Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[LDECRexile]

Ironstone11 has kindly sent three more shots of Fillie taken from NR's Twitter feed.

I have created an album for him in the usual way, here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157656186410529

Thank you Ironstone11

Joe and I reckon it would be best not to include the two 'rogue' shots I added to the Fillie set yesterday. I have removed them and woven Ironstone's shots in to set 4730 in the Combined Volume, here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157648767927083

Joe has also received a twit from Network Rail saying Fillie should get cracking tonight.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Wrinkley has kindly sent four shots of Ladybridge which he took today. I've added them to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157654034635234

Bill Morton has kindly sent three shots of work under way again at Grimeford Lane Bridge. I've added them to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157650900509369

Thank you Bill and Wrinkley.

I've added all seven shots to the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157648767927083

 

[spongsdad]

Joe has also received a twit from Network Rail saying Fillie should get cracking tonight]

I think you might mean a tweet, Dave......... Then again if it's from NR, perhaps you were right first time.
Seriously, though, thanks again for your efforts in documenting and collating this project, especially for those of us who find it difficult to visit.

 

[LDECRexile]

I think you might mean a tweet, Dave......... Then again if it's from NR, perhaps you were right first time.
Seriously, though, thanks again for your efforts in documenting and collating this project, especially for those of us who find it difficult to visit.

I was just seeing if you were paying attention at the back of the class. Thanks for your kind comment.

Joe has sent more NR Fillie shots and Wrinkley has sent more from Ladybridge showing preparations for tomorrow's crane-in.

Wrinkley's album now looks like this:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157654034635234

Joe's looks like this:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157651953947345

and the Combined Volume looks like this:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157648767927083

Warm thanks to all contributors.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Wrinkley has kindly texted to say Ladybridge south abutment was finished 20:30 today, north abutment well advanced and expected to finish tonight.

Single span coming from Scotland overnight, same company which provided the Lostock Footbridge (and probably others.)

All being well it will be craned on from 08:00 tomorrow (Sunday 2nd Aug).

Photos in due course.

 

[snowball]

It's frustrating not knowing whether Fillie has started!

 

[Viscount702]

It is but I would think in the absence of news it hasn't started.

 

[snowball]

Except that NR's local press department is probably off for the weekend.

 

[Class 170101]

boring should commence later this evening.

(Posted Friday 31 July 17:25)
@NetworkRailNP on Twitter

 

[Bullfield WEst]

Northern have just announced on twitter that they have started to post on "Pinterest". Pictures of the Tunnel and other stuff on there.

https://www.pinterest.com/northernrailorg/

 

[snail]

Northern have just announced on twitter that they have started to post on "Pinterest". Pictures of the Tunnel and other stuff on there.

https://www.pinterest.com/northernrailorg/

I'm sure it's very interesting but I don't want to sign up to view the content. Why can't I just look?

 

[LDECRexile]

ALX400 has kindly sent four shots showing one of the temporary bridges having gone from Blackrod.

I've added them to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157651121057352

Thank you ALX400.

Wrinkley has kindly sent twenty shots showing work on the new abutments at Ladybridge, taken yesterday pm.

I've added them to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157654034635234

Thank you Wrinkley.

As usual, I've added them, plus my own efforts at Ladybridge yesterday, to the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157648767927083

Wrinkley and I were both at Ladybridge again today, where the new span went in as sweet as a nut.

I'll process and add images from today later on.

 

[Inox]

Could have just been me but I've just passed through the tunnel and couldn't see fillie at the tunneleentrance...The hoarding was in the way a bit so can't be sure.

 

[furnessvale]

Could have just been me but I've just passed through the tunnel and couldn't see fillie at the tunneleentrance...The hoarding was in the way a bit so can't be sure.

Good God! They will steal anything in Bolton!

 

[snowball]

The Twitter feed confirms Fillie has started:

https://twitter.com/networkrailnp

 

[LDECRexile]

The Twitter feed confirms Fillie has started:

https://twitter.com/networkrailnp

Yippee!


Wrinkley and I watched and filmed Ladybridge's span being craned in yesterday. We were very impressed, hats off to these chaps.

We divvied the event up, with Wrinkley positioned west of the bridge filming eastwards and me t'other way round.

I've wanged my set on as series 4754 Ladybridge Westwards. I've now received all of Wrinkley's material and will process it as 4750 Ladybridge Eastwards.

The updated Combined Volume is here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157648767927083
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Good God! They will steal anything in Bolton!

