Bootle docks to Drax biofuel

[stephen rp]

To avoid the 1 in 45 bank out of Manchester Victoria, the loaded trains take a circuitous route from the Bootle Branch via Warrington Bank Quay, Hartford, Altrincham, Stockport, Ashton Moss (then turning west!), Miles Platting, Calder Valley....

Would it not be simpler to go Chat Moss to Parkside, onto the WCML to Farrington Junction, then via Blackburn to the Calder Valley?

 

[30907]

To avoid the 1 in 45 bank out of Manchester Victoria, the loaded trains take a circuitous route from the Bootle Branch via Warrington Bank Quay, Hartford, Altrincham, Stockport, Ashton Moss (then turning west!), Miles Platting, Calder Valley....

Would it not be simpler to go Chat Moss to Parkside, onto the WCML to Farrington Junction, then via Blackburn to the Calder Valley?

The route over Copy Pit (East of Burnley) is equally steep.

 

[Adrian Barr]

Max weight over Copy Pit Summit for a 66 is 1725 tons (trailing) in the loads book; the biomass trains to Drax weigh closer to 2200 tons

 

[Brush 4]

Then double head or bank.....

 

[Ash Bridge]

Then double head or bank.....

Or reinstate the class 60 fleet

 

[Rail Quest]

Would it not be simpler to go Chat Moss to Parkside, onto the WCML to Farrington Junction, then via Blackburn to the Calder Valley?

I'm assuming there could be pathing issues on parts of this route? Specifically Wigan to Farrington, it might be a challenging squeezing in a diesel-hauled 2000+ ton train into the timetable. Yeah, you could probably argue the same applies on their current route, but the only problem there is presumably Weaver Jnc to Acton Bridge which is only a handful of signal blocks.

 

[Geeves]

Or reinstate the class 60 fleet

I'm sure they tested with a 60 at one point but they carried on with the regular route round the houses!

 

[Ash Bridge]

I'm sure they tested with a 60 at one point but they carried on with the regular route round the houses!

I wonder if it was due to the possiblity that a 60 would likely not have 100% availability hence the only substitute being a 66?

 

[Oxfordblues]

If I were on the Class 99 project I'd do trial run Liverpool-Drax via Miles Platting bank with electric haulage from Olive Mount.

 

[The Planner]

Then double head or bank.....

Banking at Man Vic is just going to cause carnage with attaching and detaching.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

If I were on the Class 99 project I'd do trial run Liverpool-Drax via Miles Platting bank with electric haulage from Olive Mount.

I'm not sure the wires reach the top of Miles Platting bank if you are heading to the Calder Valley.
Perhaps it could go via Stalybridge when TRU wiring is finished (if Drax is still taking biomass by then).

 

[Rail Ranger]

Drax Power Station is moving to standby status from 2027. Will biomass even be imported through Liverpool from then?

 

[zwk500]

Then double head or bank.....

Double-heading requires a 2nd loco, and banking requires extra paths, crew, infrastructure and so on on top.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Feb 2026 ==

I'm not sure the wires reach the top of Miles Platting bank if you are heading to the Calder Valley.

They do not, limit of electrification on the Rochdale Fasts is 50 chains from Manchester Victoria (0 milepost).

 

[stephen rp]

Drax Power Station is moving to standby status from 2027. Will biomass even be imported through Liverpool from then?

Oh well, another bright idea bites the dust. Olive Mount Chord another waste of money...

 

[The Planner]

Oh well, another bright idea bites the dust. Olive Mount Chord another waste of money...

Why? Its served a purpose for the last 17 years and whats to say it won't in future?

 

[Rail Ranger]

Also don't most biomass trains reverse at Tuebrook Sidings, Edge Hill?

 

[Oxfordblues]

Olive Mount Chord another waste of money...

No. It saves running-round at Tuebrook for GBRf's scrap trains, DB-Cargo's intermodal to Mossend and potentially GBRf's intermodals to Hams Hall, Tilbury and Dollands Moor.

 

[BorderCollie]

Woodhead would have been handy going under the viaduct in Stockport...

 

[billh]

Woodhead would have been handy going under the viaduct in Stockport...

You'd need an 8F banker from Portwood to Woodley

 

[xotGD]

Drax Power Station is moving to standby status from 2027. Will biomass even be imported through Liverpool from then?

The long term future of Drax depends on whether they go ahead with retrofitting CO2 capture.

If that happens, there'll be biomass trains for many years to come.