Wires down at Kearsley

[amywok]

Sat on 2H03 the 17.28 from Blackpool North to Hazel Grove. We came to a stand at Farnworth then set off again and near Kearsley there was loud banging on the carriage, jolting and a sudden stop.

After what sounded like alarms going off - announcement from the guard saying the wires were down and we wouldn’t be going anywhere. He asked for anyone injured to use the passenger intercom. Everyone around me is ok but there was a slight burning smell at first but that could have been from the braking I guess. Lights are on but it’s starting to get cold.

Guess we will be here a while before rescue.

 

[skyhigh]

Driver of your train has reported the overheads down.

 

[amywok]

Driver just came down & told us the overheads were on fire and they will probably evacuate us to Kearsley

 

[voyagerdude220]

I'm lead to believe this may possibly be caused by vandalism and not just infrastructure failure.

 

[amywok]

Driver just came down & told us the overheads were on fire and they will probably evacuate us to Kearsley

Driver advises fire brigade and network rail are at the train. Driver advised there are Smashed windows in the rear unit and damage to front of this (front) unit.

 

[skyhigh]

I'm lead to believe this may possibly be caused by vandalism and not just infrastructure failure.

Yes, 'outside influences' were at play.

 

[startingaparty]

Do people think the overhead wires will be fixed overnight? I was planning on travelling this route tomorrow.

 

[amywok]

Police now on train - evacuation soon down to track via ladders and then walk 50 yards or so to Kearsley station- busses already there for onward journeys.

 

[skyhigh]

Do people think the overhead wires will be fixed overnight? I was planning on travelling this route tomorrow.

Should be fixed by tomorrow morning.

 

[Starmill]

Do people think the overhead wires will be fixed overnight? I was planning on travelling this route tomorrow.

The announcements being made at Manchester Piccadilly imply that disruption in the morning is likely. If you're travelling in the afternoon you may be in with better luck. Also, apparently rail replacement buses have been ordered but it remains to be seen how many will be available.

 

[scrapy]

The announcements being made at Manchester Piccadilly imply that disruption in the morning is likely. If you're travelling in the afternoon you may be in with better luck. Also, apparently rail replacement buses have been ordered but it remains to be seen how many will be available.

It is certainly likely that even if the line is open, units will be in the wrong place for tomorrow morning.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Mar 2022 ==

Yes, 'outside influences' were at play.

A witness has reported a log thrown at the the train by youths off an overbridge.

 

[NorthernSystem]

Do people think the overhead wires will be fixed overnight? I was planning on travelling this route tomorrow.

I need to get to work too!


At least we know they'll be doing what they can to try and sort it. It's just saddening that Anti Social Behaviour is still a big issue, especially on this line.

 

[Howardh]

Sounds like Northern did an excellent job on the site! I was at Kearsley last week and noted the public footpath adjacent and hidden by foliage, ideal for the disruptive element if this was caused by idiots.

 

[amywok]

Everyone off the train now and on busses and taxis. Lots of police and fire and rescue personnel on site. Everyone calm and orderly - driver particularly was helpful and reassuring - did a great job a especially as he must have been shaken up. Was 2 1/2 hrs from incident to evacuation which seemed pretty good to me.

 

[Gricer99]

We were on the 18.02 from Piccadilly heading in the opposite dirction. We were stopping as scheduled at Lostock around 18.24 when there was a louder, more severe braking than usual as the overhead power was cut. We waited for around 20 minutes and the power was restored and eventually after another ten minutes we proceeded.
The train rew were helpful once the problem cause had been established. Feel sorry for the folks on the affected train.

 

[_toommm_]

1Z99 now on its way from Manchester Piccadilly to rescue the stricken unit, currently at Salford Crescent 87 early:

Realtime Trains | 1Z99 2359 Manchester Piccadilly to Kearsley | 14/03/2022

Real-time train running information for 1Z99 2359 departure from Manchester Piccadilly to Kearsley on 14/03/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Howardh]

What happens if the power supply is suddenly cut off and the train's travelling at 80mph+? Does the train screech to a halt, or does it slow down gradually? I assume that a loss of power means a gradual coast to a stop, are the brakes still able to function normally?

