Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[LDECRexile]

In my post #6446 reporting my trip between Bolton and Salford last week I omitted what may be a significant development:

Between Kearsley and Clifton there were men working at height on electricity pylons and wires on both sides of the track. This activity may be nowt to do with the railway, or it could be work towards our long term worry about the seemingly low oversail of some high voltage wires over "our" OLE-to-be. Does anyone know owt about this?

I apologise for missing it out, more haste less speed on my part.

 

[LDECRexile]

I travelled by train Southport-Bolton-Buckshaw Parkway and back today.

There was orange on show at the mega electrical thingy at Lostock, plus a tracked vehicle with an augur to make your eyes water. It was trundling across site, so I have no idea what job it was on.
The route appears to be fully wired from just north of the golf course footbridge north of Lostock station under Gibraltar Farm and Lostock Lane bridges to about half a mile south of Horwich Parkway station.
There are worksites established on both sides of the track where Red Moss foot crossing is being replaced by a footbridge. From moving trains I couldn't see any excavation works for foundations, but having walked the area several times I suspect a bathysphere may be needed.
The short stretch of single wire photographed by ALX400 some time ago north of the footbridge north of Horwich station has not grown.
There are single wires on both sides of the track from just north of the M61 bridge nearly to Ridgeway bridge.
I couldn't see any changes between Blackrod and Adlington; there are no wires along that stretch.
Two short stretches of single wire have been installed on the southbound side (only) between Adlington and Chorley. The first starts immediately north of the road bridge by Adlington station and ends just before the recently installed footbridge at Bradshaw Fields. The second ends just south of the recently installed footbridge at Heath Charnock, I missed its start, but it isn't long.
No masts are yet visible from the train on the Yarrow Viaduct south of Chorley. Progress on the mountings can only be seen from the public road under the structure.
The concrete block mast bases fixed to the tops of retaining walls either side of Chorley Tunnel look ready for action, though I can't vouch for how well set the concrete underneath them is, of course. Their general pattern is to have two sets of four bolts protruding upwards, rather like a double four in dominoes. There are quite a lot of masts with that configuration of feet elsewhere on the project. All the "Bayko" positioning rods appear to have been removed.
The stretch of one or two wires by the northbound track from just north of the worksite north of the tunnel almost to Buckshaw station seems unchanged.
The partial wiring northwards from just north of Buckshaw station seems unchanged.

Apologies for all repeats of old news.

Handful of photos here:

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

 

[Ploughman]

Your big tracked vehicle with an Auger will be for drilling holes for concrete pored piles.
Drill the hole, Insert rebar cage and pour concrete.

 

[LDECRexile]

Thanks, spelt differently, too; that bodes ill for me.

 

[42626]

Between Kearsley and Clifton there were men working at height on electricity pylons and wires on both sides of the track. This activity may be nowt to do with the railway, or it could be work towards our long term worry about the seemingly low oversail of some high voltage wires over "our" OLE-to-be. Does anyone know owt about this?

Can't comment on Kearsley, but the HV pylon work around Clifton has been going on for some time now. They have been maintaining the pylons, and in one case, built a temporary one, to allow the complete replacement of another. They have also been restringing some of the cables.

 

[Elecman]

From the Twitter feed, a picture of the foundation for the electrical thingy at Lostock:

https://twitter.com/TheGNRP/status/973136523267903488

If that pic was this weekend then the substation isn’t being delivered anytime soon as the concrete needs 28 days to cure after being poured

 

[GRALISTAIR]

If that pic was this weekend then the substation isn’t being delivered anytime soon as the concrete needs 28 days to cure after being poured

That is when most concrete reaches 90% of its ultimate compressive strength. It is possible depending on design to load it with machinery etc at as little as 14 days -not ideal of course. I prefer 28 days of course.

 

[YorkshireBear]

That is when most concrete reaches 90% of its ultimate compressive strength. It is possible depending on design to load it with machinery etc at as little as 14 days -not ideal of course. I prefer 28 days of course.

Indeed, for this i imagine it will go the full 28 days. Because why not? It does not require a possession. Unless it is on a critical path for commissioning of course.

However, I have used in the past concrete that is so far over-designed it is insane, simply because we needed the 3 day strength to be the design strength it needed to be. I am fairly confident that foundation will outlive the whole of mankind and certainly the structure on top of it!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Agreed - it is not mission critical. Lets say poured this week -say March 14th. Ready for use April 11th. They still have plenty of wiring, SPS, bases, masts - so no need to install before April 11th anyway - plenty to be getting on with.

 

[driver_m]

I'm sure they left the one at Huyton Quarry for about a month when they did the Chat Moss wiring.

 

[John Boy]

Had another trip from HID to Manchester today.

Spotted what looked like bolts protruding from the concrete footbridge (old entrance) that goes over Salford Crescent on platform 2.

Also looks like bases and some masts are in around the gap near the overhead cables that run across near Kearsley (the 2nd of the sets of cables as you go into Manchester). I've not been able to sit on that side of the train for sometime and is a definite change for me.

