Manchester - Liverpool Electrification

[Ploughman]

Another unwelcome feature to come will be the installation of metal security fencing along the route.
This has gone up on the Phase 1 section and is continuous even over totally rural Chat Moss.
Some of it is a nice shade of green but most is the same colour as the OHLE masts.
The "degreening" of the route is also very noticeable, especially in cuttings like Olive Mount which had become a virtual nature reserve.

I was on an OHLE walkout for Leeds NW back in 1993.
We were discussing the locations of all proposed masts as indicated on the ground by a peg.
We were stood around discussing this particular peg, near Apperley Jcn, when we got a Coo Eee from this woman looking over her garden fence. She asked what we were doing and the reason for the peg.
When she found out that the peg meant that she would have a mast outside her fence she asked "Any chance of moving it?"
To which the Chief OHL guy there picked the peg up and replanted it outside her neighbours garden.
Wonder if she ever told them what happened.

 

[8A Rail]

But it hasn't been electrified for 186 years...

And what has that got to do with it? There are many many locations in and around the UK were overhead lines are not fenced in with Palisade fencing (especially open / country spaces) - not forgetting the rest of the civilised world too.

And the neighbours will be most annoyed if their little Johnny trespasses onto the railway and is electrocuted...

Still wont stop the little xxxxxxxx getting onto the railway either

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Surely you meant to say:
And the neighbours will sue the arse off Network Rail when their little Johnny finally manages to rip the fence apart, trespasses onto the railway, throws bricks at trains and is then electrocuted climbing on top of a train ...

Said tongue in cheek but so sadly has so much truth to it. :roll:

 

[DJH1971]

Said tongue in cheek but so sadly has so much truth to it. :roll:

Nothing like the smell of money :roll:

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

There are many many locations in and around the UK were overhead lines are not fenced in with Palisade fencing (especially open / country spaces) - not forgetting the rest of the civilised world too.

On the other hand Network Rail are having to spend a fortune to fence the WCML South, in an effort to stop the trespass and suicide incidents which plague the line.
As far as I recall, the fencing of modernised lines started with the Channel Tunnel routes in Kent and London around 1990.
I expect the Great Western route will be treated in the same way, which should be interesting around Bath.

 

[Darren R]

Out of curiousity, do the railway overheads buzz noticeably when it's raining, like the National Grid wires do? I can't say that I've ever noticed, but on the rare occasion I find myself at an 'outdoors' electrified station when it's raining, I'm usually too busy looking for somewhere to shelter to take any notice!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Out of curiousity, do the railway overheads buzz noticeably when it's raining, like the National Grid wires do? I can't say that I've ever noticed, but on the rare occasion I find myself at an 'outdoors' electrified station when it's raining, I'm usually too busy looking for somewhere to shelter to take any notice!

In a word yes- I have noticed at certain times. 3.00am in the morning on the WCML north of Preston. Obviously the National Grid at 400KV gets close to the breakdown voltage of air. Air of course is a pretty damn good insulator but not perfect.

 

[edwin_m]

I think it's more to do with the insulators getting wet and the water forming a conductive path.

 

[Green Lane]

My Sunday morning stroll took me past the Olive Mount cutting today. As others have previously said, some masts now in place:-

 

[DJH1971]

My Sunday morning stroll took me past the Olive Mount cutting today. As others have previously said, some masts now in place:-

Saw these yesterday whilst coming into Liverpool.

Another welcome sign of progress!

 

[Green Lane]

Saw these yesterday whilst coming into Liverpool.

Another welcome sign of progress!

Yes indeed, it is good to see things happening on this stretch. I also saw some sort of small yellow maintenance vehicle trundling along the tracks in the distance, but it had gone out of sight towards Wavertree tech park station by the time I got my camera out.

When it's all completed, I'll probably have to re-photograph all stations on the electrified routes as all of my existing photos will look out of date by then. Should be fun!

 

[DJH1971]

Yes indeed, it is good to see things happening on this stretch. I also saw some sort of small yellow maintenance vehicle trundling along the tracks in the distance, but it had gone out of sight towards Wavertree tech park station by the time I got my camera out.

When it's all completed, I'll probably have to re-photograph all stations on the electrified routes as all of my existing photos will look out of date by then. Should be fun!

They will really have to get a move on now though, with Network Rail still quoting completion of the route as being December 2014.

 

[Green Lane]

They will really have to get a move on now though, with Newtowrk Rail still quoting completion of the route as being December 2014.

Yes, still loads to do. I'm not at all qualified to estimate the amount of time needed to complete this job (as I work in IT, not the railways) - but I personally wouldn't be surprised if it overruns a bit, given the obvious scale and complexity of the task in hand.

I suppose the ongoing Sunday engineering possessions will help a lot though!

 

[DJH1971]

Yes, still loads to do. I'm not at all qualified to estimate the amount of time needed to complete this job (as I work in IT, not the railways) - but I personally wouldn't be surprised if it overruns a bit, given the obvious scale and complexity of the task in hand.

I suppose the ongoing Sunday engineering possessions will help a lot though!

Having said that, phase two doesn't have Chat Moss to contend with so things might go that little bit quicker.

 

[Green Lane]

Having said that, phase two doesn't have Chat Moss to contend with so things might go that little bit quicker.

Very true. I wonder how things are going at Thatto Heath? I haven't been up that way for a few months.

I only mention it because years ago, I used to go there many weekends (many of my family are from Thatto Heath/St Helens area).

Fond memories of the station, can't wait to go back after electrification.

