Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[LDECRexile]

Went on a tour from Cock Robin Bridge to Bolton station inclusive today.

1. Cock Robin couldn't see much, certainly no new masts. Possible signalling progress.
2. Park Road bridge, a fab surprise! A new footbridge has been erected on the old road abutments. It is not yet open to pedestrians, but looks the business. Not able to see much change in the way of masts etc.
3. Clifton Station, the repeater south of the southbound platform erected and illuminated. Stacks of signal troughing south of station. No Orange visible.
4. Kearsley, a Carillion team packing up as I arrived, but couldn't get a word or see what they had done.
5. Farnworth tunnel north end. The troughing turns out to have been vertical piling, not for use as a water scoop.
6. Squeeze Belly entry, some new signal troughing in place to the south, otherwise, views of the work proceeding at Moses Gate. Debris on the track, lots of Orange, road and rail both closed. Later conversation with clipboard-carrying Orangeman to the effect that in his view no blame attached to the railway works. (MRD applies.)
7. Lever St viewing platform shows what looks like advanced trackwork.
8. Orlando St viewing platform likewise, lots of Orange beavering away, signals illuminated, including one at north end of Platform 5. Platform 2 has been relaid.
9. (Old) bus station viewing platform north of station showed Orange gang working under the bowstring bridge, no idea on what. Tamper or similar stationary just south of Platform 5/4 lines' northern junction.
10. Bought Platform ticket (cost 10p, didn't trigger the gateline, last one I bought cost 2d) Northern end of Platform 3 being used for Clitheroe shuttle (opportunity for people who relish rarely used passenger lines) Orange gang resurfacing northern end of platform 1 which has been re-edged. All visible signals illuminated. A hive of activity.

Photos later.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Photos later.

As usual Dave thanks -outstanding. I will probably send you a private message but what would be really useful is if you could do a progressometer or similar run in the next 6 weeks Preston- Blackpool. I am home for Thanksgiving in November and will also concentrate Preston - Blackpool. I will try and not duplicate what others are doing so I will coordinate with you nearer the time.

As to above comments I wonder how soon we will find out the real reason for the water main burst and whose fault.

 

[InOban]

You know I am sorry - I just realized - it says Is it? as in a question - not it is - my bad

Apology accepted. I do sometimes feel that I am intruding, commenting on matters several hundred miles from my home!

 

[LDECRexile]

Apology accepted. I do sometimes feel that I am intruding, commenting on matters several hundred miles from my home!

Intruding?

People with something to contribute are always welcome.

 

[LDECRexile]

As usual Dave thanks -outstanding. I will probably send you a private message but what would be really useful is if you could do a progressometer or similar run in the next 6 weeks Preston- Blackpool. I am home for Thanksgiving in November and will also concentrate Preston - Blackpool. I will try and not duplicate what others are doing so I will coordinate with you nearer the time.

As to above comments I wonder how soon we will find out the real reason for the water main burst and whose fault.

Having set out to do a Progressometer run north of Preston the other week and ended up a gumtree I'll definitely do another, not next week (even more family commitments) probably the week after.

 

[coxxy]

I'm sure we all expected it but northern are now saying they can't run trains to Bolton (after the current blockade) until further notice..

 

[mikemcniven]

I'm sure we all expected it but northern are now saying they can't run trains to Bolton (after the current blockade) until further notice..

From their Twitter

 

[LDECRexile]

I've added today's photos to the Combined Volume here:

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

 

[Mathew S]

NR have posted a brief update with replacement timetables on their website https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/news/improvements/1294-route-improvement-work-around-bolton

Sent from my SM-J500FN using Tapatalk

 

[LDECRexile]

Reg has kindly sent a shot of Bolton Platform 5.

I've added it to his album here:

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

As he took it yesterday I've woven it into yesterday's material, using the number 8128p.

It is in the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Reg.

 

[LDECRexile]

Good news, I think.....

I commented yesterday that the long-distance shot of the signal between Dixon Fold bridge and the M60 looked unchanged.

I've had a closer look and now think I was wrong.

I've put yesterday's and the most recent two shots in a three-photo album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157684484466742

What do you think?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Good news, I think..... What do you think?

In my opinion, there is definitely progress one way or the other. Difficult to comment on exactly what - but progress none the less.

 

[wrinkley]

Reported tonight by Bolton News, Northern say no trains Bolton - Manchester next week and reduced service for the following four weeks.

 

[Foggycorner]

The latest picture shows a new signal and post the older two pictures show the old signal with the old type cage/handrails above the top of the signal head

 

[Foggycorner]

After having another look at the pictures the oldest one shows the old signal and its relay location case in front of it
the middle picture shows old signal but with old loc and with new loc in light grey paint next to it
the newest picture shows new signal with only new loc almost lost in the greenery

 

[LDECRexile]

After having another look at the pictures the oldest one shows the old signal and its relay location case in front of it
the middle picture shows old signal but with old loc and with new loc in light grey paint next to it
the newest picture shows new signal with only new loc almost lost in the greenery

That's what I reckon, too.

Another box ticked.

 

[davehsug]

Can't see one, I just wondered if there is a thread anywhere discussing new routes to Blackpool following the electrification? Thanks in advance.

 

[Greybeard33]

Can't see one, I just wondered if there is a thread anywhere discussing new routes to Blackpool following the electrification? Thanks in advance.

