Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[LDECRexile]

First, apologies for sloppy captions. I have amended those to 5572p & q.

Second, Paul has sent some more photos which got lost in the ether. I have woven them into his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157649792560381

and into the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Paul

 

[snowball]

Re the caption concerning Orlando Street bridge, I seem to remember the plans for the bridge were linked on here some time ago and did include additional parapets between the carriageway and the footways, presumably to help in stiffening the structure over the long span. The previous bridge had similar ones.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I know the zoom exaggerates but 5722c really shows the kink in the rail doesn't it?

 

[LDECRexile]

I know the zoom exaggerates but 5772c really shows the kink in the rail doesn't it?

Indeed it does, you could see the rise and fall of the carriages with the naked eye.

For anyone new to bases and masts this album may be of interest. It is selected from shots taken during Liverpool-Manchester electrification:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157646954078264/with/15473004785/
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

First, apologies for sloppy captions. I have amended those to 5572p & q.

Second, Paul has sent some more photos which got lost in the ether. I have woven them into his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157649792560381

and into the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Paul

Oops. For 5572p & q read 5772p & q.

More haste, less speed. My fault. Apologies

 

[GRALISTAIR]

For anyone new to bases and masts this album may be of interest. It is selected from shots taken during Liverpool-Manchester electrification:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157646954078264/with/15473004785/

Oops. For 5572p & q read 5772p & q.

More haste, less speed. My fault. Apologies

Outstanding summary Dave thanks. I am sure I speak for many when I also say " no apologies necessary"

 

[Philip Phlopp]

Re the caption concerning Orlando Street bridge, I seem to remember the plans for the bridge were linked on here some time ago and did include additional parapets between the carriageway and the footways, presumably to help in stiffening the structure over the long span. The previous bridge had similar ones.

I've got the plans somewhere, but from memory, it's effectively three bridges, the road bridge is in the middle, with its own parapets capable of deflecting 44 tonne trucks at 30mph, and then two footbridges, one either side, which take the pavements. They're sort of their own little bridges.

I'd guess if it was one big bridge, it would have been more complicated to assemble on site and may have needed to be heavier or need intermediate supports.

 

[snowball]

I've been reading an article about the Farnworth rebore that a friend has sent me. It's from New Civil Engineer 10 Dec 2015. It mentions something I don't remember seeing before. After the incident of the partial collapse and sand ingress, poor old Fillie got sand in her joints, and was dismantled, sent away for cleaning and put back. A bearing was replaced and the hood at the front top was extended to better support any sand that might be encountered in the remainder of the drive.

 

[LDECRexile]

I've got the plans somewhere, but from memory, it's effectively three bridges, the road bridge is in the middle, with its own parapets capable of deflecting 44 tonne trucks at 30mph, and then two footbridges, one either side, which take the pavements. They're sort of their own little bridges.

I'd guess if it was one big bridge, it would have been more complicated to assemble on site and may have needed to be heavier or need intermediate supports.

Very interesting.

Here's a quick selection of shots over the last couple of years. In essence it looks like the three bridges you describe were created by building two parallel trough footbridges then filling the gap between to make a roadway. Nifty!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157664659328863
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I've been reading an article about the Farnworth rebore that a friend has sent me. It's from New Civil Engineer 10 Dec 2015. It mentions something I don't remember seeing before. After the incident of the partial collapse and sand ingress, poor old Fillie got sand in her joints, and was dismantled, sent away for cleaning and put back. A bearing was replaced and the hood at the front top was extended to better support any sand that might be encountered in the remainder of the drive.

All of her?? Wow!

I'd never heard that either. It wasn't mentioned at the presentation, but doesn't sound like a secret.

 

[snowball]

All of her?? Wow!

That's what it says, but in my experience articles in publications like NCE usually contain errors, so it might not be exactly true.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

I've got the plans somewhere, but from memory, it's effectively three bridges, the road bridge is in the middle, with its own parapets capable of deflecting 44 tonne trucks at 30mph, and then two footbridges, one either side, which take the pavements. They're sort of their own little bridges.

I'd guess if it was one big bridge, it would have been more complicated to assemble on site and may have needed to be heavier or need intermediate supports.

The span is of such a size as to be right on the bleeding edge; the presence of four main girders is what allows it to work at all. In turn, the big span is required as a result of the new platform 5 on one side and the future re-alignment of P1/P2 at some point. Who says we don't think ahead?

I've been reading an article about the Farnworth rebore that a friend has sent me. It's from New Civil Engineer 10 Dec 2015. It mentions something I don't remember seeing before. After the incident of the partial collapse and sand ingress, poor old Fillie got sand in her joints, and was dismantled, sent away for cleaning and put back. A bearing was replaced and the hood at the front top was extended to better support any sand that might be encountered in the remainder of the drive.

