Great Western Main Line electrification - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From posts elsewhere on the Coffee Shop forum, the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road, formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) seem to share your concern, BerkshireBugsy. 

[IndustryInsider]

I noticed at Pangbourne a few days ago that some dangly bits had been fixed to some of the masts there. Only seen from the road under the Whitchurch Road bridge, so no idea how much has been achieved.

Yes, there's quite a few 'dangly bits' now fitted between Goring and Tilehurst, and a few more between Maidenhead and Slough.  One support pole is being used for two registration arms (I think that's what they're called!), covering one track each.  Starting to look like an electrified railway now and can't be too long before the wires are strung on the Reading to Didcot test section?

[Electric train]

I noticed at Pangbourne a few days ago that some dangly bits had been fixed to some of the masts there. Only seen from the road under the Whitchurch Road bridge, so no idea how much has been achieved.

Yes, there's quite a few 'dangly bits' now fitted between Goring and Tilehurst, and a few more between Maidenhead and Slough.  One support pole is being used for two registration arms (I think that's what they're called!), covering one track each.  Starting to look like an electrified railway now and can't be too long before the wires are strung on the Reading to Didcot test section?

I believe the Grid connection at Didcot was commissioned on Saturday night, I've not heard how it went although I believe there were some problems ................. but then there always is caution when playing around with 400kV and 50kV 

[TonyK]

I came back from SWI^» (Swindon - next trains) on Thursday (13 August) and saw what looked like the piles for the gantrys for quite a distance - before the line passes below the M4 after leaving SWI until close to Wootton Bassett Junction. If it was what I saw, then much of the foundation work on that stretch is done, with little sign of progress. Why that bit was done and nowhere else, I have no idea.

[Electric train]

I came back from SWI^» (Swindon - next trains) on Thursday (13 August) and saw what looked like the piles for the gantrys for quite a distance - before the line passes below the M4 after leaving SWI until close to Wootton Bassett Junction. If it was what I saw, then much of the foundation work on that stretch is done, with little sign of progress. Why that bit was done and nowhere else, I have no idea.

Possession time will only allow a certain amount of work to be done also there is only so much material you can load on a works train that can be delivered.

There are only so many qualified staff in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) to supervise / engineer the work, not all the survey has been done, some locations needing possessions to do this. 

There is also the lead time of the delivery of the steel masts.

There are many reasons and possibly some excuses too

[TonyK]

Thanks ET.

[Red Squirrel]

Just watched this video several times trying to ascertain by how much the track was lowered in the Box - Bath exercise: not much, by the look of it, though I imagine it varied.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2FJWJ7MUoc

Does anyone know how much they dropped it by?

[grahame]

Just watched this video several times trying to ascertain by how much the track was lowered in the Box - Bath exercise: not much, by the look of it, though I imagine it varied.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2FJWJ7MUoc

Does anyone know how much they dropped it by?

I have the figures somewhere ... there was confusion of units in the press at one point and I think the maximum anywhere was 30 cm (1 foot) with other lowerings being 6 inches or less.   However, I was being told this and making notes months ago when my main concern was the smooth operation of the blockade, once assured that the changes weren't going to scandalously ruin historical sited by dropping trains into deep pits!

[Red Squirrel]

Thanks, Graham - that concurs with how it looks on the NR^» (Network Rail - home page) timelapse videos. Doesn't seem enough somehow!

[Thatcham Crossing]

I noticed recently that an area is being/has been cleared adjacent to the up platform at Midgham, just to the west of the small car park on that side of the Station.

It looks like some electrification facility might be going in, but wondered if anyone knows for sure?

There also appeared to be some markings on the platform which I think may be the positions for future OHLE^▸ (Over-Head Line Equipment (electrification via catenary)) posts.

Overall, electrification progress on the B&H^▸ (Berks and Hants - railway line from Reading to Taunton via Westbury) does still seem slow to me, as an uneducated observer.

[Electric train]

Just watched this video several times trying to ascertain by how much the track was lowered in the Box - Bath exercise: not much, by the look of it, though I imagine it varied.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2FJWJ7MUoc

Does anyone know how much they dropped it by?

It is likely did what is called a deep dig which is where the base layer of ballast is removed and possibly some of the formation below; this can also mean that track drainage has to be altered. I know the bridge over the stream within Box Tunnel was also worked.

Once the bed ballast has been dropped it has to be levelled and then compacted with monster size whacker plates before the sleeps and rails go down.

Often it is the logistics of getting men, plant and materials in and out of railways sites that eat up the time

[IndustryInsider]

Overall, electrification progress on the B&H^▸ (Berks and Hants - railway line from Reading to Taunton via Westbury) does still seem slow to me, as an uneducated observer.

I think most efforts have gone into getting the test section to Didcot ready.  I hear the wiring train will be running by the end of the month...

[TonyK]

Overall, electrification progress on the B&H^▸ (Berks and Hants - railway line from Reading to Taunton via Westbury) does still seem slow to me, as an uneducated observer.

I've told the tale of my loft conversion and new kitchen before. Having had a new combi boiler to replace the old floor standing model in the kitchen, I figured the first job needed was to move the programmer from one side of the kitchen to the other. I disappeared below the floor when my wife went out. The wiring needed redoing, as we no longer needed the hot water settings or MZVs below the floor upstairs, and chasing the concreted wall for the wiring was a sod, as was making good the floor afterwards. 4 hours later, having moved the programmer and plastered over the new channel, with triumph, I put down my screwdriver. Enter Mrs FT, N! - "Is that all you've done?"

It's in the preparation. Sticking the masts and wires will be the easy bit compared to what you don't see.

[bobm]

Poster up at Swindon thanking passengers for their patience during the recent work.



Ironically some of my journeys were *easier* during the blockade!

[TonyK]

Poster up at Swindon thanking passengers for their patience during the recent work.

Ironically some of my journeys were *easier* during the blockade!

My ride home from Swindon was faster than via Chippenham and Bath.

To quote Spike Milligan in Puckoon - "Patience - that word was invented by dull buggers who can't think fast enough". Patience is a virtue, but not one of mine.