Midland Main Line Electrification

[great central]

Third party cable come down on the OHLE, needed an isolation so it could be removed

[jim.snowdon]

Interesting that EMT were reporting delays this evening to services to and from LStP as a result of power supply issues. Presumably its screwed up GTR services and had a knock on effect but a strange way to report it.

It is, given the actual cause, a classic example of the railways doing themselves no favours. Presenting it to the passengers as "power supply problems" implies that it is the railway that is at fault, whereas if they had said it was due to an electricity cable coming down onto the overhead lines there is at least an indication that it wasn't the railway's fault.

 

Jim

Edited August 6, 2018 by jim.snowdon

[Titan]

It is, given the actual cause, a classic example of the railways doing themselves no favours. Presenting it to the passengers as "power supply problems" implies that it is the railway that is at fault, whereas if they had said it was due to an electricity cable coming down onto the overhead lines there is at least an indication that it wasn't the railway's fault.

 

Jim

 

Indeed. If the wires are down on a windy day in an urban area it is often because there is a trampoline caught up in them, but still the railway takes the blame.

[jamie92208]

The latest Modern Railways has an interesting piece on page 24 saying that HS2 ltd is to start surveys so that they can put the necessary works for wiring between Clay Cross and Sheffield into the Hybrid Bill that is due to go through parliament soon for phase 2b that includes the eastern leg of the Y to Leeds with a spur to Clay Cross to serve Sheffield.No mention of the northward extension for through running to Leeds though.  

 

The Transport Select Committee has also called for the 'paused' schemes that include the rest of the Midland Main Line to be unpaused.   Perhaps common sense might break out before all those new bi modes are ordered.

 

Jamie

[jamie92208]

Also on page 83 of the same magazine is a very interesting article about the Cardiff Intersection Bridge.  This is the one just east of Cardiff General that carries the valley lines.  Apparently raising it would have cost £30 million and lowering the main line tracks would have cost many millions.  It has now been sorted for about £1 million by putting a special insulating coating on the underside of the bridge so that the wires can come through at full voltage.   Perhaps something similar could be done at Leicester.

 

Jamie

[Peter Kazmierczak]

It's good that more creative ideas are now being put forward

 

a) to save money

b) to avoid disruption

c) to actually complete a whole scheme electrically

[geoff]

A trip out today to see how the work is progressing along the Ise Valley between Burton Latimer and Wellingborough.

 

Geoff

 

IMG_6093 by Geoffrey Robinson, on Flickr

Looking north at Harrowden Junction.

IMG_6095 by Geoffrey Robinson, on Flickr

A longer shot looking north at Harrowden Junction to Finedon Station Road over bridge. The re-instatement of the up slow line is still being delayed by outstand S&T work to repostion signalling.

IMG_6098 by Geoffrey Robinson, on Flickr

Looking south on the up slow side at Harrowden Junction. The PW gang will not have the luxury of driving to site once the the up slow line has been re-instated. In the distance the new Bush Bridge carrying a bridleway across the line can be seen. Three masts away from the bridge is the lookout for the PW gang. His horn can be heard very clearly from the road bridge and it was interesting to experience the system working as a train approached out of site to the work party, the lookout sounded his horn which was acknowledged by the the waving of a blue and white chequered flag by the gang who then cleared the line. The approaching train sounded its horn which was also acknowledged by all members of the work party raising their arms.

IMG_6100 by Geoffrey Robinson, on Flickr

IMG_6106 by Geoffrey Robinson, on Flickr

222003 dashes northwards along the Ise Valley with 1F21, 1002 St Pancras International to Sheffield service. Furnace Lane cottages stand in the background as the train nears the site of the former Finedon Sidings which were on the up slow side of the line, a site now occupied by the coumpound for the offices and material storage for the electrification work.

IMG_6115 by Geoffrey Robinson, on Flickr

Looking south from the Finedon Station site road bridge. The site compound where the offices and materials store for the electrification work and possibly the track renewal is seen on the left of the slow lines.

[jamie92208]

Network Rail have just posted this video about the works.

 

The CGI work show some interesting units on the main line.

 

 

Jamie

[ess1uk]

Immunisation work starts soon between Bedford and Kettering

[Rugd1022]

Immunisation work starts soon between Bedford and Kettering

 

Blimey, does this mean I need to get some jabs the next time I work a train down the Midland...? 

