Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[LDECRexile]

They will also probably be used on some sections between Kirkham and Poulton, especially around Weeton/Singleton where the embankment has suffered from slips in the past. It will probably be a similar approach to some of the Chat Moss, where metal piles support large metal portals.

Helpful; thank you and welcome.

 

[Magicake]

Hmm. I'm not sure I have seen one of these steel cages in the NW project (for routine concrete bases).
All you tend to see are four long metal bolts which are set in the concrete to form the anchors for the mast structure.
But really, I have no idea what goes on below ground.
A 5-metre pile below ground is a huge foundation. I think some installed over Chat Moss were even longer!
I think the MML, like the GW, will be mainly piled (12000 on GW!).
The NW scheme is concrete-dominated - in fact I have yet to see a metal pile on Phase 4 (used on poor ground in Phase 1/2).
Concrete v piles? It sounds like a debate similar to concrete v tarmac on motorways. You'd think there would only be one approved way!

The routine bases do include steel. What is used is a steel mesh. Typically this is placed either at the front and back of the foundation or the two sides although for some of the larger foundations it is in a square all the way round.

The metal piles are most often installed where the water table is too high to allow concrete to be poured. The first of these will be going in in our section in a few weeks time.

 

[snowball]

Broughton Road bridge to open on 15th June.

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...salford-to-reopen-one-month-ahead-of-schedule

 

[LDECRexile]

Broughton Road bridge to open on 15th June.

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...salford-to-reopen-one-month-ahead-of-schedule

...and Oldfield Road on 8th June (sotto voce near the end of the press release, for some reason.)

Both seem like equally good news to me.

Thanks for sharing this, snowball.

PS: SBPs are available for action shots of either....

 

[snowball]

...and Oldfield Road on 8th June (sotto voce near the end of the press release, for some reason.)

I didn't notice that. I hadn't read to the end.

If I remember correctly, the signs at the site say something like 29th May, which would explain why it isn't trumpeted.

 

[thealexweb]

I took some photos of the work going on yesterday in the Bolton town centre. I have emailed them to LDECRexile who will kindly upload them in due course.

 

[LDECRexile]

I took some photos of the work going on yesterday in the Bolton town centre. I have emailed them to LDECRexile who will kindly upload them in due course.

We're just back from a weekend away; smashing material received, will upload this evening.

Thank you thealexweb

Now added to thealexweb's album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157652232138430

and to the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157648767927083

Thanks once again thealexweb

 

[snowball]

Looking at some of theaxleweb's latest pictures in the Soho Street area, it occurs to me that, when they get round to doing the track that the ballast train is on, they may need to slew it to the centre of its arch in addition to possibly lowering it.

I managed a quick glance at four sites today (Sunday 7th):

At Blackrod both temporary bridges are still there. The pedestrian one is still open. Most of the services have been diverted back off the services bridge but a few remain - a small green duct and four small grey ones. No doubt once these have been diverted back, both bridges will be removed.

At Moses Gate the up platform is gone.

At Farnworth, construction of the realigned up platform face wall has begun.

At Oldfield Road everything looks finished and ready to open (due tomorrow) except that some copings have yet to be placed on some of the low walls at the back of the footways on the road approach.

Some of those low walls (the ones on the west side on the south approach) look a bit dodgy to me now that the road has been raised above the surrounding land. A drunk pedestrian could trip over one, or barge into a sober pedestrian and knock him over it, and it would be a serious distance to fall. I think they ought to have railings on top.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I didn't notice any new mast bases on a run round today (all except Salford Crescent-Ordsall Lane (Up side)).
Maybe the odd one around Adlington.
Perhaps they are taking a breather before the next big push.

Track lowering under the bridge/tunnel complex west of Bolton looks complete (both tracks), with a 50mph slack.
This section, and another near Adlington, has new rail in the 4-foot ready for relaying.
The operational tunnel at Farnworth now seems to be completely concreted.

There are definitely more 156s on the local services via Salford Crescent than there were before the timetable change.

 

[snowball]

The operational tunnel at Farnworth now seems to be completely concreted.

NR's Northern Programme Twitter feed is also reporting that. They also have a picture (which they say they've posted before but I don't remember it) of the shotcreting robot.

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailNP

 

[LDECRexile]

Paul and I went out and about in Salford and Bolton today.

Specifically:

1. Eccles (Phase 2) in pursuit of two Then and Now quests, we solved one of them
2. Oldfield Road Bridge - open to road and pedestrian traffic. Some minor works being completed, mainly by brickies.
3. Ordsall Lane Junction, electric and diesel traction
4. Middlewood Locks, Salford, 319s and 185s on show
5. Dixon Fold Footbridge, open to pedestrians, all work complete, looks great. Invasive plants nearby look dreadful.
6. Farnworth Tunnel, south end, work continuing apace, difficult to interpret what has changed. Found new photographic location atop the tunnel.
7. Farnworth Tunnel, north end, work continuing apace.

Photos later, Bridgeoscope below.

