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Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

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LDECRexile

LDECRexile

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An unforseen urgent trip to Bury earned me Brownie Points and a chance to see what's what south of Bolton.

Something is happening near the foot crossings near the M60 in Clifton. I went to explore and found nowhere to park because Murphy have commandeered the relevant muddy track as a haul road. It is entirely possible that their efforts are nowt to do with the railway, but if so, I'm puzzled what they're up to. I'll strive to venture forth with more time and boots in due course. Can anyone see owt from trains?

Otherwise, good tidings from Kearsley, Burnden and Green Lane as per the following:

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

Yo!!
 
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Elecman

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snowball said:
From the NP Twitter feed:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C56N8DmWMAAK0LC.jpg

It's odd that they're claiming that this substation is "to power electric trains" and yet at the same time "to replace life expired substations that were installed in the 1950s".
Click to expand...

The new substation is the Auto Transformer Substation which will replace the adjacent old Euxton Track Section Cabin on the opposite side of Euxton Junction, but that of course is 1970s vintage not 1950s
 
Joseph_Locke

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Elecman said:
The new substation is the Auto Transformer Substation which will replace the adjacent old Euxton Track Section Cabin on the opposite side of Euxton Junction, but that of course is 1970s vintage not 1950s
Click to expand...

Both true, but more true if the first quote read
"to power additional electric trains"
Click to expand...

Euxton ATS (it isn't a feeder) is actually part of the WCPSU works, and won't normally connect to the Bolton Lines (beyond the new OHNS just to the Buckshaw side of Euxton itself). The Bolton lines (exclusive of Euxton) will ultlimatly be fed via the extension lead*.



* You'll know it as Heyrod Feeder - east of Stalyvegas
 
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Inox

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Hiya

Ballast train parked up at Adlington this morning.

Think i saw a 66 with wagons pulling OHLE uprights between Chorley and Adlington? I could be mistaken as i was on a coach on the A6 400 yards away...
 
LNW-GW Joint

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Back to actual progress!
Between Fylde Jn and Salwick the number of bases has gone up to 55/40 (Up/Down).
A new run of 10 bases on each side has appeared east of Poulton, and there is a stack of piles in a worksite closer to Poulton.

I counted 21 new bases between Bolton and Farnworth (Down side).
Nothing yet between Farnworth and Agecroft.
 
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Inox

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I think there were some masts up between Bolton and Lostock or between Horwich and Lostock - can't remember. maybe 10 or so.

Not sure if this has already been reported.
 
LNW-GW Joint

LNW-GW Joint

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Inox said:
I think there were some masts up between Bolton and Lostock or between Horwich and Lostock - can't remember. maybe 10 or so.
Click to expand...

There are 2 lots of masts up.
There are about 12 each side between Lostock and Horwich (been there for about 4 months).
There are also an isolated 5 on the Down between Blackrod and Adlington - they've been there for over a year and were said to be "trial" installations by the new contractor.
I saw no new ones today, but I only got to see the Down line.
I believe the policy is "bases before masts", which might explain the new burst of base activity at 3 different points.
 
Chrisyd

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Preparing for a new base to be anchored inside Salford Central. Looks like they are going to be cutting glass as part of this!

by Chris Davis, on Flickr
 
LDECRexile

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I did a full Salford Central to Blackpool North and back today, armed with Mk1 paper and pen. Doubtless this will repeat some things already reported.

Headlines:

1. Lots of bases and scrapes Fylde Junction-Poulton-le-Fylde
2. Some bases Salford-Euxton, but lots of scrapes (preliminary excavation), especially south of Kearsley
3. Flecks of orange here and there, but they seem to have become mainly nocturnal
4. Lots of new rail in the 4ft awaiting installation, especially Horwich-Chorley and around Poulton
5. Haul road access being constructed to foot crossings near M60 bridge, presumably preparing for them to be replaced with bridge(s)
6. Lot of de-veging around Dixon Fold
7. Probable worksite south of Kearsley
8. Earthmoving has begun at south end of Bolton station (platform 5-to-be)
also
9. Dramatic progress on building work at Middlewood Locks complex
10. Lots of orange at Salford Central
11. Manchester Exchange site now a glass cube
12. New Ordsall Chord bridges looking exciting

Progressometer attached

Combined Volume here:

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

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ALX400

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Drove past Skew Bridge in Adlington last night, Orange Army all over the place was about 00.30, they were getting ready for action :D
 
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ianhr

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I wish we could have a separate thread for the South Fylde line!

I thought this one was supposed to be about Blackpool-Manchester ELECTRIFICATION and it is only the Blackpool North route which is being, and ever likely to be, electrified!
 
Chrisyd

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Not much going on at Bolton this weekend, but thought I would post these capturing the current state of Platform 5 and the tracks approaching.

Looking towards the station from Orlando Street bridge:
by Chris Davis, on Flickr

Looking away from the station from Orlando Street Bridge:
by Chris Davis, on Flickr

From Lever Street Footbridge. (The last time I was on this bridge until yesterday was to walk to Burnden Park from the Cattle Market pub - now demolished).
by Chris Davis, on Flickr

Looking towards the Burnden Junction work yard.
by Chris Davis, on Flickr

Does anyone know if there are any plans for the footbridge? It is in poor condition, but as it has not been done yet, I assume it is of sufficient height etc to not warrant replacing as part of the Electrification works.
 
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Joseph_Locke

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Chrisyd said:
Looking away from the station from Orlando Street Bridge:
by Chris Davis, on Flickr


Does anyone know if there are any plans for the footbridge? It is in poor condition, but as it has not been done yet, I assume it is of sufficient height etc to not warrant replacing as part of the Electrification works.
Click to expand...

The foot bridge is clear but the parapets aren't compliant height; making them compliant may cause to fail and need replacing anyway ... last I heard frank and wide-ranging discussions were ongoing ...
 
Chrisyd

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Joseph_Locke said:
The foot bridge is clear but the parapets aren't compliant height; making them compliant may cause to fail and need replacing anyway ... last I heard frank and wide-ranging discussions were ongoing ...
Click to expand...

As it now has a brand new road bridge with segregated paths about 100 yards away and connects two industrial areas with no obvious requirements for a connection, surely a case could be made to save cost on replacement and shut the bridge? (I appreciate shutting a public right of way is never as easy as typing this sentence!)
 
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WatcherZero

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Locke has BR ever investigated some kind of rugged coated foam as used at themeparks for fake rocks as a lightweight solution?
 
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ainsworth74

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As above, any further discussion of the Blackpool South Line and its future should use the new linked thread. Any further posts here will be deleted. If there is a post in this thread that you wish to reply to then simply hit the quote button as normal, copy the resulting text, go to the new thread, paste into the reply box and compose your response underneath the quoted text.
 
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WatcherZero

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Light weight material for extending brick or stone parapet structures which would not otherwise be able to tolerate the weight. Can be textured and painted to look like the original material and receive coats of a hardener and a flame retardant.
 
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