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Blackpool - Manchester Electrification
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GRALISTAIR
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Had a wonderful day out with Dave yesterday. (LDECRExile) We went to as far west as 1 mile west of Kirkham on the A585 bridge and as Far East as Chorley. Spoke to an orange army man at Kirkham and Wesham and he said 18 months of work to include all tracks up reballasting new layout and electrification. Does anyone in the know have access to a diagram of what the new layout of Kirkham and Wesham will be?
I am sure Dave will update later with pics and I will be sending mine to him also so you can see the latest. If you ask Dave nicely he may even update the progress o meter.
To me one piece of the outstanding news was the "depot/base" at Salwick. There was a manned security cabin and all sorts of heavy equipment etc. They really have mobilized to site and are ready to rock and roll.
In other news virtually all piles/bases were in place at Euxton Junction. I am starting to get encouraged by the progress.
I am sure Dave will update later with pics and I will be sending mine to him also so you can see the latest. If you ask Dave nicely he may even update the progress o meter.
To me one piece of the outstanding news was the "depot/base" at Salwick. There was a manned security cabin and all sorts of heavy equipment etc. They really have mobilized to site and are ready to rock and roll.
In other news virtually all piles/bases were in place at Euxton Junction. I am starting to get encouraged by the progress.
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LDECRexile
Established Member
I warmly echo Graham's sentiments on yesterday's jaunt. No photo is "hot off the press news" so I'll wait for Graham's shots then publish the lot as a mega-dollop.
I was heartened by what we saw.
When someone sends 2017's first counts of scrapes, bases and masts I'll be very pleased to wang 'em on the Progressometer and publish it.
Attached below is where it got to before the train had to stop to raise steam...
This NR document talks of May 2018 for wires to Blackpool:
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/blackpool/
I've lost track of what NR say about wires from Salford to Preston, but the things which disquiet me are:
1. The National Grid work needed between Clifton and Kearsley, where we appear to be at the mercy of a third party
2. Foot crossings, of which Kearsley was done before Farnworth Tunnel and the farmer's accommodation crossing south of Chorley appears to have been closed, but otherwise none has been started (or publicly been agreed to leave open, after all there is at least one foot crossing on Chat Moss).
3. Bolton remodelling
I hope I'm worrying needlessly.
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In public at least, they still say in service for December 2017.
WatcherZero
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Bolton remodelling kicks off 24th January with a target completion of mid 2017.
SodTheDrummer
Member
Is the remodelling at BON just to add in the track for the reinstated platform 5 or are there other changes to be made does anyone know?
I'd say its the whole track shebang, its very old and hasn't been touched for years, the points and track are all still wooden sleepers and the ballast is knackered, it'll all most probably be renewed it certainly needs it.
SodTheDrummer
Member
I do seem to remember our esteemed (and sadly quiet recently) J.Locke Esq, mentioning that some of the S&C used during Farnworth Tunnel works were to be later re-used at Bolton...
Whereabouts I am not sure, but as ALX says, a lot of it is still on wooden sleepers and generally knackered by the looks of it..
QueensCurve
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Hating to be pedantic (well loving it really), aren't they bearers in the case of S&C?
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SodTheDrummer
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Pedantry is important generally (controversial viewpoint, I know), but especially so on the railway!
furnessvale
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When I was on the per way, admittedly some years ago, we always called them timbers.
QueensCurve
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Is there a published track layout anywhere?
QueensCurve
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Pedantry is important generally (controversial viewpoint, I know), but especially so on the railway!
It is necessary in safety critical communication.
QueensCurve
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I stand corrected. I will correct original post.
Joseph_Locke
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Don't; "bearer" is the correct term, as it is agnostic of material used.
Bearer also refers to a deeper and wider cross section than that used for sleepers in plain line.
furnessvale
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As did "timber" in my day when wood was the only material used for that purpose.
I am more than happy to accept that terminology has changed in the intervening years.
edwin_m
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But wasn't the original post made of timber anyway?
