Blackpool - Manchester Electrification

[Elecman]

Is the south line currently working? Thought the whole lot had been cut off but after reading that I'm curious as to what's going on.. I believe there is a new signal at Blackpool South which seems odd considering its a single line with no passing points.

The original method of working was before a train left Blackpool South the train crew had to phone the signaller to check that the airport hadnt requested an emergency line blockage, the same applied before a train left St Annes for Blackpool South. Instigated after the aircrash in the early 1970s where the plane hit the track after failing to get airborne before ploughing into Pontins afaik

 

[superkev]

The original method of working was before a train left Blackpool South the train crew had to phone the signaller to check that the airport hadnt requested an emergency line blockage, the same applied before a train left St Annes for Blackpool South. Instigated after the aircrash in the early 1970s where the plane hit the track after failing to get airborne before ploughing into Pontins afaik

I thought Blackpool airport is just about closed.
I believe it was closed totally for a while before the council bought it back from Balfour Beaty was it.
K

 

[driver9000]

I thought Blackpool airport is just about closed.
I believe it was closed totally for a while before the council bought it back from Balfour Beaty was it.
K

Even after commercial flights ended and Blackpool Airport was closed train crew were still required to phone for permission to pass the runway as it was a local instruction in the Sectional Appendix. If Kirkham

 

[driver_m]

You'd think there would be emergency signals like those at Valley on Angelsey. Broughton Airbus has a connection to Chester PSB I'm led to believe for a similar incident. I've also been stopped at Birmingham International for an emergency landing. Anyway, I digress. Nothing as yet on dates for extending the OLE showing in the notices yet around Blackpool in latest Weekly Notices.

 

[Railrover700]

Still a lot to do at Kirkham...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/147506051@N02/albums/72157679909475566

 

[LDECRexile]

Reg has kindly sent shots of progress in Bolton. With this and masts going up at Lostock things seem to be hotting up.

I've added the photos to Reg's 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

With these shots Reg has now shared over 100 photos. Thank you Reg.

 

[LDECRexile]

Still a lot to do at Kirkham...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/147506051@N02/albums/72157679909475566

Lots still to do, but also lots done since Graham and I toured on 29 Dec.

Smashing photos.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Lots still to do, but also lots done since Graham and I toured on 29 Dec.

Smashing photos.

Indeed particularly in IMG 3978 considerable progress since our Jaunt on Dec 29th - only 8 days ago. For those of you that don’t know me, I am a “ glass is half full” person.

 

[Railrover700]

Indeed particularly in IMG 3978 considerable progress since our Jaunt on Dec 29th - only 8 days ago. For those of you that don’t know me, I am a “ glass is half full” person.

I agree that the OHLE looks to be moving on well, but I am wondering about what state the station will be in when the Blackpool South service resumes.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I agree that the OHLE looks to be moving on well, but I am wondering about what state the station will be in when the Blackpool South service resumes.

I assume that the platform will be open but allows them to continue work on the new platform, lifts etc. I also assume, it is not absolutely vital that all the wires are installed between Tom Benson Way and Kirkham. 2 trains per hour to Blackpool South should not really be disruptive so I am still not concerned at this moment.

 

[Malay States]

I agree that the OHLE looks to be moving on well, but I am wondering about what state the station will be in when the Blackpool South service resumes.

This is getting interesting. A random look at RTT (31 January) shows BPS line trains passing at Kirkham at xx17/xx19, inward at Platform 1 and outward with no platform showing. Man Vic trains arrive at xx29 and return at xx38, both platform 2, these being the times for the middle of the day. All this assumes that Kirkham is fully operational and that outward BPS trains will use the new platform, the ' no platform showing' meaning that RTT doesn't know about Platform 3.
My contact at Northern assures me that BPS services will start on the 29th, and a guard I was speaking to this week told we that the word among the staff was that Blackpool North was ahead of schedule. Kirkham looks far from nearing completion and as recent photos show, the shuttering for the concrete base for one of the lift towers is there but no concrete poured. Three weeks to go.
Regarding Salwick, the road closure sign on Station Road has reappeared at the Clifton end (but not at the other end) giving closure for 10 nights from 13th January - I think it was nights and not days; will check next time I go.

 

[Malay States]

To reply to my own post (5831), I've checked on the Lancashire CC website and found that Station Road, Salwick, is to close 22.00-06.00 13th to 26th January. It is indeed for parapet works.

 

[LDECRexile]

Reg sent another photo he took earlier today, but had omitted in error, it breaks new ground, being our first from Gt Moor Street (not LNWR).

