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Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

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Jamesrob637

Jamesrob637

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LDECRexile said:
Did you have a camera or mobile with you?

Were the few more masts scattered all over the place or in any particular locations?

Hear hear to your best wishes to the Orange Army.
Click to expand...

Ha, if only I knew how to work the camera on my phone :D sadly not but I'll try for pics when I go along said stretch just after it reopens
 
LDECRexile

LDECRexile

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Jamesrob637 said:
Ha, if only I knew how to work the camera on my phone :D sadly not but I'll try for pics when I go along said stretch just after it reopens
Click to expand...

That'll be good. If you venture forth before then it could be even better, eg photograph tampers on new track. We have a great gang of photographers pooling material of quality ranging from near-professional to decidedly amateur, so don't be nervous of dipping your toe in. When you want to send material just send me a Private Message and I'll send you my email address. Easy peasy.

You could earn yourself an Intrepid Photographer Badge if you can take shots of the masts behind the Tarmac site at Agecroft, I haven't been able to find a way except from a train, and that's closed to us now.

Were the masts scattered around or in particular places?

Hope you can muck in in the thread's fine style.
 
LDECRexile

LDECRexile

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I went by train from Southport to Blackpool North today, including "our" line from Preston.

My main aim was logging bases and masts, which was very encouraging. I took a few photos to Blackpool and a few at Wigan NW which are, surprisingly, directly relevant to this thread.

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

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

I'll add the mast data to the Progressometer and write it up this evening.
 
LDECRexile

LDECRexile

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Red Face Time

I'm afraid I've confused my brain cell on my run today, with the outcome that I can't allocate proper numbers of masts and bases between Preston and Kirkham, so I'll have to give a narrative summary, which is relatively easy, as it looks very good.

1. I saw no scrapes between Fylde Junction and Milepost 7, which is the southern limit of the Kirkham and Wesham station working area. "No scrapes" means every base appeared to be in place, with the sole exception of Tulketh Viaduct, where the method of erecting masts isn't yet obvious. Approximately a third of these bases bears a mast, a few of which have arms attached.
2. I saw no electrification work per se between MP7 and the northern limit of the Kirkham station area north of Kirkham North Junction.
3. From that point (approx MP8 3/4) to the southern limit of Poulton station's erstwhile working area (approx MP14) I saw a mere 16 scrapes, the rest being a full house of bases, approx a third of which bore masts, some with arms.
4. From Poulton signalbox to the outer edge of Blackpool North station working area there was a handful of scrapes, otherwise a full house of bases, including Layton station. I didn't see any masts in this stretch.

This was very encouraging. There is no obvious impediment to sinking bases at Poulton station. There are still semaphore signals from Poulton to Blackpool, but bases have been sunk without fouling signal wires.

There are a lot of new signal bases up and down the route, plus surface signal wiring here and there. i can't judge how much signal work remains to be done.

There is a lot of preliminary work in progress at Blackpool North, a substantial concrete base (for electrical gear?) has been installed and there is an amount of yellow plant on show. I saw no Orangemen anywhere in the route.

Yippee!
 
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Whistler40145

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LDECRexile said:
Red Face Time

I'm afraid I've confused my brain cell on my run today, with the outcome that I can't allocate proper numbers of masts and bases between Preston and Kirkham, so I'll have to give a narrative summary, which is relatively easy, as it looks very good.

1. I saw no scrapes between Fylde Junction and Milepost 7, which is the southern limit of the Kirkham and Wesham station working area. "No scrapes" means every base appeared to be in place, with the sole exception of Tulketh Viaduct, where the method of erecting masts isn't yet obvious. Approximately a third of these bases bears a mast, a few of which have arms attached.
2. I saw no electrification work per se between MP7 and the northern limit of the Kirkham station area north of Kirkham North Junction.
3. From that point (approx MP8 3/4) to the southern limit of Poulton station's erstwhile working area (approx MP14) I saw a mere 16 scrapes, the rest being a full house of bases, approx a third of which bore masts, some with arms.
4. From Poulton signalbox to the outer edge of Blackpool North station working area there was a handful of scrapes, otherwise a full house of bases, including Layton station. I didn't see any masts in this stretch.

