are out of alignment and registration arms not all in their final position.

 

[jonesy3001]

Bit of a long shot but has soon has the wires are up do you think salford central will be revamped to include the rebuilt platforms or is that another cancelled project.

 

[thealexweb]

Bit of a long shot but has soon has the wires are up do you think salford central will be revamped to include the rebuilt platforms or is that another cancelled project.

Some work will have to done prior 2020. No way in hell that platform gap is disabled friendly in its current form.

 

[notlob.divad]

I’m guessing both connections to the 25kV AC Network will be done simultaneously to avoid too many isolations of the Ordsall Lane area.

August Bank Holiday blockade?

 

[LDECRexile]

I've added TBSchenker's exciting Blackrod photos to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157668239371996

and to the Combined Volume here:

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

Now we have two stations with contact and catenary wires as far as the eye can see. Yippee!

Thank you TB.

 

[LM93]

Bit of a long shot but has soon has the wires are up do you think salford central will be revamped to include the rebuilt platforms or is that another cancelled project.

Not until CP6 has started at least, even then it could be a year or two even after that!

 

[jonesy3001]

Not until CP6 has started at least, even then it could be a year or two even after that!

Could be a while then even though DDA requirements should be done by 2020

 

[snowball]

Can not be otherwise you have no joined up railway that is electrified. Either via Salford Central is left to last or Windsor Bridge South to Ordsall Lane - one or the other - definitely not both does not make sense.

They could both be left until after everything else, which was my point. Also as others have pointed out they could both be done during the same closure.

The two routes at the Salford end are both so short relative to the overall scheme that I think it's highly unlikely that one woud be brought into service while the other was unfinished.

 

[snowball]

Bit of a long shot but has soon has the wires are up do you think salford central will be revamped to include the rebuilt platforms or is that another cancelled project.

As I understand it, TfGM got money for it from the DfT but Network Rail spent the money on something else, or spent all the money on only part of the project. So new funding is needed.

Edit: I was assuming you were asking about (re)opening the extra platforms but maybe you were asking about raising the platforms on the Bolton lines?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

They could both be left until after everything else, which was my point. Also as others have pointed out they could both be done during the same closure.

The two routes at the Salford end are both so short relative to the overall scheme that I think it's highly unlikely that one woud be brought into service while the other was unfinished.

Agreed and as has been suggested above both at the same time over August Bank Holiday possession. My apologies for misunderstanding you.

 

[Geeves]

It's all coming along more quickly now just like we saw with the Liverpool works .

In regards to Salford Central, there was 20 million allocated for the full station including the additional platforms. The first problems arose when it was found out the trains TPE had ordered are now too long to fit in the new platforms. The second problem was that to extend the platforms would require NR to move some recently installed equipment. Now that 20m only covers p1 and 2 an another 20m is required... Still.

 

[absolutelymilk]

I took a tour from Preston to Manchester today, apart from the Yarrow viaduct I couldn't see any missing masts. I wasn't sure of any structures which would need masts attaching but I certainly didn't see a single base without a mast on the right hand side.

Great to see all the progress!

 

[PDG1949]

Have I missed something or have any AT overhead wiring runs been put in place yet ?