manchester metrolink

[ess]

some of the metrolink looks to use standard track. would it be possible to run a pacer on the metrolink track?

 

[Nym]

On the converted lines, yes, in the city, no.

 

[Nonsense]

I often wondered this myself, and also what potential there might be for freight flows over some of the lines.

 

[DXMachina]

I can't see them wanting heavy freight using the same rail as tinfoil tramcars

 

[umontu]

On the converted lines, yes, in the city, no.

Besides the obvious legal reasons or the stopping distances etc.
What physically is there to stop say a class 66 or 67 from running on the street sections? Weight? Tight curves?

 

[12CSVT]

Two class 37s and a class 33 were on the northern end of the Bury branch when they were doing some track renewals a couple of years ago. And an 03 shunter was on the Metrolink tracks in the 1990s (again for track work).

 

[Nym]

both.

Extremely tight curves, and overall weight is a lot, although I reacon it could take the axle weight.

 

[umontu]

both.

Extremely tight curves, and overall weight is a lot, although I reacon it could take the axle weight.

Thought so.
I think the curves round Market Street are the tightest (Excluding the Eccles line.)
But other than that there's no reason? Physically speaking?

I know that the Blackpool tramway used to link to the mainline near Wyre Dock so I guess its been done before.

 

[Nym]

Metrolink is linked in to the ELR at Bury and onto the Calder Valley Line, and at Navigation Road / Alty onto the Mid Cheshire Line.

 

[HSTEd]

Pity there are no Class 01s around.

 

[12CSVT]

Pity there are no Class 01s around.

The East Lancs have got one

 

[Eagle]

Thought so.
I think the curves round Market Street are the tightest (Excluding the Eccles line.)
But other than that there's no reason? Physically speaking?

Weight, of course. It's called light rail for a reason :P Don't think that Piccadilly Gardens' road surface could withstand a diesel loco.

Do the Metrolink lines actually have a defined route availability, by the way?

 

[umontu]

Weight, of course. It's called light rail for a reason :P Don't think that Piccadilly Gardens' road surface could withstand a diesel loco.

Do the Metrolink lines actually have a defined route availability, by the way?

So a light enough loco could do it... Very good.

I highly doubt it. I'd expect the Altrincham and Bury lines were kept to their BR loading gauges.

 

[156441]

They have a Diesel rail vehicle (1027) and used a hired in sentinal shunter on the New Chorlton line last year to pull ballast waggons round.