 

[_toommm_]

What happens if the power supply is suddenly cut off and the train's travelling at 80mph+? Does the train screech to a halt, or does it slow down gradually? I assume that a loss of power means a gradual coast to a stop, are the brakes still able to function normally?

I believe that if the wires come down, the pantograph will be pushed by the air supply to its highest position, at which point the ADD (Automatic Dropping Device) will force it down, and the emergency brakes come on.

 

[Howardh]

I believe that if the wires come down, the pantograph will be pushed by the air supply to its highest position, at which point the ADD (Automatic Dropping Device) will force it down, and the emergency brakes come on.

Thanks, sorry to sound dim, but how are the emergency breaks powered?

 

[class 9]

I believe that if the wires come down, the pantograph will be pushed by the air supply to its highest position, at which point the ADD (Automatic Dropping Device) will force it down, and the emergency brakes come on.

I’m not familiar with 331s, but when I drove EMUs a few years ago, an ADD didn’t cause an emergency brake application.

 

[Thomas6187]

1Z99 now on its way from Manchester Piccadilly to rescue the stricken unit, currently at Salford Crescent 87 early:

Realtime Trains | 1Z99 2359 Manchester Piccadilly to Kearsley | 14/03/2022

Real-time train running information for 1Z99 2359 departure from Manchester Piccadilly to Kearsley on 14/03/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

195120 has gone to assist

 

[_toommm_]

195120 has gone to assist

Interesting! Did not know a 195 could rescue a 331, let alone two of them.

 

[Tempest Malice]

Thanks, sorry to sound dim, but how are the emergency breaks powered?

So oversimplifying probably slightly too much; The action of keeping the breaks released is powered by the trains electrical supply. Without power to hold a valve shut, air pressure applies the breaks. Though this doesn't happen immediately that the overhead line is lost (or neutral sections wouldn't work) but instead much later on once the battery runs out.

 

[Efini92]

What happens if the power supply is suddenly cut off and the train's travelling at 80mph+? Does the train screech to a halt, or does it slow down gradually? I assume that a loss of power means a gradual coast to a stop, are the brakes still able to function normally?

On a 331 anything is possible.

 

[MCSHF007]

Hope the police can trace the evidently woefully "unendowed" scrotes responsible and suspend all benefits payments to the families concerned.

 

[startingaparty]

It looks like trains are cancelled this morning on this line. Looks like it'll be a phone call to my manager and ask to work from home today!

 

[M60lad]

Looks like unless I'm wrong all Clitheroe-Manchester Victoria services are running non-stop to via Todmorden & Rochdale to Manchester Victoria before heading back the same way they came to terminate at Rochdale which seems daft but can understand why its happening.

 

[skyhigh]

Interesting! Did not know a 195 could rescue a 331, let alone two of them.

Mechanically only. The 331s will be dead.

 

[driver9000]

I believe that if the wires come down, the pantograph will be pushed by the air supply to its highest position, at which point the ADD (Automatic Dropping Device) will force it down, and the emergency brakes come on.

You don't get a brake application with the ADD. It will sound an alarm in the cab and it's up to the Driver to stop to the train.

 

[td97]

Seems to have reopened after 10am with the usual caveat that services continued to be distrupted.
It's a shame they didn't bother to run a Bolton to Blackburn or Wigan shuttle until reopening so that passengers could change to Manchester services there, and passengers using intermediate stations could still travel. A few Bolton to Blackpool services did in fact run.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Mar 2022 ==

Network rail statement now released

Northern service and railway damaged after vandals throw log at train

Train operator Northern and Network Rail are appealing for information after a group of individuals threw a log into the path of an oncoming train near Bolton.

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk