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Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

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LNW-GW Joint

LNW-GW Joint

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childwallblues said:
Wasn't that foundation used on Chat Moss?
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Not much, if at all.
It was mostly normal long piles across the Moss, but in places there are enormous "gravity pads" well down the embankments, avoiding having to pile near the track.
But mostly the Phase 1/2 route was simple concrete bases similar to the older WCML foundations.
I think the troublesome areas on the Bolton route use much larger diameter, shorter cylinders (eg through Bolton station).
 
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LDECRexile

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Howardh said:
Will we get advanced knowledge of the first test train - I assume there will be many such trains? Personally I'd like to view the very first electric train going through Lostock, even if it's only a test.
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We got advanced info when such trains ran on Chat Moss and Huyton-Wigan by keeping a close (daily, at least) eye on Realtimetrains, by railway staff tipping the wink (entirely legit) and by inference from things like signs appearing saying wires are going live. We then all pooled this gen so there was a fighting chance that someone would be brave/daft enough to go on deserted platforms in the wee small hours armed with cameras.

Here's a sample of the material we published as a result:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157691411522805

The key is everyone mucking in, like what we usually do.
 
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furnessvale

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snowball said:
May not be used for railway electrification but I watched it being used for bridge foundations on a road scheme about a dozen years ago.
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This method has been used for many years. Normally the steel liner only covers the top 5m or so which is unstable. The remaining length, which for a building or bridge could be another 30m, is unlined. Steel reinforcing and concrete is inserted using a tremmi pipe, and the steel liner removed as the concrete rises.
 
Howardh

Howardh

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LDECRexile said:
We got advanced info when such trains ran on Chat Moss and Huyton-Wigan by keeping a close (daily, at least) eye on Realtimetrains, by railway staff tipping the wink (entirely legit) and by inference from things like signs appearing saying wires are going live. We then all pooled this gen so there was a fighting chance that someone would be brave/daft enough to go on deserted platforms in the wee small hours armed with cameras.

Here's a sample of the material we published as a result:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157691411522805

The key is everyone mucking in, like what we usually do.
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Wonderful! undoubtedly the best place for information may well be here!
 
Trackman

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I’ve been through tonight but in darkness. Saw new masts at Bolton and Salford Crescent (already reported here!) looking forward to seeing the route next week in the daylight. Not been through for about 9 months. Also travelled on a refurbed Northern class 156 OT, I think they moved the seats for extra legroom.
 
fflint

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A Merry Christmas to all especially those who report and send in photos for our information.
A New Years honors award to LDECRexile for his time spent collating the information<:D
 
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absolutelymilk

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Wow looks like great progress! When do you all predict the first test train through? And I echo the thanks to LDECRexile
 
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absolutelymilk

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GRALISTAIR said:
Shortly after the end of the blockade to Blackpool South so around 1st week in March and then further testing 1st week in April .
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What do you mean? Why would there be a gap in testing between the 1st week in March and the 1st week in April?
 
LNW-GW Joint

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Apart from testing the intermediate switchgear, there not a lot of point in a train test until the completed wires reach Blackpool North and the carriage sidings.
That's not going to happen until the route is handed back for normal (diesel) traffic in late March.
They have until 20 May to meet the timetable change.
Probably test coach Mentor will show up at some point first.
 
GRALISTAIR

GRALISTAIR

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absolutelymilk said:
What do you mean? Why would there be a gap in testing between the 1st week in March and the 1st week in April?
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Well I thought they would part test when the section Preston to Kirkham when that route to Blackpool South opens and then do further testing of other parts of the route when it full opens to Blackpool North. Switching cabinet is at Kirkham North Jct iirc
 
GRALISTAIR

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PR1Berske said:
Oh for them to ensure that Cottam railway station could be built here!
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The amount of house building going on in that area is unbelievable so could easily justify a station which is what my daughter who lives there is hoping - would save her commute by car to close by Man Picc
 
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absolutelymilk

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LNW-GW Joint said:
Apart from testing the intermediate switchgear, there not a lot of point in a train test until the completed wires reach Blackpool North and the carriage sidings.
That's not going to happen until the route is handed back for normal (diesel) traffic in late March.
They have until 20 May to meet the timetable change.
Probably test coach Mentor will show up at some point first.
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GRALISTAIR said:
Well I thought they would part test when the section Preston to Kirkham when that route to Blackpool South opens and then do further testing of other parts of the route when it full opens to Blackpool North. Switching cabinet is at Kirkham North Jct iirc
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That makes more sense! That is longer than I expected to wire the full route, I thought almost all the masts were up by this stage?
 
LNW-GW Joint

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absolutelymilk said:
That makes more sense! That is longer than I expected to wire the full route, I thought almost all the masts were up by this stage?
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Wiring can indeed be quick, and I would expect the country sections to go up easily.
But Kirkham and Blackpool are more complicated and will have to wait till the remodelling there is finished.
The carriage sidings will need to be commissioned for electric working before service trains can run.
We've also never quite fathomed how the Bolton and Blackpool projects interwork in terms of resources (people and equipment).
NR somehow has to wire 25 complex miles Salford-Euxton as well as the 17 to Blackpool, in the same time frame.
If they are using one wiring team they will have to share progress.
 
GRALISTAIR

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absolutelymilk said:
I thought almost all the masts were up by this stage?
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I have seen elsewhere that Preston to Blackpool they are at 100% base completion and 70% mast but that was about a week ago. LDECRExile and myself are doing a full run Friday and as well as photos he/we Will probably do a progressometer report too
 
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Railrover700

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absolutelymilk said:
Wow looks like great progress! When do you all predict the first test train through? And I echo the thanks to LDECRexile
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I am not so optimistic. I think around late April/ May bank holiday to test the whole line, because there is still a lot to do around Kirkham. My understanding was that Manchester-Euxton wiring teams were separate (Carillion) from Preston to Blackpool (Volker Rail). I also predict bad news soon on the Manchester - Euxton work before publication of the May timetable. Maybe a controversial blockade between Bolton and Manchester to complete the work in the early summer with electric working Bolton - Blackpool? This could allow stock cascades for May timetable change to go ahead as planned.
 
Elecman

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GRALISTAIR said:
I have seen elsewhere that Preston to Blackpool they are at 100% base completion and 70% mast but that was about a week ago. LDECRExile and myself are doing a full run Friday and as well as photos he/we Will probably do a progressometer report too
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Correct, further progress has been made since then, mainly just the station areas to complete now with masts and danglies.
 
LNW-GW Joint

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Railrover700 said:
I am not so optimistic. I think around late April/ May bank holiday to test the whole line, because there is still a lot to do around Kirkham. My understanding was that Manchester-Euxton wiring teams were separate (Carillion) from Preston to Blackpool (Volker Rail). I also predict bad news soon on the Manchester - Euxton work before publication of the May timetable. Maybe a controversial blockade between Bolton and Manchester to complete the work in the early summer with electric working Bolton - Blackpool? This could allow stock cascades for May timetable change to go ahead as planned.
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Blackpool could always get some electric services to Manchester via Golborne, plus Liverpool and London.
 
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Railrover700

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LNW-GW Joint said:
Blackpool could always get some electric services to Manchester via Golborne, plus Liverpool and London.
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OK, maybe at least one Blackpool to Manchester to go via Golborne and the Preston - Man Vic 319 stopper terminating at Bolton until the work is complete?
 
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