Just the digging arm. Since the main machine was a non-rotating shield it had no bearings ...

 

[LDECRexile]

I've spent a while fettling the Progressometer, which had sand in her joints.

I think it's now ship-shape as a spreadsheet (famous last words) but Thursday's jaunt makes me reckon we need to do an audit of the data.

Taking counts of bases from a moving train with guards asking for tickets etc is always prone to error, but Paul did a count from Lostock to Buckshaw and came up with figures which were so far from those on the spreadsheet that I'm scratching my head.

I know Paul is from St Helens, but even so, I've trained him to count using fingers on both hands and to clomp his rear right hoof for "Yes" and his front left for "No".

I suggest we do full counts of all sections north of Bolton next week and compare notes.

 

[ironstone11]

I've got the plans somewhere, but from memory, it's effectively three bridges, the road bridge is in the middle, with its own parapets capable of deflecting 44 tonne trucks at 30mph, and then two footbridges, one either side, which take the pavements. They're sort of their own little bridges.

Attached is a copy of the bridge drawings. I would have said that the footpaths on either side are cantilevered from the main road structure. The load bearing plates which rest on the abutments are at the ends of the road parapets.

It may not have turned out exactly as the drawings though. it does say "indicative"

 

[LDECRexile]

Attached is a copy of the bridge drawings. I would have said that the footpaths on either side are cantilevered from the main road structure. The load bearing plates which rest on the abutments are at the ends of the road parapets.

It may not have turned out exactly as the drawings though. it does say "indicative"

Thank you for the drawings.

I don't really understand "the footpaths on either side are cantilevered from the main road structure", which seems to suggest the footpaths hang off the roadway. Don't several of the photos in #2618 show the footpaths going in first then the roadway hanging off them?

Maybe I've misunderstood you, the photos or both.

 

[Philip Phlopp]

Thank you for the drawings.

I don't really understand "the footpaths on either side are cantilevered from the main road structure", which seems to suggest the footpaths hang off the roadway. Don't several of the photos in #2618 show the footpaths going in first then the roadway hanging off them?

Maybe I've misunderstood you, the photos or both.

It's sort of all of the above.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/21617862278/in/album-72157664659328863/

There's two of those, and then the road is built in the middle of those, as can be seen in https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/21784453910/in/album-72157664659328863/

 

[PDG1949]

I know Paul is from St Helens, but even so, I've trained him to count using fingers on both hands and to clomp his rear right hoof for "Yes" and his front left for "No".

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa............

 

[LDECRexile]

Base for Bases

Has anyone spotted the new contractors' base or bases?

On Liverpool-Manchester BB had a substantial one at Edge Hill, Buckingham likewise at Roby and there was a stock store on Chat Moss.

The people working on bases, masts and wiring have to put their kit and caboodle somewhere, it ain't trivial.

 

[CAF397]

I was having a quick read of this forum before setting off for work, so I swung by Orlando St and took this picture. Apologies for the glare from the sun, at 7am it was in the wrong place! Still fenced off, but it shows the 3 passageways of the bridge.

 

[fflint]

Super picture TBS - shows the make up of the spans very well and is arty too with the rising sun to one side

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Taking counts of bases from a moving train with guards asking for tickets etc is always prone to error, but Paul did a count from Lostock to Buckshaw and came up with figures which were so far from those on the spreadsheet that I'm scratching my head.
I suggest we do full counts of all sections north of Bolton next week and compare notes.

Dave, here's my count of bases as of last Monday April 4: (Up/Down)
Salford Cen-Cres 19/15 (excludes a few concrete platforms)
Ordsall Lane-Windsor Bridge S 4/10 (none east of Oldfield Road bridges on either route)
Salford Cres-Clifton 9/13 (none north of Agecroft North Jn)
Clifton-Bolton-Lostock NIL
Lostock-Horwich 40/45
Horwich-Blackrod 20/19
Blackrod-Adlington 47/43 (bases) plus 5 masts on the Down
Adlington-Chorley 61/55
Chorley-Buckshaw 9/15
Buckshaw-Euxton Jn 0/1

Counting will get more difficult with the summer vegetation growth!
I jot these down in the empty space in timetable booklets and I'm running out of room...

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Base for Bases
Has anyone spotted the new contractors' base or bases?
On Liverpool-Manchester BB had a substantial one at Edge Hill, Buckingham likewise at Roby and there was a stock store on Chat Moss.
The people working on bases, masts and wiring have to put their kit and caboodle somewhere, it ain't trivial.

