Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[L+Y]

Northern were supposed to be getting 12 (I think) more 319s for the start of the Blackpool service, plus 4 769s for Windermere at some point.
TPE won't get new electric 397s till late next year (and will then lose the 350s).
Northern might get some 331s late next year but the allocation isn't obvious (might not come to the north west first).
So it's 319s all round until something else turns up.

Wasn't there some discussion upthread about the new Alderley Edge (?)-Blackpool service being operated initially by 323s until the 331s arrive?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Wasn't there some discussion upthread about the new Alderley Edge (?)-Blackpool service being operated initially by 323s until the 331s arrive?

Yes, there might be some interworking of 319s and 323s, such as Liverpool-Airport being extended to Crewe, but Northern will still need something like 10 more units for the new routes.
The current fleet isn't overworked (and some legs which could be electric are still diesel).

 

[CAF397]

Almost a dozen masts up between Poulton and Carleton, which were put up last night.

Also one new mast in place in amongst the old ones at Preston Fylde Jn as the Fylde lines diverge. One leg of a portal OLE.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Almost a dozen masts up between Poulton and Carleton, which were put up last night.

Also one new mast in place in amongst the old ones at Preston Fylde Jn as the Fylde lines diverge. One leg of a portal OLE.

Good news - I thought Blackpool North would be done last but maybe Fylde Jct will be instead - as that will need a possession to electrically connect up one assumes.

 

[Jamesrob637]

They're still closing the line through Bolton at weekends aren't they, until the end of the year?

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Mast bases in behind Lostock station platforms (down side at least) and many of the booms between there and Horwich are swung out over the track and earthed, suggesting imminent wiring.

 

[driver9000]

Northern were supposed to be getting 12 (I think) more 319s for the start of the Blackpool service, plus 4 769s for Windermere at some point.
TPE won't get new electric 397s till late next year (and will then lose the 350s).
Northern might get some 331s late next year but the allocation isn't obvious (might not come to the north west first).
So it's 319s all round until something else turns up.

397 deliveries should start next summer for crew training and a couple of shadow diagrams similar to how the 350s entered service. The 350/4 withdrawals then being done on a trickle basis as 397s enter service.

 

[CAF397]

All it took was a close look at the speed on the facing crossover (raised from 25 to 30 with no major work required) and reducing the short and nearly pointless 50 PS to 40 earlier and lo! the MAR is removed. There aren't any extra signals - MP512 and MP510 have just been moved to better places.

No-one could understand why it was how it used to be ...

MP518 after Clifton station has been made 4-aspect (was 3-aspect), and is fitted with a banner repeater. New signal MP516R is a repeater of MP516 at Agecroft North. Together with moving MP512 and MP510 they have managed to allow trains to bunch closer together than before through one new signal and one signal with new aspects. So instead of catching a yellow at Clifton and crawling around to Agecroft you can now run slightly faster on restrictive signals.

The 40PSR has no relevance to trains servicing Salford Crescent platform however, as the approach is 75-50 then 30mph for the crossover. The 40PSR starts at the points (30mph).

Is there a date planned for transfer of Euston Jn- Ordsall Lane Jn into Manchester ROC?

 

[snowball]

Any recent pictures of the wall works at Moses Gate?

 

[Geeves]

Is there a date planned for transfer of Euston Jn- Ordsall Lane Jn into Manchester ROC?

I think Preston PSB was put into the too hard pile wasn't it?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I think Preston PSB was put into the too hard pile wasn't it?

Well, it will be renewed along with the rest of the WCML North PSBs, now 44-ish years old (ie Warrington, Preston, Carlisle).
Motherwell is in the process of going into Cowlairs.
HS2 might well be the catalyst for the rest, sometime this side of 2033.
Isn't Adlington-Euxton in the Preston PSB area?
So the early route going into Manchester ROC will be Salford-Blackrod I think.
Plus Salwick-Blackpool.

 

[Elecman]

Adlington- Euxton is Preston PSB as Blackrod used to be the Fringe box. Salwick to Blackpool is going to Manchester ROC

 

[Whistler40145]

Adlington- Euxton is Preston PSB as Blackrod used to be the Fringe box. Salwick to Blackpool is going to Manchester ROC

Salwick being the Fringe Box on the North Fylde line.

 

[CAF397]

I was asking about Euxton Jn- Salford/Ordsall Lane given it has basically been resignalling - new signals regardless of location. Seeing how the Chat Moss from Eccles to Ordsall Lane was transferred into the ROC I’m surprised the opportunity hasn’t been taken to transfer in a relatively simple stretch of railway that has recently benefited from signalling investment.

I’m fully aware that Preston PSB has been put back in terms of transfer to the ROC, but route by route could be done as and when it comes for renewal.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I was asking about Euxton Jn- Salford/Ordsall Lane given it has basically been resignalling - new signals regardless of location. Seeing how the Chat Moss from Eccles to Ordsall Lane was transferred into the ROC I’m surprised the opportunity hasn’t been taken to transfer in a relatively simple stretch of railway that has recently benefited from signalling investment.

