Manchester - Stalybridge Electrification

[GRALISTAIR]

Yep -9064k illustrates your point very nicely indeed.

I took the photos and LDECRexile very kindly uploaded them.

 

[twpsaesneg]

Please to see the posts from the Woodhead line 1500 DC electrification are still up behind the signal box. Might they be pressed into use for 25,000 AC at some point?!

No.
One, they're not in any useful positions for the new wiring, two there's no record drawings for them (of there are, but many are missing) and three, they can't be guaranteed to give the service life required as they're already 70 years old, designed to obselete design standards.

 

[twpsaesneg]

Here is a sample of what I am talking about. How it is not easy just to use old bases and structures. I hope they illustrate what I am trying to say + Mr Locke I assume?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/24493222287/in/album-72157651259517065/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/24493222027/in/album-72157651259517065/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/32720685370/in/album-72157651259517065/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/24785348548/in/album-72157651259517065/

We have access to adequate record drawings for 1970s structures plus the calculations used to design them.

GE Rewiring was a renewals project and a reduced lifespan was accepted for the existing structures, plus the equipment was designed specifically not to increase loads on the steelwork from the existing. It also helped that the existing equipment, GE compound, weighed significantly more than and under ice loading was under significantly more tension than the new kit.

 

[snowball]

Pictures of work at Ashton Moss posted on SSC by Freel07:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=147537651&postcount=4070

 

[Senex]

Thanks for the pictures.

Are they moving the junction on to what looks like the sharpest part of the curve?

 

[Geeves]

Its been moved about 200m further away from the curve along with the removal of the dog log behind the signal box and slow speed crossing in front of it.

 

[Jonny]

Nice work; I presume that the plan is to have all the remodelling done prior to electrification, thus saving on adjustments.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Will the junction effectively be singled?
The branch traffic hardly qualifies for a double junction.

 

[billh]

Branch can be quite busy with freight early weekday afternoons, sometimes passing near here, so singling might slow things down somewhat.Consider also the single line Denton to Heaton Norris , with additional freight to Guide Bridge.

 

[furnessvale]

Will the junction effectively be singled?
The branch traffic hardly qualifies for a double junction.

So did many other junctions a few years ago! Better not repeat the mistakes of the past.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

So did many other junctions a few years ago! Better not repeat the mistakes of the past.

The new Halton Curve junctions are just going in as single leads at each end, for a 1tph passenger service.

 

[edwin_m]

The new Halton Curve junctions are just going in as single leads at each end, for a 1tph passenger service.

It's a single line in between so they are bound to be single leads. There's no point in having a double junction unless the branch route is double track for a train length plus signalling overlaps, otherwise branch trains can't pass each other on the junction.

 

[snowball]

Another lot of pictures by Freel07:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=147583743&postcount=415

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I think it's obvious from those pictures that the branch junction will remain double (using single leads).
Presumably the kink in the old Down Branch line will be smoothed in the process.

 

[The_Engineer]

Presumably the kink in the old Down Branch line will be smoothed in the process.

Yes, you can almost see the new alignment in the photographs from the angle of the new points. The new alignment will go through where the old box was. Does anyone know what the new (and old) speeds through the junction and mains will be?

 

[Llama]

New permissible speed on the main lines will be 75mph (up from 70mph, although there has been a 40mph TSR in place since 2011 on both lines at nearby Moss Lane FP crossing). New permissible speed to/from the Branch lines (renamed to Up & Down Crowthorne lines) will be 40mph thanks to flashing yellow signalling approaching Ashton Moss North Jn on the Down Ashton. Prior to the work trains routed towards Denton were brought down to AMN2/4 semaphore home/section signal under approach release on a steep rising gradient, so this new setup should save a few minutes for freight.