I've added it to his album, here:

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

Wrinkley has added to the fine crop he's taken in recent days by taking his camera on a trackside walk from Lostock to Moor Lane.

I've added the results to his album here:

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

I've added both their works to the Combined Volume here:

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

Thank you both.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Very encouraging indeed thanks to you both.

 

[LDECRexile]

Reg has been out and about again, this time with shots from Mayor Street bridge in 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.

 

[LDECRexile]

On our tour on 29 Dec Graham and I wondered what the two pale boxes shown here near Kirkham North Junction were:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/39377572741/in/album-72157661069863633/

The one further from camera is for signals, comms and the like; the one nearer the camera is for power.

 

[Elecman]

Correct the one furthest away is a signalling REB the larger nearer one is the new electrification TSS

 

[LDECRexile]

As I had a meeting at Preston in the afternoon I used the beautiful day to explore Bridge 29, as added to the Combined Volume here:

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

I will publish the bountiful fruits of the later meeting tomorrow.

 

[Geeves]

Lovely photos all. Great to see the progress.

Kirkham in days gone by. Certainly was a junction and a half

https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5778/23319777933_d9a6b6d429_b.jpg

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ingythewingy/23319777933

 

[LDECRexile]

Lovely photos all. Great to see the progress.

Kirkham in days gone by. Certainly was a junction and a half

https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5778/23319777933_d9a6b6d429_b.jpg

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ingythewingy/23319777933

Wonderful links, thank you very much.

-------------------------------------------------------

Yesterday I had the pleasure and privilege of a guided tour of several worksites between Preston and Blackpool North, by kind courtesy of Network Rail.

I had a list of prepared questions which my host has agreed to answer with thought rather than off the top of his head, I'll publish his replies in due course.

On site he used my camera to take the shots linked below.

Throughout the afternoon he spoke with impressive knowledge and understanding of the project, plus good humour and tolerance of a lay numpty.

The $64000 question he had no difficulty with - "Are we 'on' for Blackpool South at the end of January and opening for electric trains in March?" Unequivocal "Yes". Problems of supply have been resolved, the cause basically being the sheer scale of NR's projects across the land; the other threat was, as always, the weather, but the Met. say it will be generally mild for the next three months.

Please note: being open for electric trains does NOT equal electric services WILL run then, it means they CAN run from then. Presumably there will have to be training, testing and goodness knows what before the timetable change in May, when sparks should fly.

The photos are in the Combined Volume here:

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

Warm thanks to NR and my fine, friendly and professional guide.

 

[DJH1971]

Wonderful links, thank you very much.

-------------------------------------------------------

Yesterday I had the pleasure and privilege of a guided tour of several worksites between Preston and Blackpool North, by kind courtesy of Network Rail.

I had a list of prepared questions which my host has agreed to answer with thought rather than off the top of his head, I'll publish his replies in due course.

On site he used my camera to take the shots linked below.

Throughout the afternoon he spoke with impressive knowledge and understanding of the project, plus good humour and tolerance of a lay numpty.

The $64000 question he had no difficulty with - "Are we 'on' for Blackpool South at the end of January and opening for electric trains in March?" Unequivocal "Yes". Problems of supply have been resolved, the cause basically being the sheer scale of NR's projects across the land; the other threat was, as always, the weather, but the Met. say it will be generally mild for the next three months.

Please note: being open for electric trains does NOT equal electric services WILL run then, it means they CAN run from then. Presumably there will have to be training, testing and goodness knows what before the timetable change in May, when sparks should fly.

The photos are in the Combined Volume here:

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

Warm thanks to NR and my fine, friendly and professional guide.

Need more of an idea when Manchester to Preston will be ready.

 

[Vtdriver]

Apologies for not being infrastructure related but does anyone know what electric traction Northern are planning on running on this line?

 

[YorkshireBear]

Class 319, 323 and eventually 331s.

 

[snowball]

From the Twitter feed, a rare view of the bottom ends of piles (or giant pencils):

https://twitter.com/TheGNRP/status/950312188090245120

 

[LDECRexile]

..pencils!.. I like it.

 

[snowball]

I see there are quite a lot in the pictures from your guide.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I assume 9272g + e are bases for a new bridge to replace Preese Hall Farm crossing?

9268g is what I call very serious deveging

 

[edwin_m]

..pencils!.. I like it.

It's time to worry if they start using crayons instead.

 

[LDECRexile]

I assume 9272g + e are bases for a new bridge to replace Preese Hall Farm crossing?

Captions were too brief, I've changed "Foundations in place" to "Bridge foundations in place."

Apologies

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I love the pencils by the way - I assume they are to aid in the penetration of hard rock?