Elecman
Established Member
OLE has NOT been energised this weekend due to an issue
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Blackpool - Manchester Electrification
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superkev
Established Member
Cancelled to be rescheduled I believe.
K
GRALISTAIR
Established Member
Oh Lordy Lordy surely not
Railrover700
Member
- Joined
- 23 Jan 2016
- Messages
- 71
I took a few shots around the Kirkham Tip area today, including some DMU driver training runs. The footbridge on the Blackpool side has not been opened yet, but otherwise the work is looking complete.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/147506051@N02/albums/72157679909475566
https://www.flickr.com/photos/147506051@N02/albums/72157679909475566
LDECRexile
Established Member
Cracking stuff, thank you.
Will new users of this thread please note that Railrover700 is one of several people who have kindly allowed their albums to be linked to the Combined Volume. To access them click on the link below, then click on the very first image, then look down the "Comments" where links lead to several fine albums, some of which contain topical material on the Blackpool-Manchester line such as the above and some contain material going back years:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157661069863633
The_Engineer
Member
- Joined
- 24 Mar 2018
- Messages
- 524
No crew training runs into Blackpool North today.According to the GNRP, final adjustments to the signalling system are being made for service running tomorrow.
It appears that on Friday/Saturday there were at least two track circuit faults on the route resulting in red signals and the driver trainers having to stop and get permission to pass at red. Also there were some issues with points and circuits at Blackpool North. Let's hope all's now well for Monday!
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LDECRexile
Established Member
Hear hear.
Paul and I aim to go to Blackpool North by train tomorrow - fingers crossed!
GRALISTAIR
Established Member
Let us know if you hear buzzing I.e. energized
superkev
Established Member
LDECRexile
Established Member
Our current idea is for me to hold Paul by his left ankle and dangle him over a bridge so he can lick his right index finger and run it along a contact wire to see if it tingles; I'll take photos using my other hand.
Is this a Cunning Plan?
Is this a Cunning Plan?
59CosG95
Established Member
So cunning you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel. Not sure the NW Ambulance service would agree in the case of a mishap...
edwin_m
Veteran Member
And people complain on here that 1.8m parapets on electrified lines aren't necessary...
LeylandLen
Member
A spokesman for Northern said on local radio that about 400 drivers will need to be trained for the new Preston /Blackpool N line.
Then there are the Virgin drivers as well , not only for Voyagers but also 390 Pendelinos. I do not know the number of 'Virgin' drivers !
(I know there is a joke there somewhere but this is a family forum !!!)
Then there are the Virgin drivers as well , not only for Voyagers but also 390 Pendelinos. I do not know the number of 'Virgin' drivers !
(I know there is a joke there somewhere but this is a family forum !!!)
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
Things do seem to be settling down today, after some delays earlier, if RTT is a guide.
Some ECS workings are going in between the hourly passenger service, no doubt for driver training.
It looked initially as though they were trying to keep only one train in the Kirkham-BPN section at a time, but they are passing regularly now.
All the passenger trains have so far used P3, with the ECS workings on P4/5/6.
There often seems to be a delay at Preston.
Some ECS workings are going in between the hourly passenger service, no doubt for driver training.
It looked initially as though they were trying to keep only one train in the Kirkham-BPN section at a time, but they are passing regularly now.
All the passenger trains have so far used P3, with the ECS workings on P4/5/6.
There often seems to be a delay at Preston.
This is some welcome news, looking forward to seeing the pictures.
Trip in today Bolton to MCO, Can confirm 3 pilings added , 2 in one location and 1 in the other where they had taken out the stone wall and driven in steel to act as a retaining wall. See 9948k and 9948m Pendleton old on the photos for the exact location. Certainly more dangly bits as the weeks go by, even saw one on P1 at Bolton which may have been reported before.
59CosG95
Established Member
GSoP Post 2.0 - deprecated by post #6908
Manchester Victoria - Preston; State of Play, 16th April 2018. Now with added mileages for bridges!
Just 93 mast foundations left to install between Euxton Jct & Ordsall Lane Jct.
All mileages from Manchester Victoria. Bridge mileages are approximated where noted.
Man Vic Station (West End) - Man Vic West Jct - Deal Street Jct; 0m 0ch to 0m 32ch
Fully wired 2013-15.
