Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[Geeves]

There were some serious delays this afternoon but I can only assume the issues (and pilot man) are because Bromley Cross an loop are effectively disconnected while the signalling work goes on at Bolton. Bromley Cross was left as a fringe box for a long time between Piccadilly an Preston power boxes, how ever it now only controls a foot crossing at the station when the systems were made to talk to each other. I would imagine the pilot man rides into what has effectively become a long siding temporarily from Hall ith Wood to Bolton station.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

There were some serious delays this afternoon but I can only assume the issues (and pilot man) are because Bromley Cross an loop are effectively disconnected while the signalling work goes on at Bolton. Bromley Cross was left as a fringe box for a long time between Piccadilly an Preston power boxes, how ever it now only controls a foot crossing at the station when the systems were made to talk to each other. I would imagine the pilot man rides into what has effectively become a long siding temporarily from Hall ith Wood to Bolton station.

Yes, the whole of Bolton interlocking is out so it's Pilot working only.

 

[Rail Ranger]

Forgive me if this is already widely known but I have been told that the new layout at Bolton will be controlled from Piccadilly signalling centre not the ROC.

 

[driver9000]

Forgive me if this is already widely known but I have been told that the new layout at Bolton will be controlled from Piccadilly signalling centre not the ROC.

Yes it stays with Piccadilly for now.

 

[wrinkley]

Several engineering trains booked Crewe to Salford Crescent and then Crow Nest Junction to Crewe today. One parked up fully loaded between Dean Clough bridge and Ladybridge.

 

[LDECRexile]

Wrinkley has kindly sent a batch of photos of the Ladybridge area, including the engineering train he mentions above.

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

Thank you Wrinkley.

He also added this PS: "I saw Siemens vans, large cable drum and lots of cars at both bridges, but no-one on the track."

 

[LDECRexile]

Reg has kindly sent two more shots of Bolton and Burnden.

I've added them to his album here:

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

and to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Reg.

 

[Geeves]

I caught the 18:10 off Wigan back to Victoria and just my luck we were sat at Crow Nest for what felt like an age. One engineering train coming from the Bolton direction but only a short formation. Not sure where it was heading.
Edit just seen the above

 

[HowardGWR]

Reg has kindly sent two more shots of Bolton and Burnden.

I've added them to his album here:

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

and to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Reg.

Also thanks. Is there a diagram of the new track layout around Bolton area? Apologies if it was already posted here.

 

[LDECRexile]

ALX400 has kindly sent shots of work at Chorley Rd Skew Bridge.

I've added them to his album here:

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

Reg has kindly sent a shot of track work at Burnden.

I've added it to his album here:

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

Wrinkley has kindly sent shots of several Bolton locations.

I've added them to his album here:

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

I also went out and about. I was encouraged by the effort being expended in many places. The blockade appears to be being put to good use.

I've added all our efforts to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you ALX400, Reg and Wrinkley.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I visit this thread about 3 times per day. It has got to the stage where almost every time I come to it there is huge progress. Extremely encouraging indeed. Outstanding work everyone. As Dave says, great they are taking full advantage of the possession

 

[42626]

Plenty of rail contractor vans parked up around Pepper Hill Bridge (Clifton Station) yesterday. Didn't have chance to go and look to see if any work was evident though.

 

[snowball]

In some of the 8072a-z pictures they're driving steel sheet piles into the ground close to Cemetery Road bridge (between Farnworth station and tunnel). I wondered why. The Northern Programme Twitter Feed says they're strengthening the cutting. Apparently they've decided the soil nails put in two years ago are not enough on their own.

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailNP/status/898196633447432192

 

[LDECRexile]

ALX400 has kindly sent shots of the first masts at Chorley.

I've added them to his album here:

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

Wrinkley has sent four shots of progress at the bridge at Lostock.

I've added them to his album here:

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

I've added them all to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you ALX400 and Wrinkley.

 

[Trackman]

Big problems at Moses gate (Bolton), part of the bridge has collapsed due to a burst water main. Traffic is blocked too.

 

[LDECRexile]

Reg has kindly sent a photo showing progress south of Bolton station.

I've added it to his album here:

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

and to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Reg.

 

[LDECRexile]

Big problems at Moses gate (Bolton), part of the bridge has collapsed due to a burst water main. Traffic is blocked too.

I hope no-one was hurt.

Best wishes to all who are striving to put things right.

 

[Bullfield WEst]

Photo from Bolton News twitter feed.

 

[ALX400]

Network Rail have officially said this water mains burst at Moses Gate will and has affected the work site at Bolton, the Orange Army has had to decend on Moses Gate to try and resolve it all, Bridge collapse, ballast washed away and tracks under water

 

[mikemcniven]

Network Rail have officially said this water mains burst at Moses Gate will and has affected the work site at Bolton, the Orange Army has had to decend on Moses Gate to try and resolve it all, Bridge collapse, ballast washed away and tracks under water

So will this delay the re-opening of the Bolton route then?

 

[snowball]

There are pictures of the flooded track but I haven't yet seen a picture to show the state of the bridge. Perhaps "collapsed" will turn out to be an exaggeration. Let's hope so.

 

[ALX400]

It's the side on the up towards Manchester that has been washed away and it's still happening the whole area is exposed and the bridge sunk

 

[snowball]

It's the side on the up towards Manchester that has been washed away and it's still happening the whole area is exposed and the bridge sunk

Ooer!

As Greybeard has said on SSC, it's a good job it happened during the blockade.

 

[snowball]

Video from Bolton News:

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

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Video from Bolton News:

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

That video shows water cascading over the soil nail heads on the DOWN side. I can't help but wonder if the soil nail t/ rack lower activity last year has somehow precipitated this burst water main?

 

[wrinkley]

It's the side on the up towards Manchester that has been washed away and it's still happening the whole area is exposed and the bridge sunk

There was a ballast train parked under Lever Street this morning which started to drop ballast towards Green Lane. It probably came in via Crow Nest. It was topped and tailed by 66s. Is this because it will have to go back the same way if the burst pipe has washed ballast away?

 

[ALX400]

That video shows water cascading over the soil nail heads on the DOWN side. I can't help but wonder if the soil nail t/ rack lower activity last year has somehow precipitated this burst water main?

Yes my bad

 

[Greybeard33]

That video shows water cascading over the soil nail heads on the DOWN side. I can't help but wonder if the soil nail t/ rack lower activity last year has somehow precipitated this burst water main?

Could the work have destabilised the foundations of the bridge abutment, allowing the abutment to subside and fracture the water main where it enters the bridge deck?

RRBs being diverted http://www.tfgm.com/Corporate/media_centre/Pages/News.aspx?articleId=1260. Google Maps shows severe traffic delays in the area.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

There was a ballast train parked under Lever Street this morning which started to drop ballast towards Green Lane. It probably came in via Crow Nest. It was topped and tailed by 66s. Is this because it will have to go back the same way if the burst pipe has washed ballast away?

Provided there is plenty of ballast under the sleepers a slow moving train should be OK, but in the circumstances I'd think twice in case it further disturbed the bridgey bits.

 

[ALX400]

Possibly a land slip caused the main to rupture according to the BEN talking to UU Bolton Council and NR at the scene, pipe to damaged to be repaired so UU need to bypass it and lay a new one which will take at least a week, big concern for the stability of the bridge at present obvs an ongoing situation