I’m fully aware that Preston PSB has been put back in terms of transfer to the ROC, but route by route could be done as and when it comes for renewal.

I guess the priority is to transfer new installations to the ROC (eg Lime St-Halton/Huyton, and the Salford-Oxford Road/Miles Platting core).
There are still oddities like Eccles, Astley and St Helens which you would have expected to have been resignalled into the ROC by now but are still standing.
Like for like projects seem to be staying put for now, but it does mean the ROC's control area is a patchwork of smaller zones, separated by "black holes".

 

[Joseph_Locke]

I was asking about Euxton Jn- Salford/Ordsall Lane given it has basically been resignalling - new signals regardless of location.

It hasn't been resignalled really, Euxton (on Preston anyway) and Blackrod Interlockings are still there, as is Windsor Bridge. It's only Bolton that's got a new one, and that isn't worth a workstation on its own

 

[LDECRexile]

Wrinkley has kindly sent photos of progress in the Lostock/Ladybridge area.

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

He added: "The bridge is on schedule according to the orange man that I met, the water main is going back in now, the gas main is next. The base for the substation is still in progress. Also saw a gang of orangemen walk on to the station from the Horwich side, some had Siemens jackets on, so presumably to do with signalling.
*
First dangly bits on masts either side of Ladybridge, also two at Dean Clough.
*
I saw a small deer on the track at Ladybridge, It ran under the bridge but I never saw it come out at the other side, and there was no sign of it under the bridge. Unless it can jump a six foot steel fence, there must still be some magic in that bridge."

Thank you Wrinkley

 

[Joseph_Locke]

8392g - yep, 1m from the main cable route for EMC reasons.

Having made some enquiries, this may also answer the question of why some structures are bigger (.g. MG20/23 in 7716r) - they are anchor structures for the AF cable, each side of the bridge.

 

[Railrover700]

After a relatively quiet few weeks, a few more masts have been going up between Fylde junction and Preston sports arena.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/147506051@N02/sets/72157679909475566/

 

[QueensCurve]

Motherwell is in the process of going into Cowlairs.

It may be off topic for this thread, but I passed Motherwell PSB recently and was surprised it still had the the original flat roof.

 

[LDECRexile]

Reg has kindly sent shots showing progress at Bolton.

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

 

[randyrippley]

.....I saw a small deer on the track at Ladybridge, It ran under the bridge but I never saw it come out at the other side, and there was no sign of it under the bridge. Unless it can jump a six foot steel fence, there must still be some magic in that bridge.".......

Six feet? No problem for a Roe deer

 

[LDECRexile]

Bill Morton has kindly sent shots showing welcome progress in the Adlington area.

I've added them to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157650900509369

and to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you Bill.

 

[Ploughman]

This appeared today on the Rail Engineer web site.

https://www.railengineer.uk/2017/10/04/moses-gate-bridge-best-laid-plans/

Hidden by the big-bang schemes that commanded everyone’s attention through August was a routine track realignment at Moses Gate, a district to the south-east of Bolton. The job, which added another piece to the sprawling jigsaw of the Great North Rail Project, involved clearing a short section of the Manchester-Preston route for electrification and 100mph running.

Well that was the plan.

 

[snowball]

This appeared today on the Rail Engineer web site.

https://www.railengineer.uk/2017/10/04/moses-gate-bridge-best-laid-plans/

Answers the questions of whether the concrete cylinders are temporary or permanent (they're permanent) and why the platform works were needed at the station.

 

[Railrover700]

I have added some pictures of remodelling work at Kirkham and masts around Treales to my album here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/147506051@N02/sets/72157679909475566/

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I have added some pictures of remodelling work at Kirkham and masts around Treales to my album here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/147506051@N02/sets/72157679909475566/

Absolutely outstanding. I went to school in Kirkham so I love seeing all the change. Thanks for this - amazing progress since August 7 th when I was last home.

 

[Railrover700]

Absolutely outstanding. I went to school in Kirkham so I love seeing all the change. Thanks for this - amazing progress since August 7 th when I was last home.

Cheers. Not sure how long the track has been laid for or how long the points have been there, but agree great to see this progress.

 

[snowball]

The latest update to the Enhancements Delivery Plan is now out:

https://16cbgt3sbwr8204sf92da3xxc5m...ploads/2017/10/Enhancements-Delivery-Plan.pdf

Completion of Manchester to Preston is still described as "10 Dec 2017 (Indicator)" in the GRIP 6 Completion column, but in the Entry into Service column it has changed to "to be confirmed", with a footnote saying "CP5: not later than May 2018, but update to follow detailed work with new franchise holders."

And Stalybridge is back! (Edit: no it isn't!! See Stalybridge thread.)

 

[LDECRexile]

Oops, wrong thread. Sorry, D