Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[SodTheDrummer]

Concern and disappointment were expressed recently that Philip Phlopp has gone quiet.

I've had a look round and he's chipping in his two pen'north Down South, so he's alive and kicking.

Best wishes to him

Dave

That's good news indeed - hope he'll pop back up here at some point!

 

[LDECRexile]

Try
https://youtu.be/VMfIyXHXWKw
https://youtu.be/mWySWEi4XtU
Many more
K

Great stuff, thank you.

At present bases for a new wind farm (Burbo Bank Extension) are being vibrated into the seabed in Liverpool Bay, when they're busy you can feel and hear it from onshore, eg at Formby, quite some distance away (I'd guess a mile and a half.)

If I remember right, when the initial four-tracking earthworks were being done near Roby on the Liverpool-Manchester c2014 the H-section retaining wall piles were driven in by a traditional piledriver which lifted and dropped a heavy weight on top going ker-thump pause, ker-thump pause...

 

[Peter Mugridge]

That's good news indeed - hope he'll pop back up here at some point!

He's still looking in every now and again; he was last active on the forum on 12th November.

 

[Buck Shaw]

Lots of piling work planned for Buckshaw/Euxton this Christmas

http://http://www.euxtoncouncil.org.uk/news.php?id=40

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Lots of piling work planned for Buckshaw/Euxton this Christmas
http://http://www.euxtoncouncil.org.uk/news.php?id=40

Well you can't complain at NR's public relations efforts. All very clear and concise with a detailed map.
Of the 42 foundations mentioned, 35 are on the final curve from Buckshaw station to Euxton Jn (with 3 on the WCML itself).
Most of that stretch is alongside a building site.
It might make for an interesting Christmas night with a big yellow pile-driver appearing in a blaze of lights rather than something pulled by reindeer.
I expect it will be a good night for the engineers' bank balances as well!

 

[LDECRexile]

Well you can't complain at NR's public relations efforts. All very clear and concise with a detailed map.
Of the 42 foundations mentioned, 35 are on the final curve from Buckshaw station to Euxton Jn (with 3 on the WCML itself).
Most of that stretch is alongside a building site.
It might make for an interesting Christmas night with a big yellow pile-driver appearing in a blaze of lights rather than something pulled by reindeer.
I expect it will be a good night for the engineers' bank balances as well!

Whilst I am as keen as anyone for this project to proceed, this troubles me. so I've sent the following to Network Rail:

I am concerned that the planned work near Buckshaw Village in the early hours of 25th December might have adverse effects on a low flying, sack carrying aircraft which is reputed to navigate solely by one red light.

What assurance can you give that this has been adequately risk-assessed?

Yours seasonally

Ann Elf
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Lots of piling work planned for Buckshaw/Euxton this Christmas

http://http://www.euxtoncouncil.org.uk/news.php?id=40

The two maps here are superb. Can anyone on the "inside" at Network Rail encourage them to publish more of the overview one in particular, on a regular basis?

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Whilst I am as keen as anyone for this project to proceed, this troubles me. so I've sent the following to Network Rail:

I am concerned that the planned work near Buckshaw Village in the early hours of 25th December might have adverse effects on a low flying, sack carrying aircraft which is reputed to navigate solely by one red light.

What assurance can you give that this has been adequately risk-assessed?

Yours seasonally

Ann Elf
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


The two maps here are superb. Can anyone on the "inside" at Network Rail encourage them to publish more of the overview one in particular, on a regular basis?

The issue is that to protect the works the contractor has to take a possession of the Bolton lines and the West Coast Main Line fast lines, which is a rare and difficult conjunction of the planning orbs.

As to potential conflict between the piling machinery lighting and low-flying semi-autonomous gift delivery transport vehicles, I understand the Claus & Co. has recently purchased an Enhanced LiDAR Forward warning system which it intends to deploy on Rudolf.

As readers will be aware, NORAD provide an excellent Santa tracking system which could allow a tea-break to be planned at the appropriate time, though I suspect the kettle will be barely boiled in the time it takes for all the Euxton/Buckshaw deliveries to be completed. Unlike the piling.

 

[Elecman]

As I understand S Claus Esq. has not yet requalified for his rarely used pilots licence in the UK as he refused to complete the loss of engine after V1 scenario ( he wouldn't let the CAA examiner shoot a reindeer just before take off).

 

[LDECRexile]

Paul and I visited a sodden Ladybridge area today. We eventually beat a retreat wet on the outside and bursting on the inside.