EDIT: Just seen some masts near the Scholes Lane tunnel on a Wikipedia photo dated 30th December 2013!

 

[DJH1971]

Very true. I wonder how things are going at Thatto Heath? I haven't been up that way for a few months.

I only mention it because years ago, I used to go there many weekends (many of my family are from Thatto Heath/St Helens area).

Fond memories of the station, can't wait to go back after electrification.

EDIT: Just seen some masts near the Scholes Lane tunnel on a Wikipedia photo dated 30th December 2013!

Not sure about Thatto Heath, but a lot more steelwork in place in St Helens near St Helens Central as well as the Haresfinch area (where residents have been complaining as per news link).

I think I also saw OHL steelwork near the Carr Mill bridge crossing the A580.

 

[Green Lane]

Not sure about Thatto Heath, but a lot more steelwork in place in St Helens near St Helens Central as well as the Haresfinch area (where residents have been complaining as per news link).

I think I also saw OHL steelwork near the Carr Mill bridge crossing the A580.

Thanks for the reply. I did a nice walk around Carr Mill Dam and through Haresfinch last summer. I'll have to go back later this year and check it out again.

 

[Darren R]

In a word yes- I have noticed at certain times. 3.00am in the morning on the WCML north of Preston. Obviously the National Grid at 400KV gets close to the breakdown voltage of air. Air of course is a pretty damn good insulator but not perfect.

Thanks - I assumed as much. Reading the silly complaints from residents about the OHLE equipment spoiling their view suddenly made me think that the noise in damp weather would possibly be more of an issue to them once the wires are energised (and it's too late for them to moan!)

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

They have probably been in place since the December timetable change, but I finally decoded the line speed changes via Chat Moss today.
"90" signs have appeared eastbound at Parkside and westbound about half a mile west of Astley, and indeed my 175/350 reached this speed over this 5-mile stretch.
However it is very odd around Astley. There is still a very short stretch of "40/60" (PSR signs) either side of the signal box.
The old "40/60" ran for 2 miles Astley-M60 bridge.
On the Up this seems to have gone (apart from the short bit past Astley box), but on the Down there is now a TSR of 40/60 instead of a PSR over the old 2-mile stretch.
In addition, some lineside construction work is under way on the north side of the line at Astley, which I imagine is for new signalling or a level crossing upgrade.

I also noticed new mast bases extending from Ince Moss Jn a short way towards Springs Branch on the Down.
There are also some tubular piles going in the gaps near Eccleston Park.
ABB electrical switchgear is also now in at Springs Branch, and it looks like preparations for something similar are going on at Edge Hill (east end of sidings).

 

[WatcherZero]

What scared me there last week was a tall pile of badly stacked rails in a narrow cutting frighteningly close to the track, if it tipped over they would mostly land on the line.

We are talking a shoulder height pile only two feet outside of the gauge, wouldnt be so bad if they were orderly stacked rather than higgledy piggledy.

 

[D1009]

What scared me there last week was a tall pile of badly stacked rails in a narrow cutting frighteningly close to the track, if it tipped over they would mostly land on the line.

We are talking a shoulder height pile only two feet outside of the gauge, wouldnt be so bad if they were orderly stacked rather than higgledy piggledy.

Have you reported it to Network Rail?

 

[DJH1971]

Have you reported it to Network Rail?

And where was it?

 

[Bevan Price]

T
In addition, some lineside construction work is under way on the north side of the line at Astley, which I imagine is for new signalling or a level crossing upgrade.

.

Don't know if it is true, but I have seen suggestions that Astley level crossing may be replaced by a bridge.

 

[DJH1971]

Don't know if it is true, but I have seen suggestions that Astley level crossing may be replaced by a bridge.

Now that is news to me.

Wonder how they're going to do it?

 

[WatcherZero]

And where was it?

Just after joining the chat moss from the wcml I think, a spot where you are in a cutting as opposed to most of the line which is on an embankment, sorry cant be more specific. Looked like some kind of renewals work, I think they were old rails and attached sleepers that had been lifted and piled up, as it was a confined area they were piled close to the track.

Hopefully since been removed.

 

[The Planner]

Astley is a huge thorn in the side, lots of things have been suggested but nothing seems to get decided on and pushed forward. Isnt Astley on a private road which is used as a rat run?

 

[Francis]

The Astley crossing is a public footpath, but (according to the OS) not even a bridleway.
North of the crossing, the road is tarmacked but not good quality. South, you have a couple of miles over earth tracks to get to Irlam. Local farmers use these, but it's hardly a rat run, unless you want to destroy your suspension.

I used to cycle the whole route as a kid across from Leigh to Irlam. Nice ride on a bike on a sunny day. The outcome will probably depend on what legal rights the farmers adjoining the railway have - maybe going back to 1830 when the line was built?

The best thing at Astley was that you could see the whole track bounce up and down slightly as a train passed, because Stephenson floated it on cotton bales over the Moss.

 

[The Planner]

The Google car has managed to get down there and it doesn't look that bad to be honest on the south side.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Astley is a huge thorn in the side, lots of things have been suggested but nothing seems to get decided on and pushed forward. Isn't Astley on a private road which is used as a rat run?

I think that Astley railway station was open as late as July 1958, when I was 13 years of age.

If my records are correct, the narrow road that approached the railway station was called Rindle Road.

 

[po8crg]

If my records are correct, the narrow road that approached the railway station was called Rindle Road.

It's still on Google Maps as Rindle Road.