Manchester - Liverpool Electrification

[HSTEd]

As I understand it there was overhead wiring at on Thameslink that was not properly "configured" for some time.
If nothing is using it is there is no reason it should be in an operational state.
In this case it presumably sagged just a little too much.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

As I understand it there was overhead wiring at on Thameslink that was not properly "configured" for some time.
If nothing is using it is there is no reason it should be in an operational state.
In this case it presumably sagged just a little too much.

In the hot weather? If the tensioners aren't "armed" this could be the reason.

 

[Darren R]

Aside from the cab and roof?

It seems as though the wire was sagging before the loco approached. Network Rail have apparently replaced two droppers.

Not being an engineer I sort of assumed the wires were supposed to be high enough that the driver wouldn't need to duck!

It has been very warm this week (by this summer's standards anyway:roll and very humid, so your reasoning makes sense. Haven't been through the area since the wires started to go up, so it didn't occur to me that they would be sort of half up and not fully completed and tensioned. Thought they were either up properly or they weren't up at all!

 

[snowball]

I can't remember whether it was on this forum or another, and I'm not suggesting it's necessarily relevant to the incident, but some photographs were posted a couple of weeks ago of the contract wires near Eccles passing over temporary pulleys supported from temporary droppers pending connection to the permanent registration arms.

I've also seen such pulleys in use on the Metrolink extensions when wires are in the process of being put up.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

.... Haven't been through the area since the wires started to go up, so it didn't occur to me that they would be sort of half up and not fully completed and tensioned. Thought they were either up properly or they weren't up at all!

I suspect they would be tensioned properly if the all of the equipment was in place.

I can't remember whether it was on this forum or another, and I'm not suggesting it's necessarily relevant to the incident, but some photographs were posted a couple of weeks ago of the contract wires near Eccles passing over temporary pulleys supported from temporary droppers pending connection to the permanent registration arms....

Most of the wires for the Up line through Eccles are suspended above the down line because the metalwork required (registration arm, etc) is not in place

 

[DW54]

As I understand it there was overhead wiring at on Thameslink that was not properly "configured" for some time.
If nothing is using it is there is no reason it should be in an operational state.
In this case it presumably sagged just a little too much.

25kV AC is a reasonable deterrent to cable thieves.

 

[Eagle]

25kV AC is a reasonable deterrent to cable thieves.

I highly doubt the wires are electrified yet, before they've even been tensioned and connected.

 

[D365]

25kV AC is a reasonable deterrent to cable thieves.

Although even high-voltage arcing electricity won't stop the most fool-hardy... Hope the juice can be switched on soon!

 

[Darren R]

Although even high-voltage arcing electricity won't stop the most fool-hardy... Hope the juice can be switched on soon!

Hmm...all that shiny new copper must be tempting! Anyone care to make a prediction on how long it takes before the cable fairies make their first visit?

 

[DJH1971]

Hmm...all that shiny new copper must be tempting! Anyone care to make a prediction on how long it takes before the cable fairies make their first visit?

All the more reason to get it finished off!

 

[Darren R]

All the more reason to get it finished off!

True - but until DaFT sort out some electric trains to run there's no great hurry! (Mind you, that's ignoring the 350s TPE are soon to get.)

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Very little new to report this week.
About the only progress I could discern was that the last mast foundation on the Castlefield viaduct (the one above Trinity Way) is now finished and has its portal steelwork in place.
I think that completes all the foundation work on Phase 1.
Nothing new to see on the Wigan branch either.
On the main line they seem to have started large-scale embankment strengthening to the north-west of Roby station, for the 4-tracking.
There is more new track and signals going in at Earlestown West.

 

[DJH1971]

True - but until DaFT sort out some electric trains to run there's no great hurry! (Mind you, that's ignoring the 350s TPE are soon to get.)

Apparently, I hear they're going to using '92's to test the line.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Upon just checking the Merseytravel website, the line between Huyton to Manchester will be closed this Sunday (30th June) & also the following Sunday (7th July), with more Sundays probably to follow. Trains appear to be running on Saturday's though.

At least the Sunday closures will allow for more wiring to be done!

They need to start get cracking on between Huyton to Wigan though.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

They need to start get cracking on between Huyton to Wigan though.

