Manchester - Liverpool Electrification

[Elecman]

The OLE was down due to a collapsed mast.

 

[Dixie]

The OLE was down due to a collapsed mast.

Was this a mast on the headshunt that is being upgraded, or elsewhere in the vicinity?

 

[LDECRexile]

I went for a look at the mid-platform footbridge work at Rainhill today.

Good News, Bad News.

GN: The work done so far looks elegant and should protect the public whilst being reasonably in keeping with the rest of the bridge.

BN: Something (extreme weather?) has stopped the job quarter done. No Orange in sight. Notices say bridge closed until today.

GN: the eastern bridge has a notice saying work will start tomorrow

BN: no it won't, because the work on the other bridge won't be finished by tomorrow unless a miracle occurs. Work on two bridges simultaneously would involve unacceptable disruption to the many bridge users.

Photos later.
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Photos wanged into the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157648494725811
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I went for a ride past Allerton Depot today to see what's what.

I couldn't see any collapsed mast. If there's one still there it's definitely not by the headshunt.

Heading east towards Hunts Cross the last two new side masts are attached to the overhead wire, as is the lone mast beyond the bufferstop, no other new mast on the headshunt is connected yet.

I've wanged the photos into the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157648494725811

Apologies for poor quality of several, but I reckon poor is better than nowt.
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I have finally added Monday's films and photos to the Combined Volumes here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646...57648494725811

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646...57648767927083

I will strive to add captions, give due credit and add to individuals' albums today.

Apologies for the delay
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Apparently attachments to my message earlier this morning were skew whiff.

Let's hope this lot work better.

I've added Paul's images from Monday to his album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157649792560381

and all our shots to the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157648494725811

Thank you Paul, great to see you on the mend.

 

[HowardGWR]

Thanks, when I play the videos (on Paul's this morning at Warrington) it is very juddery, both sound and vision. I suspect this is just at my end, but does anyone have any tips on overcoming this?

I have quite fast broadband and don't normally have problems.

 

[PDG1949]

Thanks, when I play the videos (on Paul's this morning at Warrington) it is very juddery, both sound and vision. I suspect this is just at my end, but does anyone have any tips on overcoming this?

I have quite fast broadband and don't normally have problems.

Mea culpa - it's probably me ! I've been hors de combat for a few weeks with a back injury and out of practice with the Ixus 220; I was holding down the video button instead of press to start, press again to stop - that's probably why you also got two chunks ! Hope you found the later Bradlegh Rd. one OK (apart from waiting for the train ! )

 

[LDECRexile]

The weather unexpectedly changed from foul to sunny so I grabbed a last pre-Yule chance to get out and about this afternoon and went to see what's what at Leach Lane and Rainhill footbridges.

I was pleased to see evidence of progress, now wanged into the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157648494725811

Merry Christmas all.

Dave

 

[DJH1971]

The weather unexpectedly changed from foul to sunny so I grabbed a last pre-Yule chance to get out and about this afternoon and went to see what's what at Leach Lane and Rainhill footbridges.

I was pleased to see evidence of progress, now wanged into the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157648494725811

Merry Christmas all.

Dave

The footbridge at Leach Lane still has the makeshift wooden guard to protect against the wires.

 

[LDECRexile]

The footbridge at Leach Lane still has the makeshift wooden guard to protect against the wires.

I'm glad you agree with the photos' captions.

 

[Bevan Price]

Does anyone know what work is occurring over the next 3 weekends (2/3, 9/10 & 16/17 January 2016) - no passenger services between Earlestown & Manchester on these dates according to a "Northern" poster at St. Helens Jn.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Does anyone know what work is occurring over the next 3 weekends (2/3, 9/10 & 16/17 January 2016) - no passenger services between Earlestown & Manchester on these dates according to a "Northern" poster at St. Helens Jn.