 

[LDECRexile]

I've added yesterday's Phase 4 photos kindly donated by Paul Gaskell to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157649792560381

I've added them and some I took to the Phase 4 Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157648767927083

Thank you Paul.

I'll add captions over the next couple of days.

 

[Trackman]

I've added yesterday's Phase 4 photos kindly donated by Paul Gaskell to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157649792560381

I've added them and some I took to the Phase 4 Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157648767927083

Thank you Paul.

I'll add captions over the next couple of days.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/18592281536/in/album-72157648767927083/

It's great photo showing the new alignment of the southbound platform, thanks
How are they going to do the northbound up platform? a weekend when the tunnel is open?

 

[LDECRexile]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/18592281536/in/album-72157648767927083/

It's great photo showing the new alignment of the southbound platform, thanks
How are they going to do the northbound up platform? a weekend when the tunnel is open?

Thanks for the complement, glad you like it.

The short answer is 'I don't know.' If the northbound platform will be close to parallel with the southbound I can't see how they can even start to build it whilst the current single track is in place.

I look forward to hearing how from someone with more brains than me.

 

[snowball]

Over the next couple of months, working at weekends, they can demolish the old down platform face, clearing up the debris each Sunday night for services to resume on Monday.

Isn't the tunnel enlargement itself due to be finished in August? The restricted service continues until early October. So they have several weeks to

1) lay double track through the enlarged tunnel, working throughout the week, and tie in the up track at each end.

2) at a weekend, slew the down track at each end and connect it to the new down track through the tunnel.

3) Now the bidirectional working would switch to the new down line. (This is not most convenient for access to the remaining works, but I'm guessing that they'd continue it because the temporary crossovers would still be oriented that way and to minimise the amount of signal testing to be done at this stage.)

4) The same weekend, remove any of the old down track that's in the way of the new down platform face.

5) Over subsequent weekends, lay the new down platform face and complete the platform, while working through the week to lift the track through the old down tunnel.

6) At weekends, simultaneously with 5, take away the dismantled track sections, using the Kearsley end so as not to interfere with the platform works.

 

[Class 170101]

Over the next couple of months, working at weekends, they can demolish the old down platform face, clearing up the debris each Sunday night for services to resume on Monday.

Isn't the tunnel enlargement itself due to be finished in August? The restricted service continues until early October. So they have several weeks to

1) lay double track through the enlarged tunnel, working throughout the week, and tie in the up track at each end.

2) at a weekend, slew the down track at each end and connect it to the new down track through the tunnel.

3) Now the bidirectional working would switch to the new down line. (This is not most convenient for access to the remaining works, but I'm guessing that they'd continue it because the temporary crossovers would still be oriented that way and to minimise the amount of signal testing to be done at this stage.)

4) The same weekend, remove any of the old down track that's in the way of the new down platform face.

5) Over subsequent weekends, lay the new down platform face and complete the platform, while working through the week to lift the track through the old down tunnel.

6) At weekends, simultaneously with 5, take away the dismantled track sections, using the Kearsley end so as not to interfere with the platform works.

Surely the tunnel need wiring at this time as well?

Would be interesting to know from the Orange Army if they are on schedule?

 

[LDECRexile]

Over the next couple of months, working at weekends, they can demolish the old down platform face, clearing up the debris each Sunday night for services to resume on Monday.

Isn't the tunnel enlargement itself due to be finished in August? The restricted service continues until early October. So they have several weeks to

1) lay double track through the enlarged tunnel, working throughout the week, and tie in the up track at each end.

2) at a weekend, slew the down track at each end and connect it to the new down track through the tunnel.

3) Now the bidirectional working would switch to the new down line. (This is not most convenient for access to the remaining works, but I'm guessing that they'd continue it because the temporary crossovers would still be oriented that way and to minimise the amount of signal testing to be done at this stage.)

4) The same weekend, remove any of the old down track that's in the way of the new down platform face.

5) Over subsequent weekends, lay the new down platform face and complete the platform, while working through the week to lift the track through the old down tunnel.

6) At weekends, simultaneously with 5, take away the dismantled track sections, using the Kearsley end so as not to interfere with the platform works.

Sounds good, the key ingredient I'd not taken into account was finishing the new tunnel well before resuming normal stopping services.

Thank you.

 

[snowball]

Surely the tunnel need wiring at this time as well?

I won't be surprised if the tunnel is not wired this year.

Edit: I imagine they'll put the fixings in as soon as the rebore is completed and the track is down , but leave the actual wiring till next year, and then do it in long clear runs, not in bits and pieces like phases 1 and 2.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I won't be surprised if the tunnel is not wired this year.

Edit: I imagine they'll put the fixings in as soon as the rebore is completed and the track is down , but leave the actual wiring till next year, and then do it in long clear runs, not in bits and pieces like phases 1 and 2.

I will be shocked. It would be totally lunacy while they have possession- to not wire - hell end even to energize, while they have possession.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

I will be shocked. It would be totally lunacy while they have possession- to not wire - hell end even to energize, while they have possession.

