Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[42626]

The photo shows the bridges over both the Chorley and Wigan routes. Will both be worked on, I wonder?

The planning application only shows the Wigan line bridge.

 

[InOban]

The NR press release does say the bridge next to the station, not the bridge over the station!

 

[Inox]

seems bizarre to just replace one? both are knackered and have load limiting bollards on them. Can't see them having another period of closre to replace the Preston line bridge...

 

[Ianno87]

seems bizarre to just replace one? both are knackered and have load limiting bollards on them. Can't see them having another period of closre to replace the Preston line bridge...

Having spent many, many hours of my life stood waiting for trains underneath the Preston side bridge, I'd be staggered if it was high enough to give adequate platform electrical clearance...

 

[WatcherZero]

They aren't raising it much, from 4.5m to 4.866m clearance and its pretty much same width both above and below within rounding margin.

 

[snowball]

This seems to be a significant development! The "LETTER" at 42626's link makes clear that this is neither routine asset renewal, nor works necessary for Phase 4 of the electrification (the route via Chorley), but works necessary for Phase 7 (Lostock-Wigan), for which I thought there was no firm go-ahead yet!

 

[Viscount702]

This seems to be a significant development! The "LETTER" at 42626's link makes clear that this is neither routine asset renewal, nor works necessary for Phase 4 of the electrification (the route via Chorley), but works necessary for Phase 7 (Lostock-Wigan), for which I thought there was no firm go-ahead yet!

Look at the date of the letter and the date of the permission such as it is. It predates the postponement of Wigan Lostock

 

[snowball]

Look at the date of the letter and the date of the permission such as it is. It predates the postponement of Wigan Lostock

However they are going ahead with the bridge work now.
And I don't think the project ever got as far as achieving a firm date even before the Hendy report.

 

[Viscount702]

Also remember where a non electrified line leaves an electrified one the wires are continued for some distance and I suspect in this case those wires need to go under that bridge. It also means that when Wigan Lostock is wired the bridge has already been done.

 

[WatcherZero]

Yeah its been mentioned before they are electrifying the turnoff as part of Bolton line works and it will terminate quite a substantial way beyond the junction.

 

[ALX400]

Been for a bit of a wander today, there's not much progress i can see recently around Blackrod Adlington or Chorley regarding steelwork, troughs And signalling work yes, I'd be really suprised if it's complete for December there just seems far to much work still to do, what's everyone's thoughts ?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Been for a bit of a wander today, there's not much progress i can see recently around Blackrod Adlington or Chorley regarding steelwork, troughs And signalling work yes, I'd be really suprised if it's complete for December there just seems far to much work still to do, what's everyone's thoughts ?

My bet is that full route Manchester - BLACKPOOL will be ready for the May 2018 timetable.

 

[DJH1971]

My bet is that full route Manchester - BLACKPOOL will be ready for the May 2018 timetable.

I'm inclined to bet on that myself, given that there is still rather a lot to do especially around Bolton station for starters.

 

[LDECRexile]

Earlier today Paul and I did a road tour from Horwich to Euxton Jct followed by a trip to Salwick.

1. More masts and attachments in place Horwich-M61
2. Scrape between Blackrod Station and road bridge
3. De-veging in progess south of Grimeford Lane bridge
4. Signalling work in progress north of Adlington station
5. Bradshaw Fields Foot Crossing closed, substantial holes dug for replacement bridge foundations on east side
6. Lots of masts, some with attachments, some with booms from Euxton Jct to well south of Buckshaw Parkway
7. De-veging in progress north of Salwick

These points doubtless overlap with other peoples' recent contributions.

Photos later.

 

[ALX400]

It seems to be in the middle where the work is a bit slow, prehaps a full on spurt will happen

 

[LDECRexile]

My biggest worries are Squeeze Belly Entry footbridge south to Agecroft North Jct where there are substantial gaps between bases, National Grid Overhead wires south of the M60 and foot crossings needing replacing with bridges. Hope my fears are groundless.

Incidentally, Paul and I saw no 185s today, was that just the luck of timing or is summat up?

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Earlier today Paul and I did a road tour from Horwich to Euxton Jct followed by a trip to Salwick. These points doubtless overlap with other peoples' recent contributions. Photos later.

