Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[edwin_m]

Costs come down. Also you build up a workforce with experience, reliable chains of supply, partnerships...

And electrification is not a special case. The same principles apply across the piece, whether the investment is in track, signalling or trains.

The reason we have the stop/start, feast/famine approach to investment in rail is that decision making is constrained by the 4/5 year political cycle. There is no political consensus, even about what level of continuous public investment in rail is appropriate, let alone the priorities. Until we do have that political consensus (and I am not holding my breath) we are unfortunately doomed to have these cost and time overruns during times of feast and be left to ruminate on what might have been during times of inevitable famine.

I'm not sure it's even a party political issue. The Thatcher government was famously anti-rail but actually let BR do some big projects like the ECML electrification and Sprinterisation. Major was all about privatisation and nothing else. Blair/Brown didn't do much for rail until thier final years when they suddenly got very much in favour of it. This was essentially continued by the coalition but more radically so, and now a Tory government run by most of the same people is cutting back in a way that will only do harm in the long term. So the changes of policy seem to be during a period of government by one party rather than when the government changes.

 

[LDECRexile]

Good News

Wrinkley has kindly sent shots of the worrysome area between the footbridge north of Farnworth station and Rawson Street road bridge.

Trackman kindly sent a remarkable shot of base work in Post #7430, dubbed here as the journey to the centre of the earth, which also mentioned a second base nearby. Wrinkley's shots show both these bases at track level, as well as the two bare masts high up the cutting sides installed not long ago.

I've added Wrinkley's shots to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157654034635234

and to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Wrinkley.

 

[LDECRexile]

A special Bonus Point will be awarded for shots of the fixings which have been attached to the glazed brickwork towards the northern end of Bolton Platform 1.

 

[LDECRexile]

A special Bonus Point will be awarded for shots of the fixings which have been attached to the glazed brickwork towards the northern end of Bolton Platform 1.

Submissions have poured in, but the first came from a Mrs Trellis of North Wales, er sorry, that should read "from a Mr Reg of These Parts", who wins the coveted prize for his fine study, shown here in his album:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157671732263863

and also in the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Reg, your award is in the post.

 

[kaiser62]

A special Bonus Point will be awarded for shots of the fixings which have been attached to the glazed brickwork towards the northern end of Bolton Platform 1.

Will Samantha be keeping the score?

 

[LDECRexile]

Samantha keeps her eye on everyone's points.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Creative bespoke designs and great photography all round. Thanks Reg I award you a Brucie bonus.

 

[CAF397]

23. Adlington Station; 19m 15ch
Some bases in place, 1 mast up (Down side), no wires.

Just passed through Adlington. One mast (TTC) standing on the Up platform too (towards Bolton).

 

[CAF397]

Another photo of the metalwork on the wall of the north end of Platform 1 at Bolton.

 

[LDECRexile]

Another photo of the metalwork on the wall of the north end of Platform 1 at Bolton.

Thank you. I'll add it to the albums tomorrow.

Good News

I've just had a look at Real Time Trains for KKM (Kirkham and Wesham) for today, Friday 8th June. I couldn't see any cancellations.

It looks like someone is getting a grip.

A long way to go, but well done all those professional railway men and women who have weathered the storm and have started to right the ship.

 

[deltic08]

Good News

Wrinkley has kindly sent shots of the worrysome area between the footbridge north of Farnworth station and Rawson Street road bridge.

Trackman kindly sent a remarkable shot of base work in Post #7430, dubbed here as the journey to the centre of the earth, which also mentioned a second base nearby. Wrinkley's shots show both these bases at track level, as well as the two bare masts high up the cutting sides installed not long ago.

I've added Wrinkley's shots to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157654034635234

and to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Wrinkley.

So, how many bases are left to do? The last figure I saw was 31 but that was last week. It must have reduced by a couple.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

So, how many bases are left to do? The last figure I saw was 31 but that was last week. It must have reduced by a couple.

Of the ones published that I have heard about I make it 28 maximum. It should be less than this because there are bound to be the odd one or two we do not know/have not heard about.

 

[Trackman]

Wow! Journey to the centre of the earth?

1. You say "photos", are there more?
2. Please may I add it/them to the Combined Volume? If I may, who do I give credit to?

Keep 'em coming!

Thank you

Dave

Only just seen this post Dave!
I've attached another, this gives a better scale of it.
yes, please add to combined volume, credit it to Mark.

 

[LDECRexile]

Only just seen this post Dave!
I've attached another, this gives a better scale of it.
yes, please add to combined volume, credit it to Mark.

Fab, thank you. I'm in the middle of processing them. I had a long talk with Wrinkley last night. I had assumed the enormously long thing in the photos was Pile of the Century (aka Journey to the Centre of the Earth) but he thinks not. Can you please spell out for us duffers what exactly the long thing is?

