Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[LDECRexile]

Paul and I travelled from Bolton to Preston and back today. Our prime task was mast and base logging.

The Progressometer shows no change in the number of masts (none was expected) and a small rise in the number of bases in the Buckshaw Parkway area.

This fails to show "green shoots", ie:

1. BB bases now tagged with their number (MG/nn/nn). Lots have these. Joseph Locke remarked on them a while back but I missed their significance - each one says "Yep, we're happy with this."
2. Pegs (lengths of 1" square rough cut wood, typically dipped in yellow or orange paint with mast number-to-be pinned on, see recent images from Buckshaw) have been driven into both new and old "scrapes" (alias "preliminary earthworks".) Once again, the new contractors are visibly taking ownership.
3. New bases in cardboard formers have appeared since last week. Evidence of action on the ground.

Other things:

a. Still can't see the contractor's workbase.
b. Hard to tell what progress is being made on the drainage job between Lostock Junction and Ladybridge, there's a lot of materials and kit around.
c. Appears to be signal troughing progress between Bolton and Dean Clough bridge
d. Lostock and Horwich Parkway car parks full
e. Four coach Arriva trains well but not fully loaded in both directions mid afternoon.
f. Tickets checked and good announcements throughout.
g. Regret that the buffet on Bolton Station has closed.

 

[LDECRexile]

Omitted yesterday:

h. Pallisade fencing extended beside tracks north of the Golf Course Footbridge north of Lostock
i. Building work going on at Leyland station
j.

Wrinkley has dropped a very welcome line, as below:

I had a walk from Lostock station to Ladybridge today, nothing much happening.

There doesn’t seem to be any progress at all between the station and Beaumont Road, although there is a lot of material and plant there.

The drainage between Beaumont Road and Ladybridge is still where it was a month ago, they have reset the cable troughs to about 50 yards from Beaumont Road, but the cables have not been put back yet.

The wire mesh fencing between Beaumont Road and Ladybridge is being replace by steel railings. The rest of the fencing between Lostock and Dean Clough is already steel railings on the south side where the cycle path runs.

I looked for possible investigation holes but couldn’t see any.

 

[Inox]

more bases at Buckshaw last night, according to twitter.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

more bases at Buckshaw last night, according to twitter.

The base count west of Chorley Tunnel has gone up from 6 to 18 in the past 2 weeks.
On the Down, only 1 new base, tucked in behind the platform at the Euxton end of Buckshaw Parkway.
On the Up, 11 more bases, 4 towards Euxton from Buckshaw, 7 towards Chorley.
Those on the approach to Chorley Tunnel are metal piles, the first seen on Phase 4.
No change east of the tunnel as far as I could see.

 

[thealexweb]

Hello. How long has the Murphy's base at the south end of Lostock station been there? They have ballast, a variety of road-rail vehicles and other equipment stationed there. Are they connected to the electrification or is this for more track relaying?

 

[Geeves]

I seem to remember LDEC photographing it quite a while back. Certainly Ive worked up there a few times this year and its been there since at least January.

He mentioned in his recent post its related to drainage works.

 

[LDECRexile]

Paul was poorly today, so I had a solo trip to Manchester in the sun.

En route two things:

1. pallisade fencing slowly being installed between Lostock Jct and Ladybridge
2. Extensive de-veging between Kearsley station and Farnworth Tunnel. Joe will reckon the clock has gone back years.

Lots of tram trackbed preparation activity in the city.

Lots of Ordsall Chord work going on around the River Irwell.

Photos attached here:

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

 

[thealexweb]

I seem to remember LDEC photographing it quite a while back. Certainly Ive worked up there a few times this year and its been there since at least January.

He mentioned in his recent post its related to drainage works.

Oh I see thank you. Yesterday I also noticed there another one of these mini-bases just north of Bolton, towards Lostock.

 

[wrinkley]

Oh I see thank you. Yesterday I also noticed there another one of these mini-bases just north of Bolton, towards Lostock.

That's been there for some time, I think it was connected with track lowering under the Mayor Street bridge.

 

[SodTheDrummer]

2. Pegs (lengths of 1" square rough cut wood, typically dipped in yellow or orange paint with mast number-to-be pinned on, see recent images from Buckshaw) have been driven into both new and old "scrapes" (alias "preliminary earthworks".)

