Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[Sox]

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

There are lots of power power line crossings at 275/400kV and they can be difficult to plan/manage during conductor stringing operations.

There are other techniques but protection is often afforded by live line scaffolds and, for acute crossings, the vertical clearances between the top of the 25kV rail overheads and the oversailing (adjacent live in the case of a double circuit line) 400kV circuit can be tight if not impossible.

Although rail came first, some transmission lines would have been built in the days of steam with undersailing electrification coming later.

 

[edwin_m]

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

I imagine that would have cost a lot more and been more disruptive, involving re-aligning the track and re-building the platform edges as done recently at Bath. Doing this at Bath had more to do with the need to re-align the tracks for other reasons (stepping distance on curved platforms) plus the listed status of the buildings. I don't recall details of re-alignment at Durham but probably similar reason to Bath.

 

[Inox]

This morning I noticed three more sets of uprights on the down side of buckshaw parkway. can't recall them being there yesterday? They're in between the station and the bridge.

 

[QueensCurve]

I imagine that would have cost a lot more and been more disruptive, involving re-aligning the track and re-building the platform edges as done recently at Bath. Doing this at Bath had more to do with the need to re-align the tracks for other reasons (stepping distance on curved platforms) plus the listed status of the buildings. I don't recall details of re-alignment at Durham but probably similar reason to Bath.

Another issue at Bath may have been compatibility with the 26m coaches of the Class 80x.

 

[LDECRexile]

Wrinkley has kindly sent this note:

Three photos of the new bridge, also P5 platform edge is being built and the wooden facia on P3 canopy has been removed. Things are starting to happen at Lostock, the bridge over the Wigan line now has a temporary footbridge on the west side to carry utilities and pedestrians. Work on the substation starts soon and they are taking another chunk of the car park for a work area.

I've added his accompanying photos to his album here:

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

and to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Wrinkley.

 

[Greybeard33]

Today I had my first ride along the line for several months. I was really impressed to see with my own eyes how quickly things have moved on after the slow start. All those bases and a goodly number of masts too. And work continuing in the daytime at a number of locations. Clearly the Blackpool line is less advanced, but good progress there too.

Hopefully the experience gained will transfer to the Stalybridge line next year.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Work on the substation starts soon and they are taking another chunk of the car park for a work area.

That's a bit worrying.
Substations are big, expensive things and take a good while to build, if those at Ordsall Lane and Wavertree are anything to go by.
Presumably it is vital to the power supply for the route, and the signalling.
We tend to measure progress by counting bases and masts and things, but this substation seems to be on the critical path.
Happy to be proved wrong...

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Substations are big, expensive things and take a good while to build, if those at Ordsall Lane and Wavertree are anything to go by.

Not as difficult and long to plan as a grid access point which is a different thing.

 

[WatcherZero]

Have they done some modification to Chat Moss electrification or the 350's recently?

Neither I rode on today had the clunk of tripping electricals or temporary loss of air conditioning when going through the neutral section.

 

[Elecman]

Have they done some modification to Chat Moss electrification or the 350's recently?

Neither I rode on today had the clunk of tripping electricals or temporary loss of air conditioning when going through the neutral section.

The 350s I travelled on Wednesday were certainly clunking at each Neutral Section

 

[WatcherZero]

Hmm, didn't think to take the numbers.

 

[PDG1949]

From SSC - Connection !

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b40/steveoldham/Mobile Uploads/20170514_141921.jpg

 

[SodTheDrummer]

From SSC - Connection !

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b40/steveoldham/Mobile Uploads/20170514_141921.jpg

Nice little flyover video from Aerial vid TV as well https://twitter.com/AerialVideoTV

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

There are 21 masts north of Buckshaw and 3 to the south.
Many of these are TTCs on the outside of the curve towards Euxton Jn ( plus some more in the overlap with the WCML).
There are 6 masts between Adlington and Blackrod (plus the 5 which have been there for over a year).
Nothing yet between the flying arches and Adlington.