[jamie92208]

Blimey, does this mean I need to get some jabs the next time I work a train down the Midland...? 

With all those big yellow machines perhaps you need the Yellow fever one.

 

Jamie

[ess1uk]

I did notice the other day that the masts seem to be steadily making their way down the line from Irchester to Burton Latimer but couldn’t see too well from my van

Edited November 15, 2018 by ess1uk

[geoff]

Not strictly to do with the electrification although it shows the problems for photography posed by the infrastructure even before it is completed. 

66715 Valour rounds the curve from Glendon South towards the Glendon Iron Coy's bridge with 6E89 10:16 WELLINGBOROUGH UP TC GBRF - 18:00 RYLSTONE TILCON (GBRF) 3 minutes early at 1041 on Thursday 15th November 2018.

 

However, there is news since I discovered earlier this week that work has started on the substation to feed into the system at Glendon. The site was cleared right at the beginning of the work on the line and now contractors are constructing the foundations for the substation a short distance north of the Glendon Road over bridge. Although the site is directly adjacent to a 33kv line I doubt that will be used. The nearest 132kv line is about 400m away near the road bridge or the 275/400kv line at Braybrooke, a few miles away, could be used but it would be a long run of cable. 

 

Geoff

 

[Edwin_m]

From other forums I believe the feeder will be at Braybrooke so Glendon is probably simply for track sectioning.  Seems to be undecided whether to extend to OLE to Braybrook or even Market Harborough, or provide a 25kV trackside feeder to Glendon. 

[ess1uk]

I had heard OLE to Harborough but seen some where else it is stopping at the ends of the platforms at Kettering.

Time will tell

[RANGERS]

I had heard OLE to Harborough but seen some where else it is stopping at the ends of the platforms at Kettering.

Time will tell

Gonna need a good extension lead to get the leccies to Corby then....

[geoff]

A trip up to Glendon earlier this week gave me a chance to take a snap of the work on the sub-station being constructed just south of Glendon South Junction (as was ). The contractor on site said this was to feed into to overheads at this point but he didn't know where the indeed was coming from. He also said he understood there was still a site to do at Braybrooke which is where the 400/274 kv grid line crosses the railway a couple of miles south of Market Harborough.

 

Geoff

 

 

fullsizeoutput_53b5 by Geoffrey Robinson, on Flickr

Formwork for the base of the sub-station at Glendon ready to receive concrete. The Kettering to Corby 33kv tower line keeps watch from the hedgerow.

[david.hill64]

I wonder whether a couple of big inductive loops in the field would be a cheap alternative to the feeder station....................

Edited December 22, 2018 by david.hill64

[Sir TophamHatt]

Not sure if I mentioned this before, but I appreciate you taking photos of the changing landscape.

 

I was watching part of a documentry a couple of years ago that suggested in the future, we'll have less and less photos of the changes we make as people are more interested in taking photos of themselves.

 

I love seeing photos of trams running in Leicester City Centre and the Great Central station, seeing how it looks compared with now.  You documenting this will be great for the future.

[geoff]

Not sure if I mentioned this before, but I appreciate you taking photos of the changing landscape.

 

I was watching part of a documentry a couple of years ago that suggested in the future, we'll have less and less photos of the changes we make as people are more interested in taking photos of themselves.

 

I love seeing photos of trams running in Leicester City Centre and the Great Central station, seeing how it looks compared with now.  You documenting this will be great for the future.

 

Thank you Sir TophamHatt.

 

Geoff

[RANGERS]

Not sure what the work is but there's something major about to commence with a full possession on all lines between Kettering and Bedford on Monday. Trains are running south to Kettering before a reversal to terminate at Corby, buses being provided to Wellingborough and Bedford. Not sure if the work is continuing over Christmas Day and Boxing Day but would seem likely as there's nothing major planned for Sunday which would have been a more logical day if it was a single day possession.

 

It might seem a bit strange for Southbound trains to run South to Kettering before turning back and heading 8 miles North to Corby for onward Southbound bus connections but evidently such are the volumes expected, there's insufficient space at Kettering to handle the number of coaches required whereas Corby has a number of bus bays and a car park which has access suitable for coaches.