This was very encouraging. There is no obvious impediment to sinking bases at Poulton station. There are still semaphore signals from Poulton to Blackpool, but bases have been sunk without fouling signal wires.

There are a lot of new signal bases up and down the route, plus surface signal wiring here and there. i can't judge how much signal work remains to be done.

There is a lot of preliminary work in progress at Blackpool North, a substantial concrete base (for electrical gear?) has been installed and there is an amount of yellow plant on show. I saw no Orangemen anywhere in the route.

Yippee!
Click to expand...
With regards to the concrete base you mention, is that the one in the carriage sidings on the line which has been relaid?

If yes, this is the base for the new carriage washer.
 
LDECRexile

LDECRexile

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Trackman

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LDECRexile said:
ALX400 and Reg have sent photos of progress.

I've added Reg's to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157671732263863

I've added ALX400's to his album here:

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

and all of them to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Reg and ALX
Click to expand...

yes, thank you Reg and ALX!
Anyone know what those concrete bases are on P5?
Another bridge?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/36264453322/in/album-72157661069863633/
 
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Geeves

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I commented a while ago directly on a photo but I was guessing they are support bases for an extension of the overall roof that matches better with the old design? The bases seem to line up and be about the right distance apart. Probably wrong!
 
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reg

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Agree totally, they line up with existing support columns and the plans submitted to BMBC for the new roof extension to platform 5.
 
GRALISTAIR

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I just have to say " what an amazing set of photos we have had for the photographic record" . Thanks to all and especially Dave for pulling it all together.
 
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wrinkley

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Lostock station bridge removed on Saturday.

All new steelwork and precast units will be in by tonight, photos from today sent to Dave.

Some interesting lifts involved, Murphys/Osprey/Ainscough have been entertaining Lostock residents all weekend.
 
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LDECRexile

LDECRexile

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ALX400, Reg and Wrinkley have kindly sent photos for publication.

Friends of this thread will be particularly pleased to hear that Paul Gaskell has felt well enough to photograph at his local station - St Helens Central - and send shots to the Liverpool-Manchester thread. Let's hope he'll be back here before too long.

I've added ALX400's shots of Bolton to his album here:

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

I've added Reg's shots of the gantry demolition to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157671732263863

and I've added Wrinkley's shots of the Lostock bridge lift to his album here:

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

I've put all this material in the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you ALX400, Reg and Wrinkley.
 
Karl

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The Lostock bridge works photos by Wrinkley are exceptional. Close up and personal step-by-step pictures of the bridge build. I'm surprised Wrinkley didn't have to wear a hat! Thanks for the concentrated effort, I'm looking forward to the next day's work.

Thanks also to all the contributors to this thread by the way. It's been riveting.
 
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snowball

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It's a pity the bridge over the Chorley line wasn't an inch or two lower, or it would have got replaced in the same style.
 
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HowardGWR

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Looking at the Wrinkley photos, the word LEGO kept coming to mind - I'm very impressed.
 
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Inox

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Is there still going to be a 'weak bridge' weight restriction on the lostock bridge once them work's been completed?
 
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wrinkley

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Inox said:
Is there still going to be a 'weak bridge' weight restriction on the lostock bridge once them work's been completed?
Click to expand...

Unfortunately yes. An engineer on site said that the bridge that they have taken out was the stronger of the two. There is a rumour going round the locals since the last NR meeting that it will be done in the next two years, but I'll believe when I see it.

The Bolton News did an item on the bridge replacement recently and said that the Preston line bridge is in the process of being strengthened, but there is no sign of any work taking place and no-one on site that I spoke to knows anything about it.
 
LDECRexile

LDECRexile

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Wrinkley has kindly sent a further batch from Lostock, which he took this afternoon.

I've added them 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

Please note that I have numbered this batch 7999 and 7998 so they appear AFTER the ones Wrinkley sent this morning, creating a coherent story of the day. I suggest readers view all of today's additions starting from Reg's, which appears first.

Thank you Wrinkley.
 
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Darren R

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Has Bromley Cross signal box now closed as part of the resignalling going on around Bolton? The hourly trains to/from Clitheroe that are still running into Bolton during the blockade appear to have had a pilot up front with the driver south of Darwen. (And today have been running with delays of up to an hour or more!)
 
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