British electrification OHL dates (mainly 25kV plus the most significant 1.5KV DC)

[D6130]

The list also doesn't include the LBSCR South London suburban overhead electrification scheme (6.6 kV AC?), which I believe was implemented between about 1909 and 1925....although open to correction on the exact dates. Also, wasn't the original experimental L & Y electrification between Bury and Holcombe Brook also oricinally done on an overhead system?

 

[Justin Smith]

Major one that seems to have slipped the net, so to speak, is the reopening of the line through Glasgow Central Low Level from Rutherglen-Partick in 1979.

Thanks for that, I don't know how I missed that as I'd researched it and added it in pencil onto my Baker's atlas !

 

[snowball]

This may be more detail than you wish to capture, but it's not clear from your list that Weaver Junction to Preston in the 1970s included Winwick - Earlestown - Newton-le-Willows - Lowton - Golborne, including over a mile of the Liverpool & Manchester.

 

[Justin Smith]

Muirhouse Jcn (Glasgow) to Barrhead: This is SW Glasgow, not E Glasgow.

Correct, I missed that, thanks.
Copying and pasting is a risky activity. I meant to edit it, but forgot....

 

[Grumpy]

Leeds City to Neville Hill 1993?

 

[apk55]

You have not mentioned re electrification of the Altrincham line (MSJ&A) line from 1.5KV DC to 25KV AC in 1971. Then much of the line was converted to 750V for Metrolink tram service although part remains at 25KV for access to Trafford Park
Many of the 1931 MSJ&A overhead support structures still remain in use after over 90 years.

 

[Justin Smith]

You have not mentioned re electrification of the Altrincham line (MSJ&A) line from 1.5KV DC to 25KV AC in 1971. Then much of the line was converted to 750V for Metrolink tram service although part remains at 25KV for access to Trafford Park
Many of the 1931 MSJ&A overhead support structures still remain in use after over 90 years.

That's in the notes (on the right) for the original 1930 electrification.

>>Many of the 1931 MSJ&A overhead support structures still remain in use after over 90 years.<<

They don't make 'em like they used to !

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Sep 2023 ==

On the North London Line, Camden to Stratford is shown as 1988, but I believe it was converted to 25 kV OLE in stages in 1986 and 1987. The conversion of Acton Central to Camden Road to 25 kV OLE in 1996 seems to be missing.

For the 1988 date I have now added a note "completed in stages 1986 to 1988".

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Sep 2023 ==

Leeds City to Neville Hill 1993?

One wonders why they did hot do that during the initial electrification work ! it seems so obvious looking back on it doesn't it.....

 

[Lost property]

You have not mentioned re electrification of the Altrincham line (MSJ&A) line from 1.5KV DC to 25KV AC in 1971. Then much of the line was converted to 750V for Metrolink tram service although part remains at 25KV for access to Trafford Park
Many of the 1931 MSJ&A overhead support structures still remain in use after over 90 years.

Quite a lot in fact, but, they have replaced the " 40 / 60 steps " bridge ( number of steps varies according who told you ) at Timperley...interestingly enough, a halt was proposed for this location at one time as the "grand plan" was to extend Woodhouse Lane (Sale) into Woodhouse Lane East ( Timperley) with a view to it becoming a major route. The, now closed, Sylvan Inn was built as a roadhouse pub at the time to cater for the passing trade.

 

[snowball]

The former use of 6.25kV AC is mentioned for lines in the Liverpool Street network but there were also some around Glasgow.

 

[Justin Smith]

There are some date errors for some of the Eastern schemes.

Fenchurch Street-Shoeburyness was all 1961. Pitsea-Shoeburyness was energised first in May 1961. Non rush hour services were electric from November.

Chelmsford-Colchester was 1962. The 1962 Whitsun weekend additional trains between London and Clacton/Walton were electric. The full electric service should have started in September 1962 but was delayed by late delivery of the AM9 EMUs.

Kings Cross-Royston was 1977, the first electric trains running in October.

Hitchin-Huntingdon was 1986, the first electric trains running in November.

Track that might count as missing include Hitchin flyover in 2013 and St Pancras-Belle Isle via the Canal Tunnel in 2018.

I think Stratford-Coppermill Junction is also missing, possibly 2005 but I don't have good sources to check that.

In the pedantry corner, Coppermill Junction (1969) should read Clapton Junction, Shepreth Junction (1988) should read Shepreth Branch Junction, and there's a typo for Stansted Airport (1990).

Thanks for your feedback, I have added most of it.

 

[snowball]

Very pedantic but Dunblane and Alloa are two separate routes from Stirling, both now electrified. You don't get to one via the other. So "Stirling>Dunblane>Alloa" should probably be "Stirling>Dunblane/Alloa".