 

[Senex]

I heard elsewhere that on the down line it's to be 75 from Baguley Fold Jn (exc) to 6¾ miles, then 60 to 7½, followed by 35 through Stalybridge Jn. On the up no change to the 25 through the junction, then 60 from 7½ to 6¾, 70 to 6¼, and 75 to Baguley Fold Jn. It's interesting that this apparently doesn't tie up either with the reports we had here of 40 at Stalybridge or with the speed-profile suggested in the lecture to the PWI that Gralistair referred us to. Also interesting that after all that money spent at Ashton there will still be a restriction through the station on the up line—not that it will matter very much because of the lower speed beforehand. Should that island platform have been dug out and replaced by two simple side platforms with bus shelters on them?

 

[snowball]

More pictures by Freel07:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=147664805&postcount=421

 

[Ploughman]

More pictures by Freel07:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=147664805&postcount=421

Was that Pre Curved rail being installed as panels by the KIROW?
If so, were the panels in gauge on the transport wagons or did it need an "Out of Gauge Movement"

Last time I installed pre curved track we had to have an out of gauge movement with a specified routing.

 

[The_Engineer]

Packing and tamping the new track at Ashton Moss North Junction......

https://twitter.com/TheGNRP/status/988699438460932097

 

[Foggycorner]

Went on run to Stalybridge today and noticed that the cable route work for the 25Kv cable has large gaps in the run were no work has been done
Its not a hard job to put the new lightweight plastic trough in and this job should have been finished by now

 

[twpsaesneg]

Went on run to Stalybridge today and noticed that the cable route work for the 25Kv cable has large gaps in the run were no work has been done
Its not a hard job to put the new lightweight plastic trough in and this job should have been finished by now

It's easier than concrete but it certainly isn't "not hard". Bear in mind that Carillions liquidation has had a massive effect, the main efforts have (rightly) been put into Phase 4.
I'm sure Amey will restart works when the resource and access is there to do so.

 

[The_Engineer]

Its not a hard job to put the new lightweight plastic trough in and this job should have been finished by now

Do you have access to the Project Plan to confirm this?

 

[Foggycorner]

No access to up to date project plan just an observation after 40 odd years experience in the S&T on the railway including a lot of cable route work both doing it and then managing teams both in house and contractors who need watching and given a kick up the ass when needed

 

[LDECRexile]

I have received this from an authoritative Orangeman:

"Phase 5 have been given infrastructure authorisation by the ORR which means it now needs operational authorisation and it will be ready to accept trains. Another big step and a sign Phase 5 is close to completion."

I have not been following Phase 5 closely, so I have nothing of value to add or comment on this except that it sounds like good news!

 

[notlob.divad]

"Phase 5 have been given infrastructure authorisation by the ORR which means it now needs operational authorisation and it will be ready to accept trains. Another big step and a sign Phase 5 is close to completion."

Is that Phase 5; Phase 5 - Part 1; or Phase 5 - Part 1 - Subsection A ?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Pretty sure it means the electrified lines east out of MCV to the Miles Platting area. The rest would come under Transpennine route upgrade.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Is that Phase 5; Phase 5 - Part 1; or Phase 5 - Part 1 - Subsection A ?

Well as the wires are not up beyond Victoria I don't know what this means.
Possibly that ORR has agreed the scope of the minor extension to Vic East Jn (plus "mains lead").
Months away from energisation, I think.
Some bases (those gravity things) and steelwork still missing I think.

 

[trickyvegas]

Pretty sure it means the electrified lines east out of MCV to the Miles Platting area. The rest would come under Transpennine route upgrade.

I'm fairly certain that Victoria to Stalybridge was part of the Northern Hub plan which was agreed prior to the Transpenine electrification.

 

[nr758123]

I'm fairly certain that Victoria to Stalybridge was part of the Northern Hub plan which was agreed prior to the Transpenine electrification.

That's my recollection, too. I don't recall any announcement that electrification to Stalybridge had been cancelled or postponed (and just to be clear, running a supply cable from Heyrod but with no overhead wires does not count as electrification), but it seems to be the fashion these days for government ministers to cancel schemes and then not bother to make their decisions public until months later.

Perhaps I wasn't paying attention when it was cancelled, or it's an announcement to be slipped out tomorrow when we're all distracted by something else? Not that I'm the slightest bit cynical, you understand.