Is the line in the Bryn area closed on account of the bridge works which have caused the closure of both Bryn station and Garswood station up to Monday, 9th September ? If so, will only the section from Huyton to St Helens Central be free for such works.

 

[DJH1971]

Is the line in the Bryn area closed on account of the bridge works which have caused the closure of both Bryn station and Garswood station up to Monday, 9th September ? If so, will only the section from Huyton to St Helens Central be free for such works.

I've heard the line is staying open, although the road crossing over the line at Bryn will be closed until September.

 

[Geeves]

Power is on at the Newton Le Willows Feeder from 00:01. 01/07/13

 

[DJH1971]

Power is on at the Newton Le Willows Feeder from 00:01. 01/07/13

So, the new substation is now operational then?

That didn't take long!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Wires now extend west of Astley, to about mp22.
Today there appeared to be just 3 foundations without any steelwork on the Down, and 5 on the Up, just east of Glazebury.
However, nothing new east of the M60.
Big holes, I assume for foundations, are appearing on the Up just east of St Helens Central.

 

[DJH1971]

Wires now extend west of Astley, to about mp22.
Today there appeared to be just 3 foundations without any steelwork on the Down, and 5 on the Up, just east of Glazebury.
However, nothing new east of the M60.
Big holes, I assume for foundations, are appearing on the Up just east of St Helens Central.

Finally! Some more action appearing on the St Helens to Wigan line.

Went a bit quiet after the mast bases went up between Huyton to St Helens Central.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Well I am visiting Preston (home) for two weeks. Fly out of Kansas City tomorrow. I will have a drive around and train around and see what I can see too and report back.

 

[DJH1971]

Well I am visiting Preston (home) for two weeks. Fly out of Kansas City tomorrow. I will have a drive around and train around and see what I can see too and report back.

As you have been hearing, things are really picking up speed now!

 

[DavidL]

To follow up on DJH1971's post, several mast bases are now in (possibly have been for a day or two) east of SNH as far as Gerard's Bridge. Westward, there are also a scattered few around the line through the town centre and Ravenhead. There are several more lineside concrete workings (though rough slabs, rather than mast bases around the Pilkington's oil terminal and Ravenhead)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Beg pardon, I misread. Sorry, following up on LNW-GW Joint's post!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

To follow up on DJH1971's post, several mast bases are now in (possibly have been for a day or two) east of SNH as far as Gerard's Bridge.

Yes they were covered in blue sheeting on Tuesday so difficult to identify properly.
The BB concreting train was also being resupplied at Edge Hill, so it must be working somewhere on the line!

 

[DJH1971]

So, they've starting spreading east of St Helens Central at last!

 

[Andymccabe13]

I still cant understand why they didnt use 3rd rail?

Cheaper
Easier
Environmentally friendly (unlike the eyesore they're putting up)
and a hell of a lot safer!

 

[HSTEd]

I still cant understand why they didnt use 3rd rail?

Cheaper
Easier
Environmentally friendly (unlike the eyesore they're putting up)
and a hell of a lot safer!

1. No-one in the world still uses third rail for new heavy rail installations
2. Third rail shoes have difficulties in snowy weather and the like
3. Power limitations hurt the acceleration of modern rolling stock.
4. Third rail installations expend 20% more energy than 25kV installations thanks to massive voltage drop in the conductor rail.
5. More expensive once you include all the extra substations you require to handle the power requirements of modern rolling stock.
6. It is considerably less safe as there is a power supply for random people to stumble into on the ground, it is very hard to be electrocuted by 25kV at ground level unless you are trying to be.

 

[snowball]

7. The lines being electrified will be used by through services which continue onto overhead electrified lines, not third rail ones.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

7. The lines being electrified will be used by through services which continue onto overhead electrified lines, not third rail ones.

8. No use for freight (assuming the freight TOCs can be persuaded to use electric locos).

 

[YorkshireBear]

I still cant understand why they didnt use 3rd rail?

Cheaper
Easier
Environmentally friendly (unlike the eyesore they're putting up)
and a hell of a lot safer!

I think you have enough. It is a dated system and has its uses in urban areas but even there it can be sketchy at times.

 

[Eagle]

9. Third-rail is slower to install