 

[Justin Smith]

Very pedantic but Dunblane and Alloa are two separate routes from Stirling, both now electrified. You don't get to one via the other. So "Stirling>Dunblane>Alloa" should probably be "Stirling>Dunblane/Alloa".

I have updated that on the original.

 

[Cowley]

Thread reopened for @Justin Smith to update

 

[Harpo]

Bow Jn to Fenchurch St was electrified as part of the LNE/GE 1500v DC scheme. Presumably 1949? It only did 2/4 roads between Stepney East (Limehouse) and Fenchurch St. 1961 LTS electrification completed the other two roads and all four became 6.25kv. Converted to 25Kv in 198x. Ockenden needs including.

1960 - Delete Lea Valley (1969?)

Graham Road Curve was presumably electrified when built?

1994 HS1

Camden Road to Primrose Hill electrified 199x.

Ripple Lane and Tilbury Container Terminal circa 1990?

 

[Justin Smith]

Bear in mind this list is simplified, I am trying to keep it concise enough to be printed out on two sheets of A4 !

The previous years were :

2022 - Westbourne Prk Jct to Abbeywood & Pudding Mill Lane Jct - Crossrail
2023 - Cardiff to Radyr (via Waun-gron Park) - Welsh Valleys
2023 - Muirhouse Jct (Glasgow) to Barrhead - Scotland (SW Glasgow)

I was about to update this list with :

2024 - Kettering North Jct to Wigston South Jct - MML
2024 - Colton Jct to Church Fenton & Manchester to Stalybridge - Transpennine (have I missed anything here ?)

But I then had a problem with the new 2024 Welsh valleys electrification because, as I understand it, the electrification there is "discontinuous".
So what is the exact situation with the Welsh Valleys electrification ? Exactly what has been electrified (and when) ? ! ?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Dec 2024 ==

1960 - Delete Lea Valley (1969?)

Are you saying the date (1960) is wrong, or its description as "Lea Valley" ?

 

[Harpo]

Are you saying the date (1960) is wrong, or its description as "Lea Valley" ?

Bit of both. Lea/Lee Valley line usually refers to the Chesthunt - Tottenham Hale etc. route as opposed to the ‘Southbury Loop’ towards Seven Sisters.

 

[Magdalia]

1960 Liverpool St to B Stortford, Hertford E, Enfield & Chingford (via 7 Sisters) West Anglia Lea Valley lines

1969 Coppermill Jct to Cheshunt (via Tottenham Hale) West Anglia Lea Valley lines

Putting Lea Valley in the 1960 entry is potentially misleading, Lea Valley refers to the route via Tottenham Hale, which was electrified in 1969, and via Seven Sisters is not Lea Valley.

At the time the 1960 scheme was usually called the Chenford scheme which is an abbreviation of Chingford, Enfield, Hertford and Stortford. Bury Street Junction to Cheshunt was reopened to passengers as part of this scheme, at the time it was referred to as the Churchbury loop.

As I've pointed out before, the 1969 entry for the Lea Valley electrification should start at Clapton Junction not Copper Mill Junction. Clapton Junction is where the Lea Valley line diverges from the previously electrified Chingford line.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Dec 2024 ==

1956 Shenfield to Chelmsford & Southend Victoria GE + branch 1.5kV DC to 6.25kV AC in 1960 to 25kV in 1979

1960 Liverpool St to B Stortford, Hertford E, Enfield & Chingford (via 7 Sisters) West Anglia Lea Valley lines

1961 Fenchurch St to Southend Central (via Laindon + via Tilbury loop) LT&S

All of these schemes were at least partly 6.25kV. There is an incomplete discussion of 6.25kV to 25kV conversion dates here:

Anglia region electrification: conversion to 25kv in 1970s/1980s

Hello all, I've been trying to investigate the history of electrification systems on GEML, LT&S and the Lea Valley routes. I have found pretty thorough sources for how these systems started out in 1960/1961 (and for the earlier DC system) and this includes feeder stations, TSCs and neutral...

www.railforums.co.uk

If anyone can fill in the missing bits that would be good.

Shenfield-Chelmsford was converted direct from 1.5kV DC to 25kV AC in 1961.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Bit of both. Lea/Lee Valley line usually refers to the Chesthunt - Tottenham Hale etc. route as opposed to the ‘Southbury Loop’ towards Seven Sisters.

Although of late what is now the Weaver Line has frequently been erroneously referred to as the "Lea Valley Lines", despite the actual Lea Valley Line being the one line in the area not operated by LO.

 

[Rail Ranger]

Colton Junction to Church Fenton will not actually be used by electric trains until 2026. HS1 did not open in 1994. It opened in two stages: 2003 (stage 1) and 2007 (stage 2).

 

[steamybrian]

You have shown Dock Jn to Moorgate as closed in 2009 but should this be Farringdon to Moorgate?

