Northern 150/1 fire in Cheshire (27/11)

[northwichcat]

The 11:02 Chester to Manchester which was being worked by a 156+150/1 was terminated at Knutsford after a fire broke out on the 150/1. Apparently Cheshire Fire + Rescue service at still at the scene and the Manchester bound line is expected to be blocked until after 6pm. ATW services between Chester and Manchester are also disrupted as well due to Chat Moss being closed they were due to be diverted via Mid-Cheshire.

A picture posted on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/iJamesPHP/status/802848456033390592

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Are we experiencing more such incidents recently or is it just that they are being reported more than previously?

 

[PHILIPE]

Are we experiencing more such incidents recently or is it just that they are being reported more than previously?

I think much depends on where they take place and if we have local Forum members in the area.
The units were 156481 and 150118, the fire alleged to be on the latter

 

[Bletchleyite]

More likely to hear about things like that because of Twitter I'd say. Before that it'd only hit the news if there were injuries.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Could it be an hot axle or a seized transmission?

 

[LCC106]

Pretty sure the OP works for the TOC, hence the posting James? Apologies if you've left but this would explain the reporting.

 

[northwichcat]

Pretty sure the OP works for the TOC, hence the posting James? Apologies if you've left but this would explain the reporting.

I don't work for the TOC but it was at my local station and I heard about it from a local councillor. I found the photos on Twitter by searching the Knutsford hashtag.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

seized bearing caused it. unit will be on skates tonight. traincrew did an excellent job and everything is now right with the world.

 

[northwichcat]

Train hasn't been moved. Most services currently turning around at Altrincham or Northwich with an odd Manchester bound service using the Chester platform.

 

[M60lad]

Not to sure when it will be moved either as before a block could be put on to fully get the wheel-skate on the rerailing team got called out to the derailment at Ordsall Lane

 

[Ash Bridge]

Does the complete train (150+156) remain at Knutsford or were Northern able to detach and remove the 156? I noticed non of the Northern ecs workings have passed this way (Ash Bridge Junc.) this morning.

 

[northwichcat]

Does the complete train (150+156) remain at Knutsford or were Northern able to detach and remove the 156? I noticed non of the Northern ecs workings have passed this way (Ash Bridge Junc.) this morning.

The 156 was still there at 09:15 attached to the 150 and there didn't appear to be anyone working on it at the time.

Possibly the ECS was a service they terminated short at Altrincham going back to Piccadilly/Longsight/Newton Heath.

 

[Ash Bridge]

The 156 was still there at 09:15 attached to the 150 and there didn't appear to be anyone working on it at the time.

Possibly the ECS was a service they terminated short at Altrincham going back to Piccadilly/Longsight/Newton Heath.

Ah I see, thanks for that jcollins!

 

[northwichcat]

Latest is they plan to have it moved by 2.30 this afternoon.

 

[Potato185]

Nothing has moved and I've got 7 hours worth of Chesters on my docket this evening. Looks like my 0200 finish will be a little earlier!

ETA showing as 1700 for everything to be back to normal. Which day, not sure

 

[northwichcat]

Nothing has moved and I've got 7 hours worth of Chesters on my docket this evening. Looks like my 0200 finish will be a little earlier!

They might go back to trying to run services in both directions over a single line section if the engineers give up for the day. That's what they did first thing this morning and last night.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

Nothing has moved and I've got 7 hours worth of Chesters on my docket this evening. Looks like my 0200 finish will be a little earlier!

ETA showing as 1700 for everything to be back to normal. Which day, not sure

Probably later anyway stop whining Newb lol

 

[Thomas6187]

The line has now fully reopened, with the failed unit now currently at Stockport on the Down Goods Line. It will probably go to Newton Heath overnight

 

[Crossover]

Looks like the disgraced unit was removed via ECS 5X89
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O49883/2016/11/28/advanced

Does anyone know if it went under its own power, whether it was taken by the 156 (and hence why the 156 was kept with it since the problem started) or taken by another unit/loco

 

[Potato185]

The 156/150 combo made it by themselves.

 

[iknowyeah]

This was it in Stockport as I was waiting for a train then

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Can i ask why the 156 was left attached to the 150 and not detached to do other duties?

 

[hairyhandedfool]

The units made it back to Newton Heath (on a skate apparently), but have derailed on arrival, services between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale not running and bus replacements requested, Metrolink accepting rail tickets on that route.

 

[danpick]

The units made it back to Newton Heath (on a skate apparently), but have derailed on arrival, services between Manchester Victoria and Rochdale not running and bus replacements requested, Metrolink accepting rail tickets on that route.

RTT hasn't showed them as arriving at Newton Heath...

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Well I can only tell you what the message from Northern control has told me because I'm not actually there looking at it, so maybe it's just outside the depot, just far enough away to not have registered that it is there yet?

I think we can safely assume it isn't actually completely on the depot as it is, apparently, blocking at least one running line.

 

[PHILIPE]

Well, 150118 has caused some trouble:-

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=138557

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Picture by another member of staff, I'd say that it's at the entrance to the yard. One axle (on skates) off the rails.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Are skates any more prone to derailing on points then a train's normal bogies?

 

[coxxy]

Are skates any more prone to derailing on points then a train's normal bogies?

Yes which is why there is a 5mph speed limit when on a skate.

 

[Greybeard33]

Train hasn't been moved. Most services currently turning around at Altrincham or Northwich with an odd Manchester bound service using the Chester platform.

It was a pity that Northern did not run the Manchester shuttles to Hale yesterday instead of turning them back at Altrincham. Hale has a trailing crossover and signal to enable departures back towards Altrincham directly from the Chester platform, with no need for a shunt move. Manchester/Stockport passengers ending/starting their journeys in Hale would not have had to change to the replacement bus. Hale to Altrincham by replacement bus can be very slow with the current roadworks.

I suppose an issue is that there is nowhere for the buses to park up at Hale, but they could have continued to Altrincham anyway for passengers who were ending/starting their journeys there and did not want to change to the train for one stop.

If Northern is never going to use the Hale crossover even in situations like this, Network Rail might as well plain line it and save on the maintenance costs.