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Fab, thank you. I'm in the middle of processing them. I had a long talk with Wrinkley last night. I had assumed the enormously long thing in the photos was Pile of the Century (aka Journey to the Centre of the Earth) but he thinks not. Can you please spell out for us duffers what exactly the long thing is?

Samantha points out that length isn't everything.

 

[LDECRexile]

I have consolidated three interesting recent images published here and kindly released for use in the Combined Volume and its constituents.

TBSchenker's shot of the new metalwork opposite the northern part of Bolton Platform 1 is now also in his flickr album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157668239371996

Mark's shots of highly unusual mast base activity in Farnworth are in his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157669932299228

All three shots are also in the Combined Volume here:

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

As the Farnworth shots were taken before Wrinkley's recent photoset of the same location I have put Mark's in the correct place chronologically, numbered A302m & k. Those thousands of users who have lain awake at night wondering why my numbering goes up in fours, this is an example why - I can simply slot Mark's work in using A302, between A300 and A304.

Thank you TB, Mark and Trackman for acting as Mark's publicity manager.

Finally, for those of you with young children or grandchildren: "What kind of train is good to eat?" "A chew, chew train." Neither Ann nor I had heard that one before.

 

[LDECRexile]

Samantha points out that length isn't everything.

Mrs Trellis believes Samantha is losing his touch.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Samantha points out that length isn't everything.

Diameter/ girth ?

 

[Trackman]

Fab, thank you. I'm in the middle of processing them. I had a long talk with Wrinkley last night. I had assumed the enormously long thing in the photos was Pile of the Century (aka Journey to the Centre of the Earth) but he thinks not. Can you please spell out for us duffers what exactly the long thing is?

Just spoke to him, it was was some sort of piling. They did two and left.
Also news that the footbridge near Farnworth station will be closed tonight, so something going on.

 

[PDG1949]

Just spoke to him, it was was some sort of piling. They did two and left.
Also news that the footbridge near Farnworth station will be closed tonight, so something going on.

It's actually for a sign saying "Alight here for Mornington Crescent" - they're gonna use the old Farnworth Tunnel...

 

[LDECRexile]

Wrinkley has kindly sent two photosets, one of further progress at Lostock and one showing why the footbridge north of Farnworth station was closed overnight.

I've added them to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157654034635234

and to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Wrinkley.

Let's hope someone can shed some light on the mystery shots.

 

[snowball]

In A344i I can see something that appears to have 1/2 written on it in black, as if it were a milepost. Is that the object I'm supposed to be looking at?

 

[Baz123]

Seen this afternoon (Sun 10th) from Lostock Station towards and past Ladybridge what appears to be earth wire being installed - please correct me if it's not earth wire!

 

[wrinkley]

Seen this afternoon (Sun 10th) from Lostock Station towards and past Ladybridge what appears to be earth wire being installed - please correct me if it's not earth wire!

View attachment 48163 View attachment 48164 View attachment 48165 View attachment 48166[/QUOTE

It is an earth wire, there is one that comes from the Horwich direction which stops at the North end of the station platform, also on the down line like the new one. Have they come through the station or started again at the South end?

 

[wrinkley]

In A344i I can see something that appears to have 1/2 written on it in black, as if it were a milepost. Is that the object I'm supposed to be looking at?

You are right, my mistake, not a steel column but a milpost. Ah well, back to Specsavers

 

[Baz123]

It is an earth wire, there is one that comes from the Horwich direction which stops at the North end of the station platform, also on the down line like the new one. Have they come through the station or started again at the South end?

They were pulling it from a position situated just West of Lostock station on the Wigan line.

 

[chrissawer]

Spotted the first wire through Salford Crescent platform 2 (Northbound) this morning.
Guess it's an earth wire? Don't remember it being there last week.

 

[CAF397]

Progress around the Flying Arches.

https://twitter.com/TheGNRP/status/1006074997704667136

Pics from Twitter (c) TheGNRP

 

[Trackman]

Seen this afternoon (Sun 10th) from Lostock Station towards and past Ladybridge what appears to be earth wire being installed - please correct me if it's not earth wire!

View attachment 48163 View attachment 48164 View attachment 48165 View attachment 48166

thanks for the photos Baz123!

Does anyone know what thing is attached to the ATF bracket? (photo no.2)
It looks like an upside down anti-pidgeon device.
I've seen these before on the WCML and have always been puzzled.

 

[rebmcr]

thanks for the photos Baz123!

Does anyone know what thing is attached to the ATF bracket? (photo no.2)
It looks like an upside down anti-pidgeon device.
I've seen these before on the WCML and have always been puzzled.

That is interesting! My gut is telling me it's an arc arrestor (i.e. if there is going to be arcing, the device presents an inviting path so as to "catch" it), or possibly an antenna of some sort, but I wouldn't expect that to share OHLE infrastructure.

I too look forward to an inevitably well-informed reply!