Deal Street Jct - Salford Central (East End); 0m 32ch to 0m 59ch
Fully masted, wired half way as overlap.
Salford Central; 0m 59ch
Fully masted, most SPS up. No wires.
Salford Central (West End) - Windsor Bridge South Jct; 0m 59ch to 1m 46ch
All bases in place, mostly with masts, no wires.
Windsor Bridge South Jct - Windsor Bridge North Jct (inc. Salford Crescent); 1m 46ch to 1m 70ch
Many bases in place, some with masts, no wires. No bases in Salford Crescent P2. S Jct looks ready for wiring, but mast gaps still present at N Jct. Lots of SPS up immediately north of Salford Cres.; all stalactites up beneath the bridge at the south end on all lines.
Windsor Bridge North Jct - Clifton (South End); 1m 70ch to 4m 57ch
Many bases in place, some with masts, no wires.
Dangly bits up near Agecroft.
At Pendleton (the Old Station site), just north of Broughton Rd Bridge (2m 26ch), the Pendleton retaining wall is being cut back to make room for masts. Bases are also going in on the southbound side.
Between Frederick Rd & Broughton Rd (2m 26ch) bridges, most masts are up, except for the "problem base" just south of Broughton Rd. 3 more problem bases being tackled between Broughton Rd Bridge & Cockrobin Bridge (approx. 2m 51ch).
Structure going up between Agecroft Rd bridge and Clifton, nr Lumns Lane; no work on missing bases in the walled stretch north of Agecroft Rd though.
Lot of masts with SPS up on the southern approach to Clifton.
Clifton Station; 4m 57ch
All bases in place, 1 boomed TTC, no wires. SPS up on the TTC.
Clifton (North End) - Kearsley (South End); 4m 57ch to 7m 57ch
Most/all bases in place, large no. of masts, no wires.
Concrete slab base curing north of the former Dixon Fold station site (around the new footbridge, approx. 6m 00ch); most/all masts up there, with lots of stovepipes up.
Kearsley Station; 7m 57ch
All bases in place, no masts, no wires.
Kearsley (North End) - Farnworth (South End); 7m 57ch to 8m 31ch
Some bases in place, some masts (with booms), no wires. Farnworth tunnel (8m 25ch) has all its registration arms in place.
Farnworth Station; 8m 31ch
All bases in place, 1 or 2 masts, no wires.
Farnworth (North End) - Moses Gate (South End); 8m 31ch to 9m 06ch
CHANGE: a pair of bases & squat masts went up between Farnworth Station footbridge and Rawson St Bridge (approx. 8m 44ch) over the weekend of 14/15 April; thanks to "Trackman" for the gen.
Fully boomed and partially bedanglied TTCs up between Rawson St & the Balustraded Bridge (approx. 8m 56ch).
"Base of the century", of the gravity variety, going in just south of the Squeeze Belly Entry footbridge (approx. 8m 67ch).
Moses Gate Station; 9m 06ch
Fully masted, no wires
Moses Gate (North End) - Bolton (South End); 9m 06ch to 10m 50ch
Many bases, many masts, no wires. SPS and Tensorex drums appearing on some masts/cantilevers around Burnden Jct (10m 09ch). Weston St to Moses Gate looks almost ready for wiring.
Bolton Station; 10m 50ch
Many bases, some masts; P1 & the north end of P5 among them. New bases have gone in at the NW end of P3. The 3 missing bases around P5 have now been piled in. The fencing at the SE end of the station (opposite the S end of the P1/2/3 island) made permanent; perhaps non-rail plant work done. Platforms 98% open to public. Work going on with P2 buffers. Canopies look complete. Settlement Monitoring equipment between P3 & P4.
Bolton (North End) - Lostock (South End); 10m 50ch to 13m 52ch
More masts (approx. 6) up between Bolton Stn and Newport St bridge. Bullfield Tunnel bedanglied throughout, with a concrete slab base at the southern end (now with one mast).
Also, masts (including 2 TTCs) and bases in place on the line to Blackburn as far as Bradshawgate Tunnel.
Most masts up around Dean Clough Bridge (12m 26ch), with cantilever assembles affixed (and folded out of place).
Just south of Lostock, outstanding short, fat bases are being driven, augered out, rebarred and then concreted; this process is also being used on the overrun for the Wigan lines, via Lostock Jct (13m 39ch). A UTX (aka. "Dalek") has been installed in the "vee" in Lostock Jct, for buried service access.