BB also had a Manchester base in the Middlewood Locks zone when they did the Victoria approaches, but that's gone (replaced by the Ordsall Chord project site).
I haven't seen any sign of a logistics base yet (or even confirmation of the contractor), though I haven't been east of Victoria for a while.

 

[Philip Phlopp]

I haven't seen any sign of a logistics base yet (or even confirmation of the contractor), though I haven't been east of Victoria for a while.

Carillion/Volker.

 

[LDECRexile]

I was having a quick read of this forum before setting off for work, so I swung by Orlando St and took this picture. Apologies for the glare from the sun, at 7am it was in the wrong place! Still fenced off, but it shows the 3 passageways of the bridge.

Please may I add this smashing shot to the Combined Volume?

If I may, do you have any others?

Dave

Dave, here's my count of bases as of last Monday April 4: (Up/Down)
Salford Cen-Cres 19/15 (excludes a few concrete platforms)
Ordsall Lane-Windsor Bridge S 4/10 (none east of Oldfield Road bridges on either route)
Salford Cres-Clifton 9/13 (none north of Agecroft North Jn)
Clifton-Bolton-Lostock NIL
Lostock-Horwich 40/45
Horwich-Blackrod 20/19
Blackrod-Adlington 47/43 (bases) plus 5 masts on the Down
Adlington-Chorley 61/55
Chorley-Buckshaw 9/15
Buckshaw-Euxton Jn 0/1

Counting will get more difficult with the summer vegetation growth!
I jot these down in the empty space in timetable booklets and I'm running out of room...

Great, I'll get onto it this evening.

Thank you

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Carillion/Volker.

Specifically phase 4 = Carillion.

Phase 5 = Carillion.
Phase 3 (and possibly 6) = Volker
Phase 7 = Carillion (probably).

 

[LDECRexile]

I've reconciled LNW's, Paul's and previous Progressometer data and I'm satisfied that Column N in the attached fairly represents where we were on Thursday.

I'll take things forward on that basis.

The simplest way to monitor changes is to look for coloured items in Columns N and O.

A coloured entry in Column N highlights that it has changed since the previous record, ie Column P.

A coloured entry in Column O highlights that it has changed since the previous record, ie Column Q.

 

[Philip Phlopp]

Specifically phase 4 = Carillion.

Phase 5 = Carillion.
Phase 3 (and possibly 6) = Volker
Phase 7 = Carillion (probably).

Hadn't heard 6 was maybe going Volker's way.

 

[QueensCurve]

I was having a quick read of this forum before setting off for work, so I swung by Orlando St and took this picture. Apologies for the glare from the sun, at 7am it was in the wrong place! Still fenced off, but it shows the 3 passageways of the bridge.

I thought that was a nice picture.

 

[PDG1949]

I was having a quick read of this forum before setting off for work, so I swung by Orlando St and took this picture. Apologies for the glare from the sun, at 7am it was in the wrong place! Still fenced off, but it shows the 3 passageways of the bridge.

Excellent - one could even be forgiven for thinking it was Florida....

 

[Corporal Jones]

I've got the plans somewhere, but from memory, it's effectively three bridges, the road bridge is in the middle, with its own parapets capable of deflecting 44 tonne trucks at 30mph, and then two footbridges, one either side, which take the pavements. They're sort of their own little bridges.

I'd guess if it was one big bridge, it would have been more complicated to assemble on site and may have needed to be heavier or need intermediate supports.

Has the new bridge been cleared for use by any vehicle? The original bridge had been restricted to 7.5 tonnes gross for several years.

 

[Philip Phlopp]

Has the new bridge been cleared for use by any vehicle? The original bridge had been restricted to 7.5 tonnes gross for several years.

Just waiting for Bolton Council to finish their work, I believe. It was down to 3 tonnes mgw before demolition too. It took quite a bit of work to demolish, given its collapse was pretty imminent and needed replacement regardless of electrification.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Just waiting for Bolton Council to finish their work, I believe. It was down to 3 tonnes mgw before demolition too. It took quite a bit of work to demolish, given its collapse was pretty imminent and needed replacement regardless of electrification.

I understand that it will be unrestricted.

 

[SodTheDrummer]

Just waiting for Bolton Council to finish their work, I believe. It was down to 3 tonnes mgw before demolition too. It took quite a bit of work to demolish, given its collapse was pretty imminent and needed replacement regardless of electrification.

Bolton Council are now doing work to strengthen the approach roads according to this....

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news..._bridge_set_to_reopen_after_10_month_closure/