Manchester - Liverpool Electrification

[The Planner]

Yes indeed, but there was nothing stopping them putting in the turnout and associated signalling/OLE last time round, in the same way the station platforms and 4th track through them were done.
I'm intrigued that there might have been a redesign, and whether this is an upgrade or downgrade!

I'm pretty sure there is a limit on how long you can keep a non commissioned piece of S&C in on the ground (6 months I think) so I doubt they could have put the turnout in without a derogation.

 

[Class 170101]

Other than the Metropolitan Railway (London Underground) between (I think) West Hampstead and Wembley Park where the slow lines (Stanmore Branch - present day Jubilee Line) are the centre pair of tracks, with the fast tracks being on the outside, is this the first time an arrangement of tracks been done like this on the heavy rail network?

The layout proposed for Huyton isn't like the Metropolitan / Jubilee layout.

The Huyton layout from the track diagram linked to above is slow, fast, slow, fast from top to bottom of diagram.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Other than the Metropolitan Railway (London Underground) between (I think) West Hampstead and Wembley Park where the slow lines (Stanmore Branch - present day Jubilee Line) are the centre pair of tracks, with the fast tracks being on the outside, is this the first time an arrangement of tracks been done like this on the heavy rail network?

There are a few places on the WCML where tracks are interposed - all northbound.
At Rugby, the old Down Fast became the Down Slow, with a new DF built on the site of the old (lifted) DS.
Something similar happens between Hartford and Acton Bridge.
At both places you get freights stopped in the centre of the layout while fast trains overtake "on the inside".
At Colwich, the Down Fast weaves over to the Down Slow (with a slower speed limit) to become the Down Crewe.
The layout there has always been unusual as the Crewe/Stoke lines sort themselves out.

 

[swt_passenger]

Other than the Metropolitan Railway (London Underground) between (I think) West Hampstead and Wembley Park where the slow lines (Stanmore Branch - present day Jubilee Line) are the centre pair of tracks, with the fast tracks being on the outside, is this the first time an arrangement of tracks been done like this on the heavy rail network?

The short section (about 2 miles) from Southampton Central and through Millbrook until the four track layout reduces back to two tracks has the fasts outside the slows, line designations are UF/US/DS/DF in the sectional appendix.

But as pointed out already, Huyton/Roby isn't actually laid out this way.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

Other than the Metropolitan Railway (London Underground) between (I think) West Hampstead and Wembley Park where the slow lines (Stanmore Branch - present day Jubilee Line) are the centre pair of tracks, with the fast tracks being on the outside, is this the first time an arrangement of tracks been done like this on the heavy rail network?

I'm pretty sure the Lancs & Yorks Rly had just such an arrangement on what we now know as the Atherton line westwards from Brindle Heath to at least Dobbs Brow Jn. Little trace remains today as the current two-track formation has been slewed in many places and some road bridges rebuilt thereby disguising the original layout.

 

[edwin_m]

I'm pretty sure the Lancs & Yorks Rly had just such an arrangement on what we now know as the Atherton line westwards from Brindle Heath to at least Dobbs Brow Jn. Little trace remains today as the current two-track formation has been slewed in many places and some road bridges rebuilt thereby disguising the original layout.

The northern pair were the slow lines, with the lesser stations having a single island between them, but the fast lines were both to the south. See for example the bridge over the line at Swinton, where the span north of the platform is only big enough for one track but the southern one has room for three tracks.

https://binged.it/2qLDDkd

 

[QueensCurve]

Other than the Metropolitan Railway (London Underground) between (I think) West Hampstead and Wembley Park where the slow lines (Stanmore Branch - present day Jubilee Line) are the centre pair of tracks, with the fast tracks being on the outside, is this the first time an arrangement of tracks been done like this on the heavy rail network?

It is similar to the old track layout from Rugeley to Colwich where the the lines, from West to East,, were:-

1. Down Fast
2. Down Slow
3. Up Fast
4. Up Slow

This changed (for the worse) on completion of the Trent Valley Four Tracking.

As mentioned above a similar arrangement applies between Hartford and Acton Bridge so that freight trains from the CLC can reach the Down Slow without having to cross the Down Fast.

 

[Holly]

There are a few places on the WCML where tracks are interposed - all northbound.
At Rugby, the old Down Fast became the Down Slow, with a new DF built on the site of the old (lifted) DS.
Something similar happens between Hartford and Acton Bridge.
At both places you get freights stopped in the centre of the layout while fast trains overtake "on the inside". ...

Make that "on the outside".

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Make that "on the outside".

"On the left" then.
In both cases, the rearrangement saved renewing/upgrading the old 110mph Fast line, while the new track took over as the 125mph route.
The odd situation around Rugeley is to sort out the traffic for the junction at Colwich.
Some thought was also given to going SFFS between Milford and Crewe, but it would have meant a remodelling at Crewe which was not on the agenda.
The new flyover at Norton Bridge rather fixes the existing layout now.

 

[edwin_m]

Make that "on the outside".

You've just answered a question that has puzzled me for several decades - an ancient model railway layout book I used to have referring to the "outside fast" configuration.

 

[nw-sparks]

I was rather surprised yesterday evening to see a track machine parked on the fourth line near Roby station. I would have expected this sort of work to wait until the line is connected.