Try Northern timetable plan for May 2018: http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=147558.

 

[QueensCurve]

Linked in #4968, five up from the post you quoted.

Many thanks for guiding me to the Bolton track layout.

 

[LDECRexile]

I was granted time off for good behaviour today, so I did a Progressometer run from Preston to Blackpool North, which I will write up and publish later.

I broke my journey at Kirkham and Wesham to have a shufty. Photos in the Combined Volume here:

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

 

[GRALISTAIR]

What I find heartening is that so much work is being done and so much progress and we still have the blockade to come. So pleased they are " making hay while the sun shines" so to speak.

 

[LDECRexile]

Progressometer herewith.

The new data is for Preston to Blackpool North ONLY. The data for south of Euxton Jct is out of date and will under-represent progress.

 

[LDECRexile]

Wrinkley has kindly sent three sets of photos.

He added: "Managed to get a break from the painting and had a look at Moses Gate, Bolton and Lostock.

Couldn’t get near the wall where I took the previous shots, too many diggers and too much wet spoil. The up line looks clear now, but the down line has a big prop on it supporting the bridge, I think they are taking the weight off the abutment while they repair it. The retaining wall has been taken out almost back to the abutment. Took some shots of the road above, there’s a lot of spoil stacked up.

Still lots of activity at Bolton station, and the bridge at Lostock has the shuttering and rebar on the road deck, can’t be far from concreting the deck now."

I've added the 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.

 

[Trackman]

Wrinkley has kindly sent three sets of photos.

He added: "Managed to get a break from the painting and had a look at Moses Gate, Bolton and Lostock.

Couldn’t get near the wall where I took the previous shots, too many diggers and too much wet spoil. The up line looks clear now, but the down line has a big prop on it supporting the bridge, I think they are taking the weight off the abutment while they repair it. The retaining wall has been taken out almost back to the abutment. Took some shots of the road above, there’s a lot of spoil stacked up.

Still lots of activity at Bolton station, and the bridge at Lostock has the shuttering and rebar on the road deck, can’t be far from concreting the deck now."

I've added the 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.

Yes, Thanks Wrinkley for the photos.
Looking at Bolton, will P5 be able to handle 9 car Pendolino's? (Mr. Locke??)
P4 has not been extended so that's a no.

and what is that 'space craft landing thingy complete with antenna' on the bridge at Lostock? re:8168i Lostock

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Yes, Thanks Wrinkley for the photos.
Looking at Bolton, will P5 be able to handle 9 car Pendolino's? (Mr. Locke??)
P4 has not been extended so that's a no.

and what is that 'space craft landing thingy complete with antenna' on the bridge at Lostock? re:8168i Lostock

P5 = 11 car Pendo.

P4 = passive provision left for extension to same as P5

A security "pod" - radar and PIR, I think, texts out alerts if triggered.

 

[childwallblues]

Will Pendolinos be timetabled to use the route/station.
I apologise in advance if this has already been mentioned.

 

[STANDISH]

Hopefully yes ,when the line is blocked for engineering works between Crewe to Preston and passengers do not have to put it with a bus journey.

 

[LDECRexile]

Time prevented me from fleshing out my Preston-Blackpool North trip yesterday.

The progressometer has never shown a third element of visible endeavour on wiring - "Scrapes", aka trial holes or trial excavations. If I had to pick the single most encouraging thing it was that I only logged 45 in total, compared with 526 bare bases and 128 bases with masts on (654 bases vs 45 scrapes).

This does not simply read across that we are 94% based up and ready to roll, because there are three sites where I couldn't see any such activity: Kirkham & Wesham station, Poulton-le-Fylde station and Blackpool North station. Apart from resignalling the semaphores which extend from Blackpool to just off the south end of Poulton station I could see no reason why Poulton couldn't be scraped and based, it may even be that the area was assessed and base positions agreed before the trackwork.

Blackpool and Kirkham stations are another matter, both are being significantly remodelled, so presumably all mast work will take place as a part of those possessions.

The only other "blank site" I've noticed is Tulketh viaduct in Preston. I was encouraged to see a scrape and pegs on it yesterday, whether it will be bored into a viaduct upright or plonked on a big flat base as in the Salford area I don't know.

I couldn't make out what's what at Blackpool North. On my previous trip it had been reduced to four platforms, that hasn't changed. There appears to have been lots of activity on the main site, but I couldn't interpret it.

Kirkham is another matter, the bridge enables overviews. Most of the work installing drainage pipes appears to have been done, with rectangular boxes with blue grid tops in evidence along the whole of the eastern alignment. Blue-topped pegs have been driven into the ground south of the station bridge, can someone please explain what they marl out?

The last biggy is resignalling south of Poulton. Can anyone comment on progress on this front?

 

[Joseph_Locke]

... because there are three sites where I couldn't see any such activity: Kirkham & Wesham station, Poulton-le-Fylde station and Blackpool North station.

Aren't these areas what the blockade is for, later this year?

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Hopefully yes ,when the line is blocked for engineering works between Crewe to Preston and passengers do not have to put it with a bus journey.

Yes, nothing booked, but it was close to being long enough anyway, and as STANDISH says it allows a WCML diversion Crewe to Preston via Manchester with a call at Bolton to connect with Wigan services (no other intermediate platform is long enough, other than Piccadilly 13 and 14)