 

[Justin Smith]

It opened in two stages: 2003 (stage 1) and 2007 (stage 2).

Those are the dates I have used, this section :

 

[Beebman]

As I've pointed out before, the 1969 entry for the Lea Valley electrification should start at Clapton Junction not Copper Mill Junction. Clapton Junction is where the Lea Valley line diverges from the previously electrified Chingford line.

Part of the confusion might be because there was quite a long run-off of OHLE which stopped just short of Copper Mill Jct. The changeover from Mk1 to Mk3 OHLE is clearly visible there from the left side of a train coming off the Lea Bridge line.

 

[Justin Smith]

Colton Junction to Church Fenton will not actually be used by electric trains until 2026.

I suppose it's a problem of definition. Is it the date the wires went live, or the date of the first service train ? ! ?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Dec 2024 ==

At the time the 1960 scheme was usually called the Chenford scheme which is an abbreviation of Chingford, Enfield, Hertford and Stortford. Bury Street Junction to Cheshunt was reopened to passengers as part of this scheme, at the time it was referred to as the Churchbury loop.

I have renamed the 1960 scheme Chenford

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Dec 2024 ==

As I've pointed out before, the 1969 entry for the Lea Valley electrification should start at Clapton Junction not Copper Mill Junction. Clapton Junction is where the Lea Valley line diverges from the previously electrified Chingford line.

I have updated it to Clapton Jct but I am sure (when I was originally researching that entry) that the source I used said Coppermill Jct !

 

[Magdalia]

Part of the confusion might be because there was quite a long run-off of OHLE which stopped just short of Copper Mill Jct.

I did wonder about that.

Clapton junction and Copper Mill junction are only just over half a mile apart.

 

[Helvellyn]

But I then had a problem with the new 2024 Welsh valleys electrification because, as I understand it, the electrification there is "discontinuous".
So what is the exact situation with the Welsh Valleys electrification ? Exactly what has been electrified (and when) ? ! ?

If you know the two outer limits you could just colour it, or apply a symbol, to represent discontinuous electrification given it won't be the last such scheme.

 

[Justin Smith]

If you know the two outer limits you could just colour it, or apply a symbol, to represent discontinuous electrification given it won't be the last such scheme.

Can anyone confirm exactly what the outer limits are ?
Though if it is discontinuous then how is the outer limit defined ? ! ?
Why is everything about modern life so soddin' complicated !

 

[Taunton]

Did we get (I can't see it) the S-curve from the Lea Valley line, through South Tottenham station on the Goblin, then round to Seven Sisters. Some years there was one train a day that way, other times not at all. In the recent Goblin electrification it was all torn down and then done again. South Tottenham station became like Newton-le-Willows long after 1974, fully electrified but with no, or hardly any, electric services.

 

[507020]

Did we get (I can't see it) the S-curve from the Lea Valley line, through South Tottenham station on the Goblin, then round to Seven Sisters. Some years there was one train a day that way, other times not at all. In the recent Goblin electrification it was all torn down and then done again. South Tottenham station became like Newton-le-Willows long after 1974, fully electrified but with no, or hardly any, electric services.

It says Seven Sisters Junction - Tottenham South Junction was electrified as infill 5 May 1969, the same day as lines from Hackney Downs to Cheshunt and Chingford, but used by passenger diversions. The line to Stratford was for some reason not done until 1989, but had no passenger service.

The 1 train a week is 2U00 05:30 Liverpool St - Enfield Town via South Tottenham on Saturdays only, operated by London Overground. Unlike Newton-le-Willows which supposedly didn’t have a single electric passenger service run through it until the wires had been extended to Lime Street.

 

[Taunton]

Unlike Newton-le-Willows which supposedly didn’t have a single electric passenger service run through it until the wires had been extended to Lime Street.

I believe Newton-le-Willows did have a passenger service for the first couple of years after the WCML extension wiring was completed in 1974. This was a 304 emu, which left Crewe at about 0930, and stopped everywhere to Preston, including Newton-le-Willows by going round the loop. It returned in the afternoon.

A decidedly leisurely diagram, it was described as being given to the Crewe driver nearest retirement. Probably ran near-empty, and was given up after a couple of years. Thereafter no passenger electric service at Newton for more than 30 years.

 

[MadMac]

I believe Newton-le-Willows did have a passenger service for the first couple of years after the WCML extension wiring was completed in 1974. This was a 304 emu, which left Crewe at about 0930, and stopped everywhere to Preston, including Newton-le-Willows by going round the loop. It returned in the afternoon.

A decidedly leisurely diagram, it was described as being given to the Crewe driver nearest retirement. Probably ran near-empty, and was given up after a couple of years. Thereafter no passenger electric service at Newton for more than 30 years.

Holytown was electrified in 1974: I don’t recall when it eventually got a timetabled electric passenger service, but it was decades later.