I did a Lime St-Manchester Victoria-Roby-Wigan NW-Lime St tour today and a paid a visit to the Huyton area on Sunday.
Highlights:
1. Now down to 102 bases without masts over the whole project.
2. No visible progress on the stations, viaducts and bridges previously discussed.
3. Visible progress in Manchester
4. Some progress at Roby.
5. 4th track, sleeper runs and ballast over more than 50% from Roby Jct to Huyton
1. The bases position is encouraging because the overall total has fallen, even though more have been created. The ones created fall into two groups:
1a) bases which "overlap" or "intrude" into established mast runs from the 1960s. These are noticeable at Tuebrook, West of the easternmost old mast and at Wigan, North of the southernmost old mast and at Earlestown East of the westernmost old mast.
1b) bases infilling gaps, most noticeably on the South side and a few on the North side at Huyton Junction.
Masts have been erected across the project in ones and twos, with significant numbers at the Ince Moss curve and either side of the Sankey Viaduct.
2. In addition to the sites previously discussed (M57 bridges, Sankey Viaduct, Earlestown Platforms 1&2, Rainhill Station, M6 Bridge and Carr Mill Viaduct) where there are no signs of masts or bases I have to add Manchester Victoria between Platforms 3 & 4 where there is a significant length with no droppers. It is unclear whether the scaffolding-like ironwork will support wires and fittings.
3. I could only see 4 mastless bases on the western approaches to Manchester Victoria. Lots of metalwork in the air, but no wires. Progress too on the new roof at the eastern end.
4. Roby Platform 2/3 now has a seat, but not in the waiting shelter. Teams working on Platform 4 edging and surface. Lift shaft roofs look done, but no lifts yet in service. Awning on Platform 1 still skeletal. The buried base on Platform 2/3 has been marked out; it
is where the drain has a kink.
5. Track 4 extends from the eastern end of Huyton Platform 4 approx 2/3rd of the way to Roby. A run of sleepers extends from Roby Jucntion to the Roby Worksite entrance.
I could only see two mastless bases between Whiston and St Helens Junction, three if you count the mystery base behind the fence at Lea Green Station.
I have added ten photos to the end of this link:
https://picasaweb.google.com/110155...rification20134?authkey=Gv1sRgCNmM9tLBtNTlgAE