Lostock Station; 13m 52ch
Some bases in place, no masts, no wires. Switchgear box delivered 6th April '18.
Lostock (North End) - Horwich Pkwy (South End); 13m 52ch to 15m 50ch
For a mile between the stations, all wires up from the "Golf Course" Footbridge (approx. 14m 04ch) to half a mile south of Horwich Pkwy. All masts appear to be in place with SPS for the remaining sections between the two.
Horwich Parkway Station; 15m 50ch
Some bases in place, no masts, no wires.
Horwich Pkwy (North End) - Blackrod (South End); 15m 50ch to 17m 14ch
All bases in place, mostly with masts. Earth/AT wires linking 9 masts together between the 2 stations, heading north (on the Up side) from immediately north of the M61 bridge (approx. 16m 29ch). 5 short lengths of earth & AT wiring (3 on the Up, 2 on the Down; none linking more than 10 masts) between Horwich and Buckshaw. SPS appearing on portals near Blackrod.
Blackrod Station; 17m 14ch
Some more bases in place, no masts, no wires. Empty mast base at the northern end.
Blackrod (North End) - Adlington (South End); 17m 14ch to 19m 15ch
Lots of masts up just north of Blackrod. Some base replacement work occurred over 17th/18th Feb to replace failed bases. Successful bases have masts up with SPS on.
Adlington Station; 19m 15ch
Some bases in place, 1 mast up (Down side), no wires.
Adlington (North End) - Chorley (South End); 19m 15ch to 22m 20ch
2 short stretches of wire on the s'bound track.
Bespoke mast fixings going up on Yarrow Viaduct (21m 26ch at the southern end); 3 of the 4 are in place.
Chorley Station; 22m 20ch
Some bases in place, no masts, no wires.
Chorley (North End) - Buckshaw Pkwy (South End); 22m 20ch to 24m 39ch
Many bases, some masts, 1 or 2 wires. No fittings up yet in Chorley Tunnel (23m 20ch to 23m 25ch), but some are up in the Flying Arches cutting.
Buckshaw Parkway Station; 24m 39ch
Some bases in place, 2 masts up (both on Down side), couple of wires.
Buckshaw Pkwy (North End) - Euxton Jct; 24m 39ch to 25m 31ch
Almost fully masted; about half the wires up until halfway to Euxton, then fully wired the rest of the way. Still gaps in the mast runs with new bases appearing here and there.
Do let me know if I've missed anything!
Manchester Victoria - Preston; State of Play, 16th April 2018. Now with added mileages for bridges!
Just 93 mast foundations left to install between Euxton Jct & Ordsall Lane Jct.
All mileages from Manchester Victoria. Bridge mileages are approximated where noted.
Man Vic Station (West End) - Man Vic West Jct - Deal Street Jct; 0m 0ch to 0m 32ch
Fully wired 2013-15.
Deal Street Jct - Salford Central (East End); 0m 32ch to 0m 59ch
Fully masted, wired half way as overlap.
Salford Central; 0m 59ch
Fully masted, most SPS up. No wires.
Salford Central (West End) - Windsor Bridge South Jct; 0m 59ch to 1m 46ch
All bases in place, mostly with masts, no wires.
Windsor Bridge South Jct - Windsor Bridge North Jct (inc. Salford Crescent); 1m 46ch to 1m 70ch
Many bases in place, some with masts, no wires. No bases in Salford Crescent P2. S Jct looks ready for wiring, but mast gaps still present at N Jct. Lots of SPS up immediately north of Salford Cres.; all stalactites up beneath the bridge at the south end on all lines.
Windsor Bridge North Jct - Clifton (South End); 1m 70ch to 4m 57ch
Many bases in place, some with masts, no wires.
Dangly bits up near Agecroft.
At Pendleton (the Old Station site), just north of Broughton Rd Bridge (2m 26ch), the Pendleton retaining wall is being cut back to make room for masts. Bases are also going in on the southbound side.
Between Frederick Rd & Broughton Rd (2m 26ch) bridges, most masts are up, except for the "problem base" just south of Broughton Rd. 3 more problem bases being tackled between Broughton Rd Bridge & Cockrobin Bridge (approx. 2m 51ch).