Just in the nick of time.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

The Twitter feed confirms Fillie has started:

https://twitter.com/networkrailnp

Yippee!

Just in the nick of time.

Great news indeed. I confess to a level of anxiety as it would be depressing if another project got behind.

 

[LDECRexile]

I've now added all the publishable photos and films Wrinkley and I took at Ladybridge over the weekend.

I've added all of Wrinkley's to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157654034635234

and all of ours to the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157648767927083

The job was seriously impressive, hats off to all concerned.

Thank you Wrinkley for fine material and good company.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I've now added all the publishable photos and films Wrinkley and I took at Ladybridge over the weekend.
I've added all of Wrinkley's to his album here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157654034635234
and all of ours to the Combined Volume here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157648767927083
The job was seriously impressive, hats off to all concerned.
Thank you Wrinkley for fine material and good company.

Very good photos guys, especially the time-lapse stuff.

 

[Dixie]

Did anyone find out whether there is somewhere to watch the TBM working its way into the old tunnel? Is it worth going up there in the morning or will there be nothing to see?

 

[LDECRexile]

Did anyone find out whether there is somewhere to watch the TBM working its way into the old tunnel? Is it worth going up there in the morning or will there be nothing to see?

I've nothing to add to the detailed info I gave you before.

If there is somewhere to see it in action I haven't found it and neither have the locals I deal with.

Long range shots of Fillie's bum through the leaf canyon from Kearsley footbridge are the best I know of.

Suffice it to say I ain't going.


Joe Callaghan has sent three more shots of his own and another Network Rail twitter shot of Fillie getting going.

I've added them to Joe's album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157651953947345

and to the Combined Volume (along with some I took from trains on Friday) here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157648767927083

Thank you Joe

 

[snowball]

I was in the area for other reasons yesterday (Sunday) afternoon and in the evening I managed quick visits to two sites, Skew Bridge and Moses Gate.

I tentatively conclude that the reconstruction at Skew Bridge involves only the parapets. The bridge was open to road traffic, the southern parapet was being demolished, and the northern one had been demolished and was being rebuilt. This time it will be of in situ reinforced concrete, clad with real bricks/blocks. The rebar for the concrete was already sprouting and lots of grey blocks were already on site in neat piles.

The temporary supports for the end sections of the bridge deck, that were needed when the concrete was cast, are still in place and I imagine their removal will be the last step.

I sampled the Heath Charnock ice cream shop for the second time - this time strawberry.

At Moses Gate both platforms are being rebuilt simultaneously. The down platform is close to the live line so I assume its face wall is only being worked on at weekends (and conceivably weeknights).

The up platform at Moses Gate is of different construction. Whereas the down one, and the two at Farnworth, are/will be filled with earth, the up one at MG will apparently be a structure resting on transverse brick piers, with no face wall.

Looking at LDECR's photo 4754d reminds me of a few years ago when I was following progress on a scheme to build a road bridge to replace a roundabout on the A1 at Blyth, south of Doncaster. I arrived one day to find that the bridge move (using a couple of transporters like those in the Glasgow Cutty Sark Bridge thread) was just being completed. I joined the small watching crowd and got talking to the woman next to me, who turned out to be the wife of the chief engineer. She said they had found that the bolts supplied were too short, and had sent her into Doncaster to buy longer ones.

 

[Dixie]

I've nothing to add to the detailed info I gave you before.

If there is somewhere to see it in action I haven't found it and neither have the locals I deal with.

Long range shots of Fillie's bum through the leaf canyon from Kearsley footbridge are the best I know of.

Suffice it to say I ain't going.

Cheers Dave. Will have to wait for NR's video then.

 

[LDECRexile]

I was in the area for other reasons yesterday (Sunday) afternoon and in the evening I managed quick visits to two sites, Skew Bridge and Moses Gate.

I tentatively conclude that the reconstruction at Skew Bridge involves only the parapets. The bridge was open to road traffic, the southern parapet was being demolished, and the northern one had been demolished and was being rebuilt. This time it will be of in situ reinforced concrete, clad with real bricks/blocks. The rebar for the concrete was already sprouting and lots of grey blocks were already on site in neat piles.

The temporary supports for the end sections of the bridge deck, that were needed when the concrete was cast, are still in place and I imagine their removal will be the last step.

I sampled the Heath Charnock ice cream shop for the second time - this time strawberry.