I've added my shots to the Combined Volume here:

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

I hope to receive Paul's selection in a day or two, when I'll weave them in.

 

[Bevan Price]

The issue is that to protect the works the contractor has to take a possession of the Bolton lines and the West Coast Main Line fast lines, which is a rare and difficult conjunction of the planning orbs.

As to potential conflict between the piling machinery lighting and low-flying semi-autonomous gift delivery transport vehicles, I understand the Claus & Co. has recently purchased an Enhanced LiDAR Forward warning system which it intends to deploy on Rudolf.

As readers will be aware, NORAD provide an excellent Santa tracking system which could allow a tea-break to be planned at the appropriate time, though I suspect the kettle will be barely boiled in the time it takes for all the Euxton/Buckshaw deliveries to be completed. Unlike the piling.

No need to worry. Mr Claus has already arranged a sleigh replacement service for the area. He will be using road vehicles bearing a strong resemblance to a type of trains sometimes described as Pacers. He apologies that some parcel deliveries may not be completed before daybreak.

 

[deltic08]

As I understand S Claus Esq. has not yet requalified for his rarely used pilots licence in the UK as he refused to complete the loss of engine after V1 scenario ( he wouldn't let the CAA examiner shoot a reindeer just before take off).

He can't be current not having flown for 12 months. Needs some dual time asap.

 

[LDECRexile]

Paul has kindly sent his shots, which I've woven in.

I've added them to his album here:

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

and to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Paul.

As the rain had stopped on our way home we called at Newton-le-Willows. Paul took a couple of shots there which I'll put in the Liv-Man album tomorrow.

 

[fflint]

Thanks again LDECexile, Paul et al for taking the time to get and post on the Blackpool - Manchester thread. I wish we had some one like you covering and collating for the other projects like the GW electrification!
Keep up the good work and thanks on behalf of many who follow this thread.

 

[Class 170101]

No need to worry. Mr Claus has already arranged a sleigh replacement service for the area. He will be using road vehicles bearing a strong resemblance to a type of trains sometimes described as Pacers. He apologies that some parcel deliveries may not be completed before daybreak.

Hopefully the parcels won't involve anything breakable

 

[thealexweb]

ERECTION OF COMPOUND CONTAINING ELECTRICITY SUBSTATION AND ASSOCIATED STRUCTURES TOGETHER WITH 3 METRE HIGH PALISADE FENCING

Source: https://www.planningpa.bolton.gov.u...tails.do?activeTab=details&keyVal=DCAPR_91262

Network Rail have withdrawn this piece of planning permission. For a substation east of Lostock.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Good to see the new piled foundations between Bolton and Lostock.
Their are 21 on the Up and 15 on the Down, extending about 2km west of the Bolton tunnels.
There are also some new ones between Adlington and Chorley, but some of these appear to be replacements for previous concrete ones.
Chorley P1 still not in use.

On the Blackpool line, the base locations with blue markers extend all the way to the station throat at Blackpool, although they are not continuous.
Some work also going on at Salwick on the sidings there.

New wires are up on the Bolton lines at Ordsall Lane.

 

[LDECRexile]

Thanks again LDECexile, Paul et al for taking the time to get and post on the Blackpool - Manchester thread. I wish we had some one like you covering and collating for the other projects like the GW electrification!
Keep up the good work and thanks on behalf of many who follow this thread.

Thank you very much.

An old problem has recurred, in that I have loaded a dollop of images and processed them, only to find out later that some haven't "taken" and are invisible to all except me. This is both miffing and beyond my brain cell. No warning shows when I process them, all appears normal.

I've just found by chance that five of Paul's shots which I posted following our damp trip to the Dean Clough area didn't "take".

I've added them again and gone in as Mr Nobody and they are now there. They are 6164i, k & m at Mayor Street and 6156l & h at Dean Clough in both Paul's album :

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

and the Combined Volume:

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

Hmmm.............
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Good to see the new piled foundations between Bolton and Lostock.
Their are 21 on the Up and 15 on the Down, extending about 2km west of the Bolton tunnels.
There are also some new ones between Adlington and Chorley, but some of these appear to be replacements for previous concrete ones.
Chorley P1 still not in use.

On the Blackpool line, the base locattions with blue markers extend all the way to the station throat at Blackpool, although they are not continuous.
Some work also going on at Salwick on the sidings there.

New wires are up on the Bolton lines at Ordsall Lane.