Noticed what appear to be some of these this morning on the Bolton side of Moses Gate - no tags on them yet though...

g. Regret that the buffet on Bolton Station has closed.

Yeah, it's been closed for some time - think the person running it retired. Hopefully it will reopen at some point, I need my caffeine in the mornings..:-x

 

[CAF397]

On the Down, only 1 new base, tucked in behind the platform at the Euxton end of Buckshaw Parkway..

Just noticed that myself now. There seems to be two visible behind the Down platform, one with exposed reinforcing bars and one covered with black plastic.

 

[PDG1949]

g. Regret that the buffet on Bolton Station has closed.

Yeah, it's been closed for some time - think the person running it retired. Hopefully it will reopen at some point, I need my caffeine in the mornings..:-x

Find Cinderella's shoe and it may turn into a Pumpkin.....

 

[CAF397]

My first trip via Chorley in a week, noticed some stuff that I hadn't before (I apologise if they had already been reported).

Several piles have been installed just after Ordsall Lane Jn towards Windsor Bridge South Jn.

About 200 yards Chorley side of Buckshaw Parkway station are 4 massive OLe bases (2 on the up and 2 on the down opposite each other). I'm guessing these may be for a Neutral Section, given there is Balshaw Lane Jn side of Euxton Jn, there needs to be one for the Chorley line.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Also, I forgot this earlier, the foot crossing that was about 300 yards north of Adlington station, that was closed and the crossing surface removed last year has had its crossing surface replaced and new Whistle boards erected (but covered over). The crossing remains closed.

In this weeks Weekly Operating Notice there is a 60mph TSR that is imposed from Friday over the crossing (line speed 75mph).

I am surprised at this as I thought it was closed because it's saturated on a bend, and if aspirations for faster line speeds and electric (quieter) trains are followed, I thought the closure would have been permanent.

 

[furnessvale]

Also, I forgot this earlier, the foot crossing that was about 300 yards north of Adlington station, that was closed and the crossing surface removed last year has had its crossing surface replaced and new Whistle boards erected (but covered over). The crossing remains closed.

In this weeks Weekly Operating Notice there is a 60mph TSR that is imposed from Friday over the crossing (line speed 75mph).

I am surprised at this as I thought it was closed because it's saturated on a bend, and if aspirations for faster line speeds and electric (quieter) trains are followed, I thought the closure would have been permanent.

Presumably, if it is a public footpath, someone has objected.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Presumably, if it is a public footpath, someone has objected.

Or planning consent hasn't been applied for / given (yet) for a closure or footbridge ?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

17 new bases installed in the past week around Buckshaw Parkway.
The counts are now 4/5 (Up/Down towards Euxton), and 17/11 (towards Chorley Tunnel).
No change elsewhere.

 

[CAF397]

Is my hypothesis correct about a neutral section going in Chorley side of Buckshaw station? Very large mast bases anchor threads far larger than I've seen on other bases, consecutive and opposite each other?

 

[snowball]

Is my hypothesis correct about a neutral section going in Chorley side of Buckshaw station? Very large mast bases anchor threads far larger than I've seen on other bases, consecutive and opposite each other?

I have no inside knowledge but I'm sure you must be right. Where an electrified route divides there's often a neutral section (with at least a track sectioning cabin) on each branch just after the division, so that the power to either route can be isolated, leaving the other running. There's already one south of Euxton on the main line, I'm sure there will be one on the Bolton line too.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I have no inside knowledge but I'm sure you must be right. Where an electrified route divides there's often a neutral section (with at least a track sectioning cabin) on each branch just after the division, so that the power to either route can be isolated, leaving the other running. There's already one south of Euxton on the main line, I'm sure there will be one on the Bolton line too.

And this location seems a natural choice for the Preston -Manchester section. Begs the question of where it would go on the Preston -Blackpool section.

 

[Elecman]

Not sure you'd need one on Preston Blackpool as it all from 1 feeder, if you were to need one the just after Fylde Jct would make sense since the TSC is at Fylde Jct.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

And this location seems a natural choice for the Preston -Manchester section. Begs the question of where it would go on the Preston -Blackpool section.

Not sure you'd need one on Preston Blackpool as it all from 1 feeder, if you were to need one the just after Fylde Jct would make sense since the TSC is at Fylde Jct.

The operational flexibility of being able to electrically isolate Preston-Blackpool but keep running Preston -Manchester surely makes it highly desirable and sensible though?