Ordsall Lane Jn is closed over these weekends, from all directions.
Presumably work related to the Ordsall Chord.
I expect there will be many such closures in the coming months.
Manchester Airport-Scotland services starting from Preston.
Blackpool-Airport becomes Blackpool-Victoria-York.
North Wales-Manchester running via Altrincham.
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.aspx?TravelDate=09/01/2016&TOC=nt

 

[8A Rail]

Does anyone know what work is occurring over the next 3 weekends (2/3, 9/10 & 16/17 January 2016) - no passenger services between Earlestown & Manchester on these dates according to a "Northern" poster at St. Helens Jn.

STP's in for turnbacks at Earlestown for the Lime St services during these weekends.

 

[LDECRexile]

Happy New Year

I've just driven back along the M57 after a day's grandadding. As I approached the Chat Moss line overbridge a Pacer trundled across. I thought we were all-electric now.

Is something wrong or is there still the odd residual Northern diesel service?

 

[DJH1971]

Happy New Year

I've just driven back along the M57 after a day's grandadding. As I approached the Chat Moss line overbridge a Pacer trundled across. I thought we were all-electric now.

Is something wrong or is there still the odd residual Northern diesel service?

The 16:16 LIV-MAN service (normally a 319) was a 150 today

 

[Bevan Price]

Happy New Year

I've just driven back along the M57 after a day's grandadding. As I approached the Chat Moss line overbridge a Pacer trundled across. I thought we were all-electric now.

Is something wrong or is there still the odd residual Northern diesel service?

The Lime St - Helsby / Chester ecs is still a dmu.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y92566/2016/01/05/advanced

And the unit off the afternoon Ellesmere Port - Hooton/Warrington service then goes ecs to Lime St.

 

[LDECRexile]

I went on my first jaunt of 2016 today, to have a shufty at Ordsall Lane Jct.

The photoset could well belong to any or all of this thread, Liv-Man thread or Ordsall Chord thread.

As usual it is here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157648494725811

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I went on my first jaunt of 2016 today, to have a shufty at Ordsall Lane Jct.

Are they slewing the Liverpool lines towards the north side of the viaduct?
The New Bailey car park looks like it's going to be a great vantage point for the Ordsall Chord/Salford Central work!
Nice pics.

 

[LDECRexile]

I couldn't make out what they were doing, it looked line trackwork, but I'm pretty sure a wiring road-railer was active, too (which it would have to be if they slewed, I suppose!)

I couldn't get within 100 yds of anyone in Orange to have a natter.

The car park charges £3 for an hour, but you can easily walk there from Salford Central, and they don't charge for pedestrians.

A tip for potential users: the top deck isn't necessarily the best vantage point for all shots, especially if you wish to peer through portals. Try other levels, too; different levels have different virtues.

Glad you liked the photos.

 

[snowball]

User anorack1 on Skyscrapercity has pointed out that there's a little information under the heading "Upcoming Works" on Network Rail's Ordsall Chord page:

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/north/Ordsall-Chord.aspx

We have an upcoming overnight closure in the New Year to the NE bound traffic on Trinity Way, between Hampson Street and Irwell Street, on Saturday 9th January between the hours of 0600-2000. This is to facilitate a crane sited on Trinity way to carry out trackside works.

Hampson Street will also be shut 9th-10th January for siting of a concrete pump, this is to facilitate the construction of No1 gantry foundation. The works will be undertaken from 0800 Saturday to 1100 Sunday.

(and there are links to maps of the road closures)

 

[LDECRexile]

Paul Gaskell has kindly sent some shots of the completed footbridge work at Rainhill.

When he went earlier in the week similar work at Sutton Leach hadn't begun.

I've added the photos to Paul's album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157649792560381

and to the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157648494725811

Thank you Paul

 

[AM9]

Paul Gaskell has kindly sent some shots of the completed footbridge work at Rainhill.

When he went earlier in the week similar work at Sutton Leach hadn't begun.