Encouraging, thank you

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Thank you very much. Encouraging, thank you

Dave -see the post above you - looks like on our day out on December 29th there will be plenty of progress to see and photograph.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

At Kirkham, NR are going to have to take at least one of the avoiding lines out of use, in order to build the new Up side platform before the line reopens after all the remodelling work.
Presumably they will build it on/near the formation of the current Up Fast line, with the current Down Fast becoming the new Up platform line.
As far as I can see, only the Airport fast omits Kirkham (except the odd one in the peaks), so it shouldn't be too hard to fit them in on the remaining lines until the new layout is ready.
The current layout seems pretty useless, with the avoiding lines reached via a 30mph crossover. They are still mostly jointed track too.

 

[LDECRexile]

Dave -see the post above you - looks like on our day out on December 29th there will be plenty of progress to see and photograph.

Indeed, spoilt for choice! Yippee!

 

[CAF397]

At Kirkham...[snip]...As far as I can see, only the Airport fast omits Kirkham (except the odd one in the peaks)...

Also the Yorks don't stop at Kirkham.

 

[Mollman]

At Kirkham, NR are going to have to take at least one of the avoiding lines out of use, in order to build the new Up side platform before the line reopens after all the remodelling work.
Presumably they will build it on/near the formation of the current Up Fast line, with the current Down Fast becoming the new Up platform line.
As far as I can see, only the Airport fast omits Kirkham (except the odd one in the peaks), so it shouldn't be too hard to fit them in on the remaining lines until the new layout is ready.
The current layout seems pretty useless, with the avoiding lines reached via a 30mph crossover. They are still mostly jointed track too.

From my experience Down non-stop trains go through the platform line anyway, Up trains tend to use the Fast line.

 

[BelleIsle]

At Kirkham, NR are going to have to take at least one of the avoiding lines out of use, in order to build the new Up side platform before the line reopens after all the remodelling work.
Presumably they will build it on/near the formation of the current Up Fast line, with the current Down Fast becoming the new Up platform line.
As far as I can see, only the Airport fast omits Kirkham (except the odd one in the peaks), so it shouldn't be too hard to fit them in on the remaining lines until the new layout is ready.
The current layout seems pretty useless, with the avoiding lines reached via a 30mph crossover. They are still mostly jointed track too.

Someone told me that the layout is the result of a 1930's LMS plan to add a new island platform. The tracks were slewed to the new alignment but the war stopped work before the platform could be built and so it has remained ever since. Does anyone know if this is correct?

 

[driver9000]

Someone told me that the layout is the result of a 1930's LMS plan to add a new island platform. The tracks were slewed to the new alignment but the war stopped work before the platform could be built and so it has remained ever since. Does anyone know if this is correct?

Yes that's correct. The platform would have been an island between the Fast lines.

 

[Elecman]

Yes that's correct. The platform would have been an island between the Fast lines.

Presumably where the old box was?

 

[snowball]

Tomorrow (Wednesday) is the first anniversary of the reopening of Farnworth Tunnel. Has a year's worth of progress happened since then?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Tomorrow (Wednesday) is the first anniversary of the reopening of Farnworth Tunnel. Has a year's worth of progress happened since then?

IMHO -no - but would find my statement hard to quantify. There has been Chorley Station and I guess a few more bridges and foot crossings, a few piles a few markers and scrapes.

IMHO - with manpower/etc the way it is we realistically can only handle 2 electrification projects at a time to make real progress in this country. My opinion only. The lack of progress has been very frustrating to me. However, it does seem to be picking up speed now.

 

[YorkshireBear]

IMHO - with manpower/etc the way it is we realistically can only handle 2 electrification projects at a time to make real progress in this country. My opinion only. The lack of progress has been very frustrating to me. However, it does seem to be picking up speed now.

Just to add a bit more opinion.

IMHO, we can support three teams. A big team ie GWML. A medium team ie NEWP. A small team ie Bromsgrove, Walsall.

That would allow us to suitably train staff too and if we could keep those three teams ticking over we would probably be capable of reducing costs by up to 40% within 5 years.

 

[takno]

Just to add a bit more opinion.

IMHO, we can support three teams. A big team ie GWML. A medium team ie NEWP. A small team ie Bromsgrove, Walsall.

That would allow us to suitably train staff too and if we could keep those three teams ticking over we would probably be capable of reducing costs by up to 40% within 5 years.

So in your estimation it's the Edinburgh-Glasgow programme that's driving all the costs?

 

[rebmcr]

So in your estimation it's the Edinburgh-Glasgow programme that's driving all the costs?

Not to mention the GOBLIN.