Dave as well as being home for 10 days for the USA Independence Day week of July 4th when we have our jaunt - I am also home May 25 to 29th.

I am going to concentrate on (photos) Fylde Jct - Salwick and possibly Treales and Kirkham. I trust this does not overlap with anything you have planned.

 

[42626]

National Grid Overhead wires south of the M60

Where exactly? Between the M60 and Clifton?

 

[Inox]

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.5273565,-2.3284666,87m/data=!3m1!1e3

i think

 

[snowball]

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.5273565,-2.3284666,87m/data=!3m1!1e3

i think

Those wires don't seem to cross the railway when seen on Streetview from the M60:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.5...4!1sJu7O0esuvQSibebzg1gRNA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Though the near-vertical wires could still infringe the clearance, I suppose.

I think there are some other wires nearby.

 

[SodTheDrummer]

National Grid Overhead wires south of the M60

Forgive my ignorance, but what issues does this cause? Is it interference, arcing? And what's the solution - raising the NG wires?

 

[LDECRexile]

As mentioned above, Paul and I went a-jaunting today.

I've added Paul's shots to his album here:

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

and added our joint efforts to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Paul.

 

[LDECRexile]

Dave as well as being home for 10 days for the USA Independence Day week of July 4th when we have our jaunt - I am also home May 25 to 29th.

I am going to concentrate on (photos) Fylde Jct - Salwick and possibly Treales and Kirkham. I trust this does not overlap with anything you have planned.

I took Paul past the end of your street today, before getting comprehensively lost in country lanes! Today's foray north of Euxton was impromptu. I'll cheerfully steer clear late this month.

See you on Independence Day!

Dave

 

[LDECRexile]

Where exactly? Between the M60 and Clifton?

I think so, I'm following JL's portents some months ago which I have not yet seen allayed.

I think the risks are things like wires carrying Grid Power coming down on wires carrying 25kV with a train carrying 250 people beneath.

I could be up a gumtree.

 

[SodTheDrummer]

I think so, I'm following JL's portents some months ago which I have not yet seen allayed.

I think the risks are things like wires carrying Grid Power coming down on wires carrying 25kV with a train carrying 250 people beneath.

I could be up a gumtree.

Yes, that would be an issue! However would the train not act as a sort of Faraday cage? as in they tell you in a lightning storm the best place to be is in a car..

Could they not put up some sort of cage over the track to short everything out should the NG lines be damaged? As in a massive version of the ATF 'combs'? Apologies again if this is a dumb question!

 

[PDG1949]

Meanwhile, back at the Ordsall Chord

https://s27.postimg.org/i00ubgm03/image.jpg

 

[snowball]

I think the risks are things like wires carrying Grid Power coming down on wires carrying 25kV with a train carrying 250 people beneath.

I think the issue must be clearance. There are surely lots of places where grid lines pass over electrified railways without special protection.

 

[DJH1971]

Meanwhile, back at the Ordsall Chord

https://s27.postimg.org/i00ubgm03/image.jpg

Coming along nicely

Still set for December?

 

[Joseph_Locke]

The sharp-eyed amongst you may have noticed that the new vertical members for the canopy trimming are installed for nearly the whole length of Platform 3 at Bolton now, in preparation for cutting the extra bit off.

As to ENW oversails, they need moving because the separation between the new OLE and the existing transmission lines isn't enough to allow one to be worked on while the other is live (or in the case of the oversail between Lostock and Horwich because they would touch).

Only the Westhoughton line deck (aka LCN/1) is being rebuilt. for Reference 350mm is a lot when the deck is full of services and the entire bridge is the summit of a hill already.

 

[QueensCurve]

The sharp-eyed amongst you may have noticed that the new vertical members for the canopy trimming are installed for nearly the whole length of Platform 3 at Bolton now, in preparation for cutting the extra bit off.

As to ENW oversails, they need moving because the separation between the new OLE and the existing transmission lines isn't enough to allow one to be worked on while the other is live (or in the case of the oversail between Lostock and Horwich because they would touch).

Only the Westhoughton line deck (aka LCN/1) is being rebuilt. for Reference 350mm is a lot when the deck is full of services and the entire bridge is the summit of a hill already.

Could they not have adopted a similar solution to Durham extending the platforms outwards and leaving the canopies intact?