Structure going up between Agecroft Rd bridge and Clifton, nr Lumns Lane; no work on missing bases in the walled stretch north of Agecroft Rd though.
Lot of masts with SPS up on the southern approach to Clifton.
Clifton Station; 4m 57ch
All bases in place, 1 boomed TTC, no wires. SPS up on the TTC.
Clifton (North End) - Kearsley (South End); 4m 57ch to 7m 57ch
Most/all bases in place, large no. of masts, no wires.
Concrete slab base curing north of the former Dixon Fold station site (around the new footbridge, approx. 6m 00ch); most/all masts up there, with lots of stovepipes up.
Kearsley Station; 7m 57ch
All bases in place, no masts, no wires.
Kearsley (North End) - Farnworth (South End); 7m 57ch to 8m 31ch
Some bases in place, some masts (with booms), no wires. Farnworth tunnel (8m 25ch) has all its registration arms in place.
Farnworth Station; 8m 31ch
All bases in place, 1 or 2 masts, no wires.
Farnworth (North End) - Moses Gate (South End); 8m 31ch to 9m 06ch
CHANGE: a pair of bases & squat masts went up between Farnworth Station footbridge and Rawson St Bridge (approx. 8m 44ch) over the weekend of 14/15 April; thanks to "Trackman" for the gen.
Fully boomed and partially bedanglied TTCs up between Rawson St & the Balustraded Bridge (approx. 8m 56ch).
"Base of the century", of the gravity variety, going in just south of the Squeeze Belly Entry footbridge (approx. 8m 67ch).
Moses Gate Station; 9m 06ch
Fully masted, no wires
Moses Gate (North End) - Bolton (South End); 9m 06ch to 10m 50ch
Many bases, many masts, no wires. SPS and Tensorex drums appearing on some masts/cantilevers around Burnden Jct (10m 09ch). Weston St to Moses Gate looks almost ready for wiring.
Bolton Station; 10m 50ch
Many bases, some masts; P1 & the north end of P5 among them. New bases have gone in at the NW end of P3. The 3 missing bases around P5 have now been piled in. The fencing at the SE end of the station (opposite the S end of the P1/2/3 island) made permanent; perhaps non-rail plant work done. Platforms 98% open to public. Work going on with P2 buffers. Canopies look complete. Settlement Monitoring equipment between P3 & P4.
Bolton (North End) - Lostock (South End); 10m 50ch to 13m 52ch
More masts (approx. 6) up between Bolton Stn and Newport St bridge. Bullfield Tunnel bedanglied throughout, with a concrete slab base at the southern end (now with one mast).
Also, masts (including 2 TTCs) and bases in place on the line to Blackburn as far as Bradshawgate Tunnel.
Most masts up around Dean Clough Bridge (12m 26ch), with cantilever assembles affixed (and folded out of place).
Just south of Lostock, outstanding short, fat bases are being driven, augered out, rebarred and then concreted; this process is also being used on the overrun for the Wigan lines, via Lostock Jct (13m 39ch). A UTX (aka. "Dalek") has been installed in the "vee" in Lostock Jct, for buried service access.
Lostock Station; 13m 52ch
Some bases in place, no masts, no wires. Switchgear box delivered 6th April '18.
Lostock (North End) - Horwich Pkwy (South End); 13m 52ch to 15m 50ch
For a mile between the stations, all wires up from the "Golf Course" Footbridge (approx. 14m 04ch) to half a mile south of Horwich Pkwy. All masts appear to be in place with SPS for the remaining sections between the two.
Horwich Parkway Station; 15m 50ch
Some bases in place, no masts, no wires.
Horwich Pkwy (North End) - Blackrod (South End); 15m 50ch to 17m 14ch
All bases in place, mostly with masts. Earth/AT wires linking 9 masts together between the 2 stations, heading north (on the Up side) from immediately north of the M61 bridge (approx. 16m 29ch). 5 short lengths of earth & AT wiring (3 on the Up, 2 on the Down; none linking more than 10 masts) between Horwich and Buckshaw. SPS appearing on portals near Blackrod.
Blackrod Station; 17m 14ch
Some more bases in place, no masts, no wires. Empty mast base at the northern end.
Blackrod (North End) - Adlington (South End); 17m 14ch to 19m 15ch
Lots of masts up just north of Blackrod. Some base replacement work occurred over 17th/18th Feb to replace failed bases. Successful bases have masts up with SPS on.
