Leeds North Western Electrification Scheme

[euryalus]

I have asked this question in another thread and received no adequate answers, but does anyone know the date or dates upon which the Leeds NW electrification scheme was completed throughout to Skipton? And has there been any progress in the re-opening of Apperley Bridge station? (it is supposed to be opening in October 2015).

 

[snowball]

Apperley Bridge has its own thread (shared with Kirkstall Forge):

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=92535

 

[sprinterguy]

Ceremonies to celebrate the completion of electrification between Leeds, Bradford and Skipton were held on 30th September 1995.

From near the bottom of the following webpage:

http://www.lostrailwayswestyorkshire.co.uk/Multiple Units.htm
In February 1992 a formal ceremony took place at Leeds to commemorate the start of work to electrify the routes between Leeds and Skipton, Ilkley and Bradford Forster Square. Ceremonies took place on 30 September 1995 at Leeds, Skipton and Bradford Foster Square to mark the completion of the project.

From the same page, there is also a reproduction of an interesting information leaflet covering the introduction of the class 308 units:
http://www.lostrailwayswestyorkshir...ns/Paul Holroyd/Multiple Unit/leaflet 308.jpg

My favourite line has to be that "the new trains have slam doors rather than electronically operated sliding doors...": So those who have recently witnessed the introduction of class 319 units into the North West can rest assured that using "new" to describe the arrival of cascaded rolling stock is not a recent construct, and can also gain some satisfaction that their "new" trains at least feature sliding doors!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

My favourite line has to be that "the new trains have slam doors rather than electronically operated sliding doors...": So those who have recently witnessed the introduction of class 319 units into the North West can rest assured that using "new" to describe the arrival of cascaded rolling stock is not a recent construct, and can also gain some satisfaction that their "new" trains at least feature sliding doors!

Mind boggling to say the least!

 

[euryalus]

Many thanks to those whi have responded. I have now managed to find a (very brief) reference on page 44 of the December 1995 Railway Magazine although, oddly, it suggests that the opening ceremony took place on 29 September, rather than 30 September.

 

[Ploughman]

Work started on LNW in 1992
With many of the remodellings taking place in 93 - 94.
Track lowers were used from 92 onwards.
The last major track work was Skipton itself but the last actual work on the track would be the removal of the old IBJs which carried on into 95.

I seem to remember that there were 400 new IBJs and over 500 old ones to remove on the whole project. I think I signed the stress form on most of them that needed it.

There was a report on the project published by the PWI (Permanent Way Institution) in their regular booklet

 

[ironstone11]

I seem to remember that there were 400 new IBJs

It would be useful to have a definition of "IBJ"!

 

[92002]

It would be useful to have a definition of "IBJ"!

Better known as an Insulated Block Joint. A rather large lump of rail that separates track circuits.

 

[euryalus]

The point that I was trying to make in the "other" thread was that this relatively important project does not seem to have been reported in The Railway Magazine, whereas earlier schemes, such as the Bournemouth main line, were reported in great detail. This means that those of us who may have a "library" of back numbers will have access to a very good historical resource as far as the WCML and SR third rail electrification schemes, but next-to-nothing on more recent projects. I am not sure why this should be - other than a general dumbing down of the railway press.

 

[30907]

I think this reflects the changing style of RM as much as anything (and of course other publications have changed style as well).

 

[ironstone11]

Better known as an Insulated Block Joint. A rather large lump of rail that separates track circuits.

Thanks for that.