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Standedge Tunnel Fire 25/1
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notverydeep
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I'm not sure they would taste that good cooked like that...
edwin_m
Veteran Member
If I remember rightly, there's a reservoir near Standege cutting (on the A62) that feeds the canal. I don't know if that automatically tops up somehow like a giant toilet cistern, or someone needs to go up there and open a valve. As it's the summit level it can't pull any water from the rest of the canal, unless someone sets up a pump at each lock.
Narrowgauge725
Member
The canal reservoir is long since silted up but there is a flow from the river. In terms of fish being pulled into the pump, there are two strainers used on the end of the suction hose, a basket which is there to keep the metal strainer from sinking into the mud. Therefore nothing big enough to cause an issue with teh pump should ever reach it
Canals are frequently used if they’re the nearest source, they’re very long so the depth isn’t that much of an issue.
How about flame-grilled haddock?
Fair enough, I suppose there are no locks inside the tunnel either!
Very close at various access points between canal and live railway. At some places the nearest rail is about 8ft from one's head if you're stood on a boat! Quite impressive to see the wheels of a passing train if timed right.
The access points to the live tunnel are maintained but only for pedestrian use, portable fire pumps positioned there would have no trouble lifting water from the canal at the nearest point to the fire.
That's fascinating!
I wonder how many Pway staff have ended up taking a dip over the years with the tunnel being dark and canal being so close?
sjm77
Member
The tunnel length is 5,210 meters long. If the canal is 2 metres wide and 70cm deep (on average) that would be 7,294 cubic metres of water, plus a bit from the tunnel mouths to the nearest locks.
The canal tunnel runs between the current double bore and the two single disused bores, except for the very short extension at the Marsden end.
The canal tunnel runs between the current double bore and the two single disused bores, except for the very short extension at the Marsden end.
D1537
Established Member
If it's a crew that works straight back there won't be a PNB there for a 37 minute turnaround anyway; they'd go straight back. However I believe (and am prepared to be corrected) that the crew off 9E05 work 9M10 back, so no real difference for them.
However, in those times there may have been late or cancelled trains, but not running fast past scheduled stops just so you don't have a knock on delay to the return, sometimes presented as "to avoid delaying those passengers, but in reality "to minimise the number of trains reported late to DfT and to Roger Ford's 'Golden Whistles' ". And some quite extreme efforts were made that the last service of the day ran.
It really is surely what DfT, part of government, supporting the users, should be about, stipulating that you don't run fast if the one before/after is also missing, or if thereby there's a gap of more than say an hour.
D1537
Established Member
It'll be a lot deeper than 70cm. The maximum below-water draught for craft passing through it is 99cm, so I'm guessing it's at least 1.5m deep.
The maximum width is 208cm, so the width is a lot more than 2m as well.
Worth reminding everyone, again, that if a train misses even one booked call, it counts as a cancellation in the stats, and therefore incurrs penstlies accordingly.
Also, the Golden Whistles are not Roger’s, they are James Abbott’s.
in fact all the canal bridges for miles around Brum have red doors in the parapet walls (up to 3?) specifically for the fire brigade to drop hoses into the canal for a water supply
see (e.g.) https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6407802
LickeyIncliner
Member
That reminds me of being told, many years ago, that the then British Waterways Board was legally obliged to maintain some specific canals in the Birmingham area as potential sources of water for fire-fighting, even if they were no longer navigable. I have no idea whether that was actually true
Mcr Warrior
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Haddies are saltwater fish, aren't they? (Think we're drifting off topic, here, mind!) Anyhoo, are we still on for the Standedge tunnel re-opening tomorrow morning? (Thursday, start of service).
That’s the most recent update, yes. It could of course still change. Such is the way with emergency works - it can all go to plan right until the last activity when it doesn’t.
eastdyke
Established Member
Huddersfield Narrow Canal is built to 7 foot locks. So barges no more than than that on the Canal, new builds are now generally 6'10". The width will certainly not be much wider than the minimum.
It'll be precious little deeper than the keel of the barges using the canal. Silt will see to that! More shallow at the edges.
No towpath, and no ICE [in 1811] so the horses, which would be taken off the towpath to go 'over the top'.
The barge would then be propelled forward by one or more 'leggers' lying on their backs, feet to the roof or sides.
A few places for passing but taken out of use early on as operation proved contentious and difficult. One way operation is still in use today. Over that distance wouldn't want a Comedy Playhouse [Impasse - BBC 1963] Bernard Cribbins/Leslie Phillips moment!
Tunnel part lined only so rough work in places. Some higher roofed sections required the use of a pole.
I have passed through shorter tunnels on the Worcester-Birmingham - ICE [not legging it] - the novelty soon wears off even so!
On the rail tunnel, I hope that the repair work goes to plan and we get opened for tomorrow am.
dodecahedron67
Member
Correct
Yes, but once a train is late anyway, that journey is already sunk for the statistics, so rather than incur two delay records, albeit by getting everyone to their destination, you just whizz the first trip uselessly along causing some real gross inconveniences.
I back onto the line at Greenfield and can confirm trains are now running in both directions.
It would be good to think about how that perverse incentive can be eliminated.
Good work Network Rail!
Indeed they are, and an Arbroath Smokie (PGI) fresh out of the smoker is a treat.
Haywain
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Scheduled 25 minutes each way and proved horribly unreliable. The only option to make up lost time was a cancellation, which is what happened to me yesterday morning with the 10:46 from Huddersfield.
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That would explain being dumped at Brighouse with a 25 minute wait for a train to turn up (and no working information screens to inform the waiting throng)!
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