Adlington Station; 19m 15ch
Some bases in place, 1 mast up (Down side), no wires.
Adlington (North End) - Chorley (South End); 19m 15ch to 22m 20ch
2 short stretches of wire on the s'bound track.
Bespoke mast fixings going up on Yarrow Viaduct (21m 26ch at the southern end); 3 of the 4 are in place.
Chorley Station; 22m 20ch
Some bases in place, no masts, no wires.
Chorley (North End) - Buckshaw Pkwy (South End); 22m 20ch to 24m 39ch
Many bases, some masts, 1 or 2 wires. No fittings up yet in Chorley Tunnel (23m 20ch to 23m 25ch), but some are up in the Flying Arches cutting.
Buckshaw Parkway Station; 24m 39ch
Some bases in place, 2 masts up (both on Down side), couple of wires.
Buckshaw Pkwy (North End) - Euxton Jct; 24m 39ch to 25m 31ch
Almost fully masted; about half the wires up until halfway to Euxton, then fully wired the rest of the way. Still gaps in the mast runs with new bases appearing here and there.
Do let me know if I've missed anything!
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td97
Established Member
- Joined
- 26 Jul 2017
- Messages
- 1,447
Was the OHLE ever switched on for Preston-Blackpool over the weekend?
And now that the possession is over with wiring/signalling apparently complete, does that mean all work is completed, or will there still be overnight work?
Thanks in advance for any replies.
And now that the possession is over with wiring/signalling apparently complete, does that mean all work is completed, or will there still be overnight work?
Thanks in advance for any replies.
Sandgrounder
New Member
I've just uploaded a few photos taken this afternoon of the resumption of rail services to Blackpool North http://blackpooltrams.com.
I assume from #6874 that it wasn't, and that the "issues", whatever they are, will take a little time to fix.
LDECRexile
Established Member
I travelled Salford Crescent to Blackpool North by train today. Alas, Paul couldn't come.
I can confirm:
very welcome masts between Farnworth station and Rawson Street
very welcome bases in Pendleton Old area
seeming very welcome resolution of the base problem immediately north of Cock Robin Bridge
(at least) six dangloid registration arms between Chorley Arches
(I think) new masts between Kearsley and Farnworth tunnel
I travelled on 156s to and from Blackpool, saw Northern DMUs on crew training turns and a TPE Class 185 presumably doing likewise.
Pockets of Orange scattered throughout the route.
I think Bolton to Newport St looked mastier.
Five platforms looked usable at Blackpool, P1 was fenced off and occupied by yellow kit.
I had the good fortune to meet both Sandgrounder/BlackpoolTrams (see above) and NODROG, which may lead to more image sharing.
Photos later.
I can confirm:
very welcome masts between Farnworth station and Rawson Street
very welcome bases in Pendleton Old area
seeming very welcome resolution of the base problem immediately north of Cock Robin Bridge
(at least) six dangloid registration arms between Chorley Arches
(I think) new masts between Kearsley and Farnworth tunnel
I travelled on 156s to and from Blackpool, saw Northern DMUs on crew training turns and a TPE Class 185 presumably doing likewise.
Pockets of Orange scattered throughout the route.
I think Bolton to Newport St looked mastier.
Five platforms looked usable at Blackpool, P1 was fenced off and occupied by yellow kit.
I had the good fortune to meet both Sandgrounder/BlackpoolTrams (see above) and NODROG, which may lead to more image sharing.
Photos later.
LDECRexile
Established Member
I alighted from the train and went exploring unchallenged. I didn't go far beyond my train towards the country end, but one chap did. He was spotted and a member of station staff went to talk to him, passing me with a civil greeting as he went. His manner and approach looked like concern for a possible suicide rather than "what are you up to?"
I went into the concourse (if that's the right word) and looked around unhindered. The only staff I saw were two who went out of their way to help a lady in a wheelchair and another who checked tickets on admission to the platforms with eye contact and a civil "thank you."
I have never encountered anything other than professional behaviour from staff at Blackpool North.
I went into the concourse (if that's the right word) and looked around unhindered. The only staff I saw were two who went out of their way to help a lady in a wheelchair and another who checked tickets on admission to the platforms with eye contact and a civil "thank you."
I have never encountered anything other than professional behaviour from staff at Blackpool North.
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