QueensCurve
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No. It was "corrected" and has now reverted.
Joseph_Locke
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Ignoring the temptation to make a "timber post" joke, wouldn't it be so much easier if there was some kind of encyclopaedia of British railway engineering terminology to which we could all refer?
Yes, the Kearsley-end (40mph, trailing) crossover moves to Bolton East Junction, and is joined by the crossover that will be recovered from Huyton Junction when the fourth line is connected. The crossover from Kearlsey certainly has concrete bearers, I can't recall if the Huyton one is too (it should be).
To my knowledge the Moses Gate (30mph, facing) crossover hasn't been found a home.
None of the S&C at Bolton is laid to timber sleepers, it is all on Jarrah bearers ...
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furnessvale
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Ignoring the temptation to make a "timber post" joke, wouldn't it be so much easier if there was some kind of encyclopaedia of British railway engineering terminology to which we could all refer?
Yes, the Kearsley-end (40mph, trailing) crossover moves to Bolton East Junction, and is joined by the crossover that will be recovered from Huyton Junction when the fourth line is connected. The crossover from Kearlsey certainly has concrete bearers, I can't recall if the Huyton one is too (it should be).
To my knowledge the Moses Gate (30mph, facing) crossover hasn't been found a home.
None of the S&C at Bolton is laid to timber sleepers, it is all on Jarrah bearers ...
A bit more pedantry.... the only place "sleepers" would be found in S & C would be in the guts of sleeper leads which were a wartime invention to save precious timbers.
I remember them still in service in loops on the WCML in the early 1960s, but all have now long gone of course.
Joseph_Locke
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Ahh, that's a "sleepered lead" - as you say, rare in the extreme!
Ploughman
Established Member
If its up for grabs, Can I have it?
LDECRexile
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Joseph_Locke
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I suspect it'll be "buyer collect", and you'll need a pretty big trailer ...
... that said, it's barely run-in.
Ploughman
Established Member
PM me with details and I will look for a big trailer.
Allelys or Reids should have one
SodTheDrummer
Member
Ignoring the temptation to make a "timber post" joke, wouldn't it be so much easier if there was some kind of encyclopaedia of British railway engineering terminology to which we could all refer?
You doing a book tour at anytime soon Mr Locke?
Joseph_Locke
Established Member
You doing a book tour at anytime soon Mr Locke?
I'd have to write one first, I fear. Is there something in your eye?
Trog
Established Member
wouldn't it be so much easier if there was some kind of encyclopaedia of British railway engineering terminology to which we could all refer?
Really annoying book that, something most of could have done if only we had, had the idea and been bothered to get off our arses and write it.
As for S&C with ordinary sleepers in the belly panel there were a couple at Dunstable right up until the line closed. But then I think that sort of thing was an LNER speciality.
Good news for 2017 progress. The local Facebook group had a photo attached (not sure how to add here) of a letter to residents about forthcoming work in the New Year.
I think the letter covers Salford all the way to Euxton Junction (its partially obscured) so not all the work will be happening here every night, but....
Between Saturday 7th January and Saturday 25th February, work to install foundations will take place on each night between 22:00-05:00 in your area.
The foundations will be a mixture of concrete formations and piled construction.
Between Saturday 11th February and Saturday 29th April work to install overhead line structures will take place on each night of the week between 22:00-05:00 in your area.
Rest of the letter explains why the work is needed but I cant read it all because it was photographed at an angle.
I think the letter covers Salford all the way to Euxton Junction (its partially obscured) so not all the work will be happening here every night, but....
Between Saturday 7th January and Saturday 25th February, work to install foundations will take place on each night between 22:00-05:00 in your area.
The foundations will be a mixture of concrete formations and piled construction.
Between Saturday 11th February and Saturday 29th April work to install overhead line structures will take place on each night of the week between 22:00-05:00 in your area.
Rest of the letter explains why the work is needed but I cant read it all because it was photographed at an angle.
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