 

Preparations include additional toilets installed and bay markers for the coaches, staff are being drafted in from elsewhere. The train service is three an hour in each direction which is more than Corby has ever seen in its history, old or new stations, and more than its ever likely to see again, even after the wires are up.

[geoff]

Not sure what the work is but there's something major about to commence with a full possession on all lines between Kettering and Bedford on Monday. Trains are running south to Kettering before a reversal to terminate at Corby, buses being provided to Wellingborough and Bedford. Not sure if the work is continuing over Christmas Day and Boxing Day but would seem likely as there's nothing major planned for Sunday which would have been a more logical day if it was a single day possession.

 

It might seem a bit strange for Southbound trains to run South to Kettering before turning back and heading 8 miles North to Corby for onward Southbound bus connections but evidently such are the volumes expected, there's insufficient space at Kettering to handle the number of coaches required whereas Corby has a number of bus bays and a car park which has access suitable for coaches.

 

Preparations include additional toilets installed and bay markers for the coaches, staff are being drafted in from elsewhere. The train service is three an hour in each direction which is more than Corby has ever seen in its history, old or new stations, and more than its ever likely to see again, even after the wires are up.

 

There is major track renewing and remodelling at Wellingborough North Junction.

 

Geoff

[geoff]

There is major track renewing and remodelling at Wellingborough North Junction.

 

Geoff

 

[/url]fullsizeoutput_53ff by Geoffrey Robinson, on Flickr

Day 1, Monday 24 December 2018, of the work to remodel Wellingborough North Junction in preparation for the new Up Slow line. The release road from Wellingborough Up TC, Finedon Road Sidings has already been slewed across here.

9N9B3375 by Geoffrey Robinson, on Flickr

Day 1, Monday 24  December 2018, this longer shot shows the old Up Main to  Up/Down slow connection and the remains of the connection to the Finedon Road Sidings release road. The signal bridge is probably in the way of the new Up Slow as are all of the ecisting signals between here and Kettering.

9N9B3407 by Geoffrey Robinson, on Flickr

Slewing the track of the release road from Finedon Road Sidings.

9N9B3421 by Geoffrey Robinson, on Flickr

Finedon Road sidings.

9N9B3426 by Geoffrey Robinson, on Flickr

66614, 1916 POPPY 2016, waiting on the Up Fast at Harrowden Junction to leave the possession with a spoil train.

9N9B3430 by Geoffrey Robinson, on Flickr

Another train waiting on the Up Fast just north of Harrowden Junction to continue into the possession.

 

Geoff

Edited December 24, 2018 by geoff

[Shed]

Great photos

[geoff]

More pictures of the work at Wellingborough North Junction on Boxing Day and Friday 28 December 2018.

 

Geoff

 

fullsizeoutput_5423 by Geoffrey Robinson, on Flickr

Day three, 26 December 2018. and work is still in progress on the mainlines.

fullsizeoutput_5407 by Geoffrey Robinson, on Flickr

Day three, Boxing Day, and work on the point mechanisms continues as the line is prepared for service on the following day Thursday 27 December 2018.

fullsizeoutput_5436 by Geoffrey Robinson, on Flickr

The new Wellingborough North Junction. work is still in progress to reconnect the slow line and the Finedon Road Sidings release road.

fullsizeoutput_5412 by Geoffrey Robinson, on Flickr

The new Wellingborough North Junction. work is still in progress to reconnect the slow line and the Finedon Road Sidings release road.

fullsizeoutput_5431 by Geoffrey Robinson, on Flickr

222022 cruises through the new junctions at Wellingborough North with 1B31 1012 Nottingham to St Pancras International on time at 1108 on Friday 28 December 2018.

fullsizeoutput_5424 by Geoffrey Robinson, on Flickr

The new Wellingborough North Junction. work is still in progress to reconnect the slow line and the Finedon Road Sidings release road which has been slewed across and needs aligning.The first panel of the new Up Slow has been set out. A limited service is running on the fast lines.

fullsizeoutput_5425 by Geoffrey Robinson, on Flickr

The new Wellingborough North Junction. work is still in progress to reconnect the slow line and the Finedon Road Sidings release road.

fullsizeoutput_5426 by Geoffrey Robinson, on Flickr

Rolling stock and loco trapped in Finedon Road Sidings, Wellingborough Up TC Gbrf.

Edited December 30, 2018 by geoff