 

[Ploughman]

The operational flexibility of being able to electrically isolate Preston-Blackpool but keep running Preston -Manchester surely makes it highly desirable and sensible though?

The more routes you can isolate the better.

For a reason why just look at the situation that used to operate at Leeds between the Station and Neville Hill.
The depot was fed by the OHLE across the viaduct between the depot and the station, not a problem normally but a nightmare when you needed to access machinery in a possession.
Also delayed possesion starts due to trains shunting round in the depot.

 

[Bald Rick]

The operational flexibility of being able to electrically isolate Preston-Blackpool but keep running Preston -Manchester surely makes it highly desirable and sensible though?

Terminology getting in the way. You don't need a neutral section to isolate one line (or even one track) from another. For that all you need is a section insulator and a switch.

Neutral sections have a very specific purpose, and that is to electrically isolate one feeder station from another. I don't know what the feeding arrangements are in the Blackpool branch, but unless it is fed from the same feeder as on the WCML at Preston, it will need a Neutral section somewhere.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Not sure you'd need one on Preston Blackpool as it all from 1 feeder, if you were to need one the just after Fylde Jct would make sense since the TSC is at Fylde Jct.

OHNS between Buckshaw and the WCML at Euxton, and between Lostock and Horwich. There will also be one between Lostock Jn and Westhoughton, eventually.

Opinion seems divided on the Blackpool branch, but my guess is it will be fed from Maudland TSC at Preston with no BSP at Blackpool (though I'll probably be wrong).

 

[CAF397]

OHNS between Buckshaw and the WCML at Euxton

I don't wish to question you, as you are far more knowledgable about this stuff than me, but the very large mast bases I referred to are Chorley side of Buckshaw station. If the Neutral Section is going in Euxton side of Buckshaw, what on earth is going about 300 yards Chorley side of Buckshaw?

 

[QueensCurve]

Yeah, it's been closed for some time - think the person running it retired. Hopefully it will reopen at some point, I need my caffeine in the mornings..:-x

You will be lucky if it reopens as a Star*ucks.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I don't wish to question you, as you are far more knowledgable about this stuff than me, but the very large mast bases I referred to are Chorley side of Buckshaw station. If the Neutral Section is going in Euxton side of Buckshaw, what on earth is going about 300 yards Chorley side of Buckshaw?

Perhaps it will be the overlap between two tension lengths?

 

[CAF397]

Perhaps it will be the overlap between two tension lengths?

That seems overkill, and judging by the OLE on the Chat Moss the tension sections have similar sized mast bases as the usual masts, but with 6 threads. The usual mast bases have 4 threads (two slightly different sizes). Having a look at the mast bases currently finished, it is possible to work out where the tension sections will be, by looking out for the 6 thread bases.

I only saw the mast bases when passing at about 40mph, but - unscientifically - say the normal mast bases where 600mm x 600mm in size, these 4 massive bases could be 1000mm x 1000mm (dimensions only as a guide to emphasise size difference).

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

That seems overkill, and judging by the OLE on the Chat Moss the tension sections have similar sized mast bases as the usual masts, but with 6 threads. The usual mast bases have 4 threads (two slightly different sizes). Having a look at the mast bases currently finished, it is possible to work out where the tension sections will be, by looking out for the 6 thread bases.

I only saw the mast bases when passing at about 40mph, but - unscientifically - say the normal mast bases where 600mm x 600mm in size, these 4 massive bases could be 1000mm x 1000mm (dimensions only as a guide to emphasise size difference).

There are similarly large bases on Phase 2 both east of Huyton and west of Roby, carrying larger/heavier than normal portals.
More than the normal setup for changeover of wire lengths.
Of course at Huyton we don't know how the 4th track will tie in and whether more switchgear is needed to feed it.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

I only saw the mast bases when passing at about 40mph, but - unscientifically - say the normal mast bases where 600mm x 600mm in size, these 4 massive bases could be 1000mm x 1000mm (dimensions only as a guide to emphasise size difference).

If they're only on one side (no matching base on the other side) then I'd say TTCs.

if they're on both sides then BIIK.

There is a new crossover to go in about 200m Chorley side of Buckshaw but that doesn't specifically need special masts.

 

[CAF397]

Yes, 4 in total - 2 on the up two on the down, opposite each other and consecutive.