And how would you propose to energise the wire in the tunnel, without some form of wiring from one end to supply it?

Why turn it on only to have to turn it off again? :roll:

I won't be surprised if the tunnel is not wired this year.

Edit: I imagine they'll put the fixings in as soon as the rebore is completed and the track is down , but leave the actual wiring till next year, and then do it in long clear runs, not in bits and pieces like phases 1 and 2.

Far better opinion, in my opinion.

Would be interesting to know from the Orange Army if they are on schedule?

Slightly behind, I understand, but with programme floats still available for use. Key milestone will be getting the shield in place and moving.

It's great photo showing the new alignment of the southbound platform, thanks
How are they going to do the northbound up platform? a weekend when the tunnel is open?

In four or five weeks time the single line will be slued over to run next to the platform their building but staying through the down tunnel - this will make room for them to demolish, extend sideways and rebuild the down platform on the new alignment. Some signals will also move ...

We do think about these things you know

 

[LDECRexile]

In four or five weeks time the single line will be slued over to run next to the platform their building but staying through the down tunnel - this will make room for them to demolish, extend sideways and rebuild the down platform on the new alignment. Some signals will also move ...

We do think about these things you know

Seriously fab info, thank you.

'four or five weeks time' sounds like mid July - fellow and potential photographers please note, this should be a fine show, all readily visible from the footbridge immediately north of the station.

'We do think about these things you know' - most of us guessed you do!

Is the van Cough art work below owt like what'll happen?

Best wishes

Dave

 

[snowball]

I will be shocked. It would be totally lunacy while they have possession- to not wire - hell end even to energize, while they have possession.

You can't energise a 300 yard length of wire that isn't near a supply point.

Edit: sorry, JL has said the same thing.

Further edit: whether you energised it or not, you'd have to put in temporary anchorage points to secure the ends.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Is the van Cough art work below owt like what'll happen?

The north end of the slew could perhaps be north of Moses Gate. The up platform there has been demolished (I think in order to lower the track under the A575 bridge) and may perhaps have been rebuilt by the time the slew happens. They would then be able to demolish and rebuild the down platform.

 

[LDECRexile]

The north end of the slew could perhaps be north of Moses Gate. The up platform there has been demolished (I think in order to lower the track under the A575 bridge) and may perhaps have been rebuilt by the time the slew happens. They would then be able to demolish and rebuild the down platform.

Yes, it seems possible.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I will be shocked. It would be totally lunacy while they have possession- to not wire - hell end even to energize, while they have possession.

And how would you propose to energise the wire in the tunnel, without some form of wiring from one end to supply it?

Why turn it on only to have to turn it off again? :roll:Far better opinion, in my opinion.

You can't energise a 300 yard length of wire that isn't near a supply point.

Edit: sorry, JL has said the same thing.

I am sorry about this guys - of course you are correct. It was said in frustration. During the possesion if suitable anchors/other masts/cantilevers etc can be installed so wires could be strung too, would make great sense. Of course (spot the brain cell time) it can not be energized. Would you believe me if I told you I have a Master Of Science degree!!

 

[snowball]

I've added them and some I took to the Phase 4 Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157648767927083

I like the picture of the magpie watching the Newcastle train (4430s).

 

[Class 170101]

I am sorry about this guys - of course you are correct. It was said in frustration. During the possesion if suitable anchors/other masts/cantilevers etc can be installed so wires could be strung too, would make great sense. Of course (spot the brain cell time) it can not be energized. Would you believe me if I told you I have a Master Of Science degree!!

Thats what you get for posting at 02:30 in the morning (assuming you are in the UK). That time is for sleeping :P

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Thats what you get for posting at 02:30 in the morning (assuming you are in the UK). That time is for sleeping :P

No - I am in Dayton, OH (glorious sun and temp = 35 ) so it was 21.30 but I had had a huge amount of Gin, red wine and beer by then -still -no excuse.

 

[LDECRexile]

I like the picture of the magpie watching the Newcastle train (4430s).

Glad you do, thanks for saying so.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
thealexweb has sent some fab photos of Ladybridge and Dean Clough Bridge.

They show significant progress at both and give clear dates for demolition of Ladybridge (25-27 July) and craning in the new structure (1-3 August).

I've added them to thealexweb's album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157652232138430

and added them to the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157648767927083

Thank you thealexweb

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Seriously fab info, thank you.

'four or five weeks time' sounds like mid July - fellow and potential photographers please note, this should be a fine show, all readily visible from the footbridge immediately north of the station.

Is the van Cough art work below owt like what'll happen?

Spot on - 11/12 of 7. The diagram is right too - fancy a job?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

thealexweb has sent some fab photos of Ladybridge and Dean Clough Bridge.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157652232138430

That's an excellent set of pics - views you can't get from inside a train.
4314d - I always wondered what the miles of concrete troughing were for: a continuous lineside seat for a brew...