I've added the photos to Paul's album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157649792560381

and to the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157648494725811

Thank you Paul

Thanks to you Paul, those pictures show clearly how they have finished off the rainhill footbridge. The catenary is also set low to clear the bridge making it quite inconspicuous in those views.
I remember when we went through there last year that you were concerned that the historical significance of Rainhill station including the footbridge, might be visually spoilt by the needs of protection from OLE.
On the other hand, it's good to see the earth straps commoning all the metalwork, - except that sewing machine!

 

[snowball]

Perhaps the sewing machine is there to advertise excursions to a Glasgow station?

 

[deltic08]

Paul Gaskell has kindly sent some shots of the completed footbridge work at Rainhill.

When he went earlier in the week similar work at Sutton Leach hadn't begun.

I've added the photos to Paul's album here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/sets/72157649792560381

and to the Combined Volume here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127646831@N03/albums/72157648494725811

Thank you Paul

A really smart footbridge and sympathetically done. Well done Paul and well done Network Rail.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

A really smart footbridge and sympathetically done. Well done Paul and well done Network Rail.

I totally agree +1

 

[PDG1949]

A really smart footbridge and sympathetically done. Well done Paul and well done Network Rail.

Thanks very much for the plaudits, but all I did was photograph it - NR takes the praise for sympathetically getting round the problem. Have a look at the Sutton Leach bridge shot taken a couple of days ago - I think somebody ought to tip off Banksy - then we might get it listed and get something on the move haha !

 

[Ploughman]

Perhaps the sewing machine is there to advertise excursions to a Glasgow station?

Would that be a bit of a PFAFF?

 

[PDG1949]

Would that be a bit of a PFAFF?

I reckon Edith PIAF, 'cos it's a Singer...

 

[deltic08]

I totally agree +1

This thread and Manchester-Blackpool is the only reason I am sticking with this forum. A much friendlier bunch of posters.
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Thanks very much for the plaudits, but all I did was photograph it - NR takes the praise for sympathetically getting round the problem. Have a look at the Sutton Leach bridge shot taken a couple of days ago - I think somebody ought to tip off Banksy - then we might get it listed and get something on the move haha !

But without you and your photos, us east of the big hill wouldn't be able to appreciate anything on Manchester-Liverpool, Liverpool-Wigan and Manchester-Blackpool electrification.

I hope I can do the same for you when Leeds-Harrogate-York is electrified in CP6.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I hope I can do the same for you when Leeds-Harrogate-York is electrified in CP6.

By then I may well be retired and living back in Blighty and will also help on that project documenting and photographing as I think it will be a lot of fun and good for the community.

 

[deltic08]

By then I may well be retired and living back in Blighty and will also help on that project documenting and photographing as I think it will be a lot of fun and good for the community.

But I thought you were born a Lancastrian? This is Yorkshire we are talking.

 

[snowball]

New dates for North-west projects are on page 12 of the CP5 Enhancements Plan update (see my post in the Hendy Report thread).

Rochdale and Calder Valley West is Dec 2016.

Huyton & Roby phase 2, Ordsall Chord, Manchester to Preston, and Victoria to Stalybridge are all Dec 2017.

Calder Valley East and Liverpool Lime St are Dec 2018.

Preston to Blackpool is CP5 (i.e. March 2019).

Oxford Road and Piccadilly, and Hope Valley capacity, are just said to be subject to Transport and Works Act orders.

Guide Bridge to Stalybridge is Dec 2022, i.e. fits in with Trans-Pennine.

However most of these have footnotes saying under review, so it's not clear whether they mean much.

Manchester to Preston, Preston to Blackpool and Victoria to Stalybridge still haven't completed GRIP 3.

Windermere electrification, and and Lostock to Wigan, are to complete GRIP 3 by March 2017.


(Oops. It turns out I've posted this in Manchester-Liverpool, though I thought I was posting it in Blackpool-Manchester. I've now copied it there too.)