At Moses Gate both platforms are being rebuilt simultaneously. The down platform is close to the live line so I assume its face wall is only being worked on at weekends (and conceivably weeknights).

The up platform at Moses Gate is of different construction. Whereas the down one, and the two at Farnworth, are/will be filled with earth, the up one at MG will apparently be a structure resting on transverse brick piers, with no face wall.

Looking at LDECR's photo 4754d reminds me of a few years ago when I was following progress on a scheme to build a road bridge to replace a roundabout on the A1 at Blyth, south of Doncaster. I arrived one day to find that the bridge move (using a couple of transporters like those in the Glasgow Cutty Sark Bridge thread) was just being completed. I joined the small watching crowd and got talking to the woman next to me, who turned out to be the wife of the chief engineer. She said they had found that the bolts supplied were too short, and had sent her into Doncaster to buy longer ones.

I hope you're right about Skew Bridge.

I laughed out loud at your Blyth story, I hope my caption doesn't suggest something awry; the Orangeman was tightening a bolt which fitted first time.

A story I heard this weekend concerned a motorway bridge in northern England where a long single span was being craned in. An engineer stood amidships watching an Orangemen at each end. Both were giving the hand sign equivalent of "to me a bit."

 

[snowball]

Reading over my previous post, I notice that "weeknights" can be read as either "week nights" (as intended) or "wee knights".

In response to a question in a photo caption, I don't know when Orlando Street bridge will be demolished, but it's due to remain closed to road traffic until next March.

 

[ironstone11]

Did anyone find out whether there is somewhere to watch the TBM working its way into the old tunnel? Is it worth going up there in the morning or will there be nothing to see?

Where was this picture taken from? A drone or a NR tower.

 

[LDECRexile]

Where was this picture taken from? A drone or a NR tower.

I'd guess from one of the large white silos at the southern end of Fillie's compound.

For examples, please see:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/19858943272

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/19858952872

 

[ironstone11]

I'd guess from one of the large white silos at the southern end of Fillie's compound.

For examples, please see:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/19858943272

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/19858952872

Ah yes, that is most likely.

Even if we could see Fillie, I don't think we would see much progress for quite some time. There will undoubtedly be teething problems, staff training, procedures etc. to get right. Like doing the rehearsals, the dress rehearsal and the performance all in one go.

I was thinking it is pity that NR didn't provide a viewing platform, but then once inside the tunnel there won't be anything to see anyway. I guess we will get the occasional Tweet stating that we have now bored and lined x metres.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I was thinking it is pity that NR didn't provide a viewing platform, but then once inside the tunnel there won't be anything to see anyway. I guess we will get the occasional Tweet stating that we have now bored and lined x metres.

I hope so - we did not get tweets but got regular updates when the Channel Tunnel was being bored.

 

[ironstone11]

I hope so - we did not get tweets but got regular updates when the Channel Tunnel was being bored.

Yes, there was a number you could ring for a recorded message, updated weekly if I remember correctly.

Progress was also shown in Rail magazine published fortnightly.

 

[Ploughman]

I hope you're right about Skew Bridge.

I laughed out loud at your Blyth story, I hope my caption doesn't suggest something awry; the Orangeman was tightening a bolt which fitted first time.

A story I heard this weekend concerned a motorway bridge in northern England where a long single span was being craned in. An engineer stood amidships watching an Orangemen at each end. Both were giving the hand sign equivalent of "to me a bit."

A number of years back Network wanted a bridge near Pontefract Racecourse replacing.
So a bridge contractor was appointed.
A new bridge was constructed nearby and all set for the work over a weekend.
On the friday somebody thought to put a tape measure across the proposed gap and the new bridge. A difference the wrong away of about 200mm was found.
Result, weekend work cancelled and replanned for 12 months later with a new bit of bridge welded in.

I know a lot of Renewals lads, who were subcontracted to remove and replace the track, were a bit miffed as they missed out on a 3 shift weekend. Friday and Sunday nights on the bridge and Saturday night elsewhere.

 

[edwin_m]

A number of years back Network wanted a bridge near Pontefract Racecourse replacing.
So a bridge contractor was appointed.
A new bridge was constructed nearby and all set for the work over a weekend.
On the friday somebody thought to put a tape measure across the proposed gap and the new bridge. A difference the wrong away of about 200mm was found.
Result, weekend work cancelled and replanned for 12 months later with a new bit of bridge welded in.

That's what you get when you use a contractor. They make things smaller!