All that was on the Down.
On the Up, there are 5 masts between Blackrod and Adlington, and another 5 between Adlington and Chorley (widely spaced).
Then 3 just south of Buckshaw, then 20 round to the WCML.
Many of the masts have registration gear and tensioners attached.

Didn't notice a lot new elsewhere, but it's getting difficult to spot changes (wood for the trees effect ).

 

[LDECRexile]

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).

Could our photographers who can cover this area please keep an eye out for this?

 

[Geeves]

I was thinking would it not be easier just to build some kind of concrete snow shelter type affair where the wires go over?

 

[edwin_m]

I was thinking would it not be easier just to build some kind of concrete snow shelter type affair where the wires go over?

If the problem is the cables getting too close to each other and arcing, then a structure built above the level of the OLE would be even more prone to arcing from the National Grid cables.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Could our photographers who can cover this area please keep an eye out for this?

The oversail is here, so the best vantage point is the long footbridge to the west of it.

 

[LDECRexile]

I travelled Southport-Bolton-Salford Central yesterday,, stopping off for 90 minutes at Bolton.

I was encouraged by what I saw:

1. Clear groundwork action off the southern end of Lostock station car park, the electrical thingy is getting under way.
2. Several mast bases in and around Bolton station, including a gynormous one between Platforms 3 and 4
3. Lots of evidence of signalling-related work, esppecially at Bolton Station
4. The Platform 5 worksite was a hive of activity with lots of changes off the southern end
5. Orangemen swarming over the Skyway Bridge Thingy
6. A sprinkling of new mast bases along the Moses-Gate-Agecroft section, including two immediately south of Farnworth Tunnel
7. Salford Central also a hive of orange activity.

Photos tomorrow, am away at friends'.

PS: I recently mentioned power lines over the tracks between the M60 and Agecroft. I was wrong, I meant between Kearsley and Clifton, in the general area of the old Kearsley power station. JL has given clarity on the offending wires between Lostock and Horwich, for which, thanks.

 

[snowball]

More info events Preston-Blackpool:

Network Rail is inviting residents in Lancashire to find out more about work taking place on the railway line between Preston and Blackpool.

Piling – the process of installing foundations for the masts and gantries that will carry electrified wires along the railway – has begun between Preston and Blackpool North stations, and will continue for several months.

Piling is a noisy activity as it involves driving steel piles deep into the ground to provide a secure base for the gantries. There can also be noise from vehicle movements as safety rules mean that a horn must be sounded when moving vehicles connected to the work.

Although noise levels are dependent on the distance of homes from the railway and piling locations – which are installed every 50 to 60 metres – local residents are being advised to expect some disturbance whilst this work takes place. The majority of piling will take place overnight, as this is the time when it causes the least impact on passenger services.

Network Rail is inviting residents wishing to find out more about the work to attend one of its upcoming information events. Network Rail staff will be available to answer any questions which residents may have.

The public information events will take place on the following days:

Monday 22 May from 16.00 to 19.00 at Kirkham Community Centre, Mill Street, PR4 2AN
Tuesday 30 May from 16.00 to 19.00 at Poulton Civic Centre, Breck Road, FY6 7PU
Monday 19 June from 16.00 to 19.00 at Ashton Methodist Church, Wellington Road, Preston, PR2 1BU
Tuesday 27 June from 14.00 to 18.00 at Blackpool North station, Talbot Road, Blackpool, FY1 2AB

If you can’t make an event but wish to find out more about the work, as well as keep up to date with its progress, please visit the Network Rail website at www.networkrail.co.uk/blackpool

You can also find out more about piling by watching this video: https://youtu.be/qpaFPCa0ZlA

For further information contact Network Rail’s 24 hour national helpline on 03457 11 41 41.

 

[DJH1971]

I travelled Southport-Bolton-Salford Central yesterday,, stopping off for 90 minutes at Bolton.