 

[SodTheDrummer]

On my travels around various parts of the country in the name of work, last time was near Bradford - I have seen some structures under pylon cables that look like Faraday type cages - essentially wire cages underneath the power lines - I don't know if that's what they are, but can't think of what else they would be - will try and get some pictures next time I'm over there. Wonder if that type of thing would be a cheapish workaround for where the lines are low - happy to be ridiculed by experts!

 

[edwin_m]

On my travels around various parts of the country in the name of work, last time was near Bradford - I have seen some structures under pylon cables that look like Faraday type cages - essentially wire cages underneath the power lines - I don't know if that's what they are, but can't think of what else they would be - will try and get some pictures next time I'm over there. Wonder if that type of thing would be a cheapish workaround for where the lines are low - happy to be ridiculed by experts!

Are those what they do when they are working on the lines when they pass over roads (possibly railways too)? I've always assumed this is something to catch any items dropped during the work.

 

[Malay States]

A digger was removing earth today from behind the redundant flyover abutment at Bradkirk, just west, or north if you like, of the site of Kirkham North Junction box. I expect this to mean that the abutment will soon come down. It has been disused for 51 years, and covered in graffiti which Network Rail has failed to remove for many years.

 

[LDECRexile]

A digger was removing earth today from behind the redundant flyover abutment at Bradkirk, just west, or north if you like, of the site of Kirkham North Junction box. I expect this to mean that the abutment will soon come down. It has been disused for 51 years, and covered in graffiti which Network Rail has failed to remove for many years.

I've received this from an authoritative Orangeman working on the Preston-Blackpool project:

"The Kirkham abutment wall is being removed and is currently 3/4 down with the rest to be completed and site cleared by Saturday. While the wall was not in the way of the OHLE, it was an asset Network Rail as a business had to maintain. Considering the cost of inspecting it for the next 50 years vs the cost of taking it down in a blockade, it made sense to take it down now while we already have paid Northern and Virgin to block the line."

It makes sense to me, especially if it were to become unsafe and necessitate closures and disruption, not to mention collapsing onto the track and the like.

It has been mentioned to me several times by Orangemen and women associated with this project that they are striving to set things up which will be ok for 40 years and more. Pay today, save tomorrow.

 

[Elecman]

Concrete poured today at Lostock Jct for the AT Substation foundation.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Concrete poured today at Lostock Jct for the AT Substation foundation.

So middle of April and job's a good 'un . Quite a few wires should be up then too.

 

[LDECRexile]

Codville has kindly sent photos showing progress at Poulton and Kirkham.

I've added them to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157676830624615

and to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Codville.

 

[superkev]

Do we have a date for driver familiarisation of the new signalling and track layout to commence.
Not long now.
K

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Great pictures btw on the twitter feed of the new signals at Blackpool North

 

[Geeves]

Do we have a date for driver familiarisation of the new signalling and track layout to commence.
Not long now.
K

The rosters on the wall at Vic are showing Guards being briefed from Saturday and drivers from next week .

 

[PDG1949]

Fairly recent ( 8th March) Nodrog video - Hunting for the Wiring Train

 

[Geeves]

Train services from Preston to Blackpool North will start to run from Monday 16 April
16 March 2018

Train services from Preston to Blackpool North will start to run from Monday 16 April.

The line was originally scheduled to reopen on Monday 26 March however extreme weather and equipment breakdown has put the reopening back by three weeks.

Network Rail’s project team have been held up due to a number of factors beyond their control. The adverse weather conditions which were brought to the region by Storm Emma and the ‘Beast from the East’ are one of the main factors blamed for causing the long-awaited line reopening to be pushed back by three weeks later than planned.

A broken-down engineering train, used to install OHLE (overhead line equipment), has also contributed to the delay.

From the internal news.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Oh dear - I assume this maybe connected with the road-rail vehicle accident etc plus the snow and bitter cold thus concrete curing.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Is this maybe more about signalling than electrification?
The wires don't all need to be up to reopen the line to diesels, but they do need the signalling and new track layout to work.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Is this maybe more about signalling than electrification?
The wires don't all need to be up to reopen the line to diesels, but they do need the signalling and new track layout to work.

mmmmm - you could well be correct.

As an aside, did the wires gap Start of Tom Benson Way to UCLAN sports complex get filled yet anyone know?

 

[absolutelymilk]

If it is due to signalling rather than electrification delays, it should give more time for the electrification to be finished without overnight/weekend working right? Or is it too short notice?

 

[PR1Berske]

So disappointed. We were promised trains by the end of March.

 

[superkev]

So disappointed. We were promised trains by the end of March.

Can't say am surprised as Blackpool station looks way behind and lots of drivers to drive a few familisation trips.
Sadley Network rail are consistant in that they rarely seem to finish big projects on time.

 

[PR1Berske]

Can't say am surprised as Blackpool station looks way behind and lots of drivers to drive a few familisation trips.
Sadley Network rail are consistant in that they rarely seem to finish big projects on time.

Well indeed, I agree. It's a situation which inconveniences me and my partner and NR have to be held responsible.