 

[8A Rail]

I was rather surprised yesterday evening to see a track machine parked on the fourth line near Roby station. I would have expected this sort of work to wait until the line is connected.

Interesting but I assume it would a road/rail track machine as such as no way you currently get the larger rail only track machine's on that section with Roby (Compound) as the only access point with road access to that location for larger vehicles not easy.

 

[nw-sparks]

Interesting but I assume it would a road/rail track machine as such as no way you currently get the larger rail only track machine's on that section with Roby (Compound) as the only access point with road access to that location for larger vehicles not easy.

It looks too big to be a road/rail machine to me. More details and a picture on my blog at http://nw-sparks.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/progress-report.html

 

[swt_passenger]

It looks too big to be a road/rail machine to me. More details and a picture on my blog at http://nw-sparks.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/progress-report.html

Here we go. A very similar looking "road transportable lightweight tamper" from Volker Rail:

http://www.volkerrail.co.uk/en/plant/beaver-lightweight-tampers

Sounds like that could possibly overcome the lack of a track connection?

 

[1179_Clee2]

It think it is definitely a road lorry based machine.

Look to the mainly white cab at the other end.

The comment on the North West Sparks web site says it is a Plasser and Theurer 08-16 tamper so not a lorry based unit unless moved that way onto the isolated section of track.
Only 3 companies use 08-16 tampers
Colas Rail (not in Colas livery)
Balfour Beatty (no longer got the contract)
Swietelsky Babcock Rail

 

[nw-sparks]

IF I've got the number TPB51002 right, then ontrackplant.com says it belongs to Volker Rail. One of their pictures shows it on the back of an articulated truck.

 

[1179_Clee2]

IF I've got the number TPB51002 right, then ontrackplant.com says it belongs to Volker Rail. One of their pictures shows it on the back of an articulated truck.

My info is from Platform 5's 2017 pocket book.

The ONLY Volker Rail tampers listed in their book are
1 x Plasser and Theurer Euromat 08-4x4/4S
3 x Matisa B45 UE
5 x Matisa B41 UE

It could be a brand new machine bought after Platform 5's published their book.
It would then have the European 12 digit number and the shorter number as well.

 

[DJH1971]

Interesting but I assume it would a road/rail track machine as such as no way you currently get the larger rail only track machine's on that section with Roby (Compound) as the only access point with road access to that location for larger vehicles not easy.

I saw it too

 

[snowball]

I don't claim any relevance to the identification of the recently observed machine, but I thought people might be interested to see this series of pictures posted on Skyscrapercity by Ricky Bates (richardio123) in May 2014, showing the Metrolink airport line under construction. In some of the pictures a Plasser & Theurer tamper owned by VolkerRail transfers itself from a road trailer to the track.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=114147863&postcount=37335

 

[nw-sparks]

I've added a couple of slightly better pictures of the tamper to the blog entry.
http://nw-sparks.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/progress-report.html

 

[mcnw35282]

Lots of new dangly bits above the 4th track between Roby and Huyton

 

[8A Rail]

Lots of new dangly bits above the 4th track between Roby and Huyton

Yes I noted them when I visited Roby Station just an hour ago.

 

[childwallblues]

I've added a couple of slightly better pictures of the tamper to the blog entry.
http://nw-sparks.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/progress-report.html

It says in my ICRS 2017 combined:-

RESTRICTED SELF PROPELLED VEHICLES

Whilst the following track maintenance vehicles are self propelled this ability is for use only within the work site.
99 70 9908 008-4 (2831)

 

[8A Rail]

Went into Liverpool at teatime and noted at Huyton Junction along side the new fence (bus station / car park side), there are 5 new concrete bases awaiting stanchions. One of the bases is quite substantial which suggests a more heavyweight stanchion being placed there. Certainly some of the existing live stanchions will disappear. Currently nothing new around the BT building or in around Roby Juntion either with the exception of various paint markings in the ballast between down slow and up lines - markings for the new track?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Went into Liverpool at teatime and noted at Huyton Junction along side the new fence (bus station / car park side), there are 5 new concrete bases awaiting stanchions. One of the bases is quite substantial which suggests a more heavyweight stanchion being placed there. Certainly some of the existing live stanchions will disappear. Currently nothing new around the BT building or in around Roby Juntion either with the exception of various paint markings in the ballast between down slow and up lines - markings for the new track?

There are some heavy-duty bases on the south side of the track near Huyton Jn as well, right next to existing ones with masts.
Lime St was full of dust on Monday from the demolition work on P8/9, not pleasant at all.

 

[childwallblues]

There are some heavy-duty bases on the south side of the track near Huyton Jn as well, right next to existing ones with masts.
Lime St was full of dust on Monday from the demolition work on P8/9, not pleasant at all.

P7/8 actually.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

P7/8 actually.

I keep getting the numbers wrong - and they will be changing anyway!
Mostly I use the low numbers.

 

[childwallblues]

I keep getting the numbers wrong - and they will be changing anyway!
Mostly I use the low numbers.

Demolition should not affect you then.
I wonder how they are shifting all the rubble?

 

[8A Rail]

Demolition should not affect you then.
I wonder how they are shifting all the rubble?

Overnight more likely - by road too?

 

[Elecman]

Final ole support for St Helens crossover installed last night it's to be wired very shortly