I was encouraged by what I saw:

1. Clear groundwork action off the southern end of Lostock station car park, the electrical thingy is getting under way.
2. Several mast bases in and around Bolton station, including a gynormous one between Platforms 3 and 4
3. Lots of evidence of signalling-related work, esppecially at Bolton Station
4. The Platform 5 worksite was a hive of activity with lots of changes off the southern end
5. Orangemen swarming over the Skyway Bridge Thingy
6. A sprinkling of new mast bases along the Moses-Gate-Agecroft section, including two immediately south of Farnworth Tunnel
7. Salford Central also a hive of orange activity.

Photos tomorrow, am away at friends'.

PS: I recently mentioned power lines over the tracks between the M60 and Agecroft. I was wrong, I meant between Kearsley and Clifton, in the general area of the old Kearsley power station. JL has given clarity on the offending wires between Lostock and Horwich, for which, thanks.

Good to hear of this happening

 

[LDECRexile]

I've added Wednesday's photos to the Combined Volume here:

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

 

[Darren R]

Well those ruddy great mast bases (?) between platforms three and four at Bolton should finally put a stop to any further suggestions of reinstating the fast lines through the station!

Incidentally, a Network Rail test train of some sort went through Darwen heading towards Bolton an hour ago; is this electrification related - I noticed one of the carriages had a pantograph. (And yes - I know the wires aren't actually up yet! )

 

[CAF397]

The Network Rail test train was a pair of Colas 37s, they were waiting at Bolton at 2335 when I saw them, having been in Blackpool North earlier in the day. Looking at the route, it could be structure gauging?

With regards to the problematic National grid power line interface, I wonder if a rather large neutral section of say 30 foot would get past the problem of having high voltage power lines above 25kV? The traction power can be run in troughs like they do under footbridges with the ATF cable. At Kearsley there is no danger of gapping as it's sufficient distance from the station not to be an issue.

 

[CAF397]

On the Blackpool North line there appears to be frequent TCAIDs installed. This surprised me as I would have thought the move to the ROC would bring in axle counters.

Although the resignalling around Ordsall Lane uses axle counters but no visible "yellow mushrooms" as is the norm. I believe it's Siemens kit at Ordsall.

Does anyone know if Blackpool-Preston is traditional track circuits or it will be axle counters?

 

[Foggycorner]

In reply to TBS
The TCaids are an old fitment that are in use until the new signalling takes over

Preston to almost Salwick will remain Track Circuits and Salwick to Blackpool North will be axle counters all the way

Axle counters will also be fitted to the Blackpool South line but with gaps as its only a long siding from kirkham

this is as I have been told

 

[CAF397]

Cheers for the reply, and my apologies for my post not being clear.

What I should have said was TCAIDs are being installed along the Blackpool North line in a few places, brand new ones with their grey electrical unit box covered in plastic and cables coiled round the base.

This is why it was surprising as I would have expected any resignalling to utilise axle counters.

 

[edwin_m]

Cheers for the reply, and my apologies for my post not being clear.

What I should have said was TCAIDs are being installed along the Blackpool North line in a few places, brand new ones with their grey electrical unit box covered in plastic and cables coiled round the base.

This is why it was surprising as I would have expected any resignalling to utilise axle counters.

Are these really TCAIDs or just junction boxes for the future new track circuits or axle counters? From what I remember of working on TCAID (many years ago so may have changed) the battery life is limited so they tend to be installed temporarily during the leaf fall season, and they aren't allowed on electrified lines.

 

[CAF397]

As I say, they appear to look like TCAIDs. Frequently positioned. They're not as big as the traditional 'yellow mushrooms' for axle counters, and the position of these equipment in the middle of nowhere, frequently, seems excessive for axle counter sections?

 

[Geeves]

2000 tonnes of something being delivered to Lostock tonight

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U33962/2017/05/20/advanced