TRANSPORT | Metrolink ‎Extension

[marni1971]

Originally Posted by MartinSFP

The concrete blocks for the platforms at the Northern Moor station site on the Airport line have started to be installed over the past two days. I snapped this photo this afternoon.

Wow. Bits and bobs of this line are popping up all over!

JDR- nice pics. Again.

[Johnny de Rivative]

Johnny’s Big Bang

OLDHAM ROCHDALE LINE PART Xc Phase 3a

In the front seat to Oldham and back Irk Valley Junction <> Oldham Mumps Temporary - on the second day of public operation, 14 June 2012.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...age=1027#20522

48 images, June 2012

Part 2 Mumps to Irk Valley

Ready for the off back to town! – the MEN staged a race . . .

Chogmook: Bike 1st; Car 2nd (although it was pre-rush); Tram 3rd; Bus 4th - So there you have it - the Tram IS faster than the bus!

Passing under Clegg Street and the site of the old Central Station, long gone.



This is a view of the Werneth tunnels which (like virtually all railway cab views) has not been afforded to passengers for many years :-



There is a brief respite from the dark - a little bit of no-man’s-land between the two tunnels :-


get a better one – some of these driver’s doors are very greasy!

Worth repeating this overview :-



The site of the old Werneth station shows us where the 3b town centre line will come in from the right :-





Round the high escarpment towards Freehold :-



The top of the old Werneth Incline down towards Middleton :-



The emergency crossover