Faulty Northern Rail unit today - bidirectional query

[ffcphone]

As is fairly common this evening, I boarded the 1710 fTPE class 185 at Preston station bound for Manchester Airport. It arrived and departed Preston station around 10 minutes late. (As an aside, a Birmingham NS bound Virgin Super Voyager on an adjacent platform timetabled to depart at 1717 was actually halfway out of the platform on its way at 17:16:25. Talk about an early departure!)

Anyhow, my 185 journey proceeded fine until out of Chorley station we didn't get going much and before long we started slowing down and came to a full halt outside Blackrod station.

As I possess a slightly more "anoraky" knowledge of the rail system than your average traveller I know nothing should interfere with our journey unless the preceding Northern Rail Blackpool North-Manchester Victoria service is seriously delayed.

A quick glance at National Rail on my Nokia revealed this was exactly what had happened.

The conductor came over the PA system to advise the preceding service was suffering "engine problems" and was therefore running very slowly and as a result was making slow progress and we had caught up with it.

We limped on to Bolton where, just prior to arrival, the conductor again came on saying TPE control had advised the 185 was to "pass" the problematical Northern Rail service in the "Moses Gate area" so as to offer a "speedier" journey into Manchester.

I alighted at Bolton so didn't see what happened but presumably, as I am not aware of 4 track at Moses Gate, either the NR unit or the 185 was switched onto the down line to allow the maneouvre. Is this bi-directional signalling and movement common?

F

 

[westcoaster]

acording to my quail maps there is a loop in both directions between bolton and mosses gate, so the slow train will of been looped and the faster one down the mains.

 

[driver9000]

There are passenger loops in both directions between Bolton and Moses Gate stations. Late running stoppers are occasionally turned in to allow faster trains to pass. There is bidirectional working at Bolton but one of the crossovers at the east end of the station is out of use at the moment preventing Manchester bound trains overtaking in the station

 

[asylumxl]

Forgive my ignorance but would the train with engine problems be a Class 180?

 

[1D53]

Looks like 1620 from Blackpool to Manchester, the 180 should be on the 1520 so shouldn't have been a 180.

 

[ffcphone]

Forgive my ignorance but would the train with engine problems be a Class 180?

As stated above, shouldn't have been a 180.

Thanks for the info re the loop I didn't know about.

F