eastwestdivide Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 (edited) I do wonder if the energisation is as much to deter the "copper fairies" from nicking the overhead line. Mind you 750 volts hasn't stopped the scrotes from making off with wire from Midland Metro in the past. There's been copper up in the air since October 2017, and as far as I know, no incidents of theft. Something I forgot to mention yesterday: there are works this weekend to connect the overhead wiring between the two systems (existing tram network and the extension) at the Meadowhall end, so if it has been switched on, rather than just being "considered live and dangerous", something will need to be switched off again for the works to take place. Irrelevant footnote: wasn't "Live and Dangerous" a Thin Lizzy album? Edited April 19, 2018 by eastwestdivide 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PaulCheffus Posted April 19, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 19, 2018 (edited) Irrelevant footnote: wasn't "Live and Dangerous" a Thin Lizzy album? Hi I believe so and is celebrating its 40th birthday this year according to Planet Rock. Cheers Paul Edited April 19, 2018 by PaulCheffus 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin_m Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 There's been copper up in the air since October 2017, and as far as I know, no incidents of theft. Something I forgot to mention yesterday: there are works this weekend to connect the overhead wiring between the two systems (existing tram network and the extension) at the Meadowhall end, so if it has been switched on, rather than just being "considered live and dangerous", something will need to be switched off again for the works to take place. Irrelevant footnote: wasn't "Live and Dangerous" a Thin Lizzy album? The notices give a date when the OLE is to be "considered to be live" within the limits shown. That means that workers have to assume it is live and observe appropriate precautions including obtaining an isolation for any work that can't be done under live OLE. So it's extra safety paperwork compared with the previous situation, even if the overhead hasn't actually been switched on yet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted April 20, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 20, 2018 Nothing's ever been "imminent" with this project! As well as a load of electrical equipment already installed, the electrical supply point still has a series of heavy-duty foundations with nothing on top of them - I've no idea what's missing. Will keep my eyes peeled for more info. Perhaps there is some forward planning and it's a foundation for switchgear capable of supplying 25kv if it is ever converted. The trams have the necessary equipment and I believe, as discussed previously that clearances and insulation are compatible. Jamie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted April 20, 2018 Share Posted April 20, 2018 I can’t see how they can test the full tram-train-ness without energising the main bit at 25Kv, at least for a while. After all this is supposed to be a pilot Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Coryton Posted April 21, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 21, 2018 I can’t see how they can test the full tram-train-ness without energising the main bit at 25Kv, at least for a while. After all this is supposed to be a pilot I'm still not sure what it's a pilot of. What are we learning here that we couldn't already find out from looking at overseas tram-train operations and the Tyne and Wear Metro (where overhead DC powered light rail already mixes with conventional heavy rail)? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastwestdivide Posted April 22, 2018 Share Posted April 22, 2018 (edited) Rotherham Central yesterday. New tram platforms, work in progress, minimal shelters part-completed, surfacing still needed: And a poster by the ticket office warning "don't touch!": Sorry about the reflections of my hands - couldn't be helped. Also yesterday, over at the Tinsley chord, they were tying the last knots in the overhead wiring, joining the two systems. From Meadowhall South/Tinsley tram stop, replacement bus sign on the left, new signal, humungous new post for anchoring the wires for the curve, and road-railers in the distance: Zoomed in. The sign in the middle reads "Trams must not pass on these facing points": From the viaduct, a wide view: and looking down showing the shiny new copper, along with devices to keep the wire following the tight curve (anyone know the terminology?): The bus replacements at Tinsley are scheduled to last all weekend, and the photos were around 9am yesterday, so I don't know if they will need all the time allocated, or if there's other work to be done. Edited April 22, 2018 by eastwestdivide Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastwestdivide Posted April 29, 2018 Share Posted April 29, 2018 Wandered past the substation again today and there's now anonymous grey equipment boxes on all the foundations, and it's all looking nice and tidy and finished off, apart from a temporary security cabin and a mobile lift platform on site. There was also an electrical hum coming from the biggest equipment box, which I hadn't noticed before, so it sounds like someone's pulled the big switch. Unless of course it's all been an evil plot: 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted April 29, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 29, 2018 Given whats happened in Blackpool, they've probably turned it on to ensure it stays there! Rich Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin_m Posted April 29, 2018 Share Posted April 29, 2018 The German term is "Bogenabzug" and the Sommerfeldt catalogue describes the English term as "pull-off'. Strictly speaking, that's exactly what it says on the tin Pull-off is certainly recognised terminology for this, though as usual on the railway there are probably people who call it something else. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher125 Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 The first test runs have taken place: https://www.facebook.com/British.Tramway/posts/973818156109149 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastwestdivide Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 (edited) The first test runs have taken place: https://www.facebook.com/British.Tramway/posts/973818156109149 Aha, last weekend I saw a suggestion that might happen, but with no insider knowledge, I'm at a disadvantage. I can at least confirm that nothing seems to have got as far as Rotherham Parkgate yet, to judge by the rust and paint on the spur into the platform (photos taken today): Also at Parkgate, a shelter has been planted (camera poked through fence): View of exit signal from Parkgate platform. It's showing red, but the angle and the bright sun means it's hard to see: And near the Beatson Clark glassworks (just the Parkgate side of Rotherham Central station), where the canal towpath is separated from the line by a 6 foot wall, additional higher panels have been plonked in place, except for the section where the oxygen pipeline runs along the top of the wall (compare e.g. this view http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/56672-tram-trains-for-sheffield-to-rotherham/?p=2888370): Edited May 13, 2018 by eastwestdivide 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Coryton Posted May 13, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 13, 2018 Aha, last weekend I saw a suggestion that might happen, but with no insider knowledge, I'm at a disadvantage. I can at least confirm that nothing seems to have got as far as Rotherham Parkgate yet, to judge by the rust and paint on the spur into the platform (photos taken today): Parkgate rusty rail.jpg Also at Parkgate, a shelter has been planted (camera poked through fence): Parkgate platform.jpg View of exit signal from Parkgate platform. It's showing red, but the angle and the bright sun means it's hard to see: Parkgate exit signal.jpg And near the Beatson Clark glassworks (just the Parkgate side of Rotherham Central station), where the canal towpath is separated from the line by a 6 foot wall, additional higher panels have been plonked in place, except for the section where the oxygen pipeline runs along the top of the wall (compare e.g. this view http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/56672-tram-trains-for-sheffield-to-rotherham/?p=2888370): Towpath wall.jpg Things must be bad in Rotherham if they're having to pipe oxygen in. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastwestdivide Posted May 13, 2018 Share Posted May 13, 2018 Things must be bad in Rotherham if they're having to pipe oxygen in. It's for the deep-sea divers in the canal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted May 13, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 13, 2018 It's for the deep-sea divers in the canal. The divers will have to be in and out quick or the metal fairies round there will have their ballast weights away. Jamie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted May 18, 2018 Share Posted May 18, 2018 The first tram ventured onto the NR network ealier this week. https://www.facebook.com/British.Tramway/photos/pcb.973818156109149/973816996109265/?type=3&theater Including testing coupling to a 66! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastwestdivide Posted June 29, 2018 Share Posted June 29, 2018 (edited) Well something's been in to the terminus at Parkgate this week, as shown by a shiny edge to the rails today (29/7) that wasn't there last Sunday (24/7). Can't find any reports elsewhere, and it could have been a "not a tram", like a track maintenance machine as in this post, since there's an access point near the Parkgate platform. Still, it's the only real sign of progress I've found since I got back from holidays (including real working tram-trains in Karlsruhe and Mulhouse!). Not the most exciting photos in the world. This is the entry-exit points to the terminus (left hand road): Edited June 29, 2018 by eastwestdivide Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted June 29, 2018 Share Posted June 29, 2018 We had a briefing yesterday that included the fact that trams have run as far as the Parkgate turnback. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastwestdivide Posted June 29, 2018 Share Posted June 29, 2018 We had a briefing yesterday that included the fact that trams have run as far as the Parkgate turnback. Wa-hey! But 6 years from approval being given... for 6km. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted June 29, 2018 Share Posted June 29, 2018 Wa-hey! But 6 years from approval being given... for 6km. Yeah, it'd be quicker to walk... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingcreole Posted July 1, 2018 Share Posted July 1, 2018 We had a briefing yesterday that included the fact that trams have run as far as the Parkgate turnback. There was a report + pics of the run here: http://www.tautonline.com/first-uk-tram-train-reaches-parkgate/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastwestdivide Posted July 1, 2018 Share Posted July 1, 2018 On the subject of Parkgate, I had a quick look on realtimetrains for last week, and they ran on 26 and 27 June, but not on 28/29 although the STP paths were in the system for all 4 days. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastwestdivide Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 Daylight testing is in Realtimetrains this week, so I dashed down to Parkgate see the first working, waited, waited, started heading back and then checked the phone again, 30 mins late at Rotherham Central: A quick about-turn, and success - 399202 in the Parkgate terminus with 144013 passing by: 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
caradoc Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 The tram-train makes the Pacer look positively capacious !. Thanks for your ongoing postings on this project eastwestdivide. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastwestdivide Posted July 20, 2018 Share Posted July 20, 2018 The tram-train makes the Pacer look positively capacious !. Thanks for your ongoing postings on this project eastwestdivide. Cheers. According to Wikipedia, Tram-train capacity 88 (seated), 150 (standing) 144: 2-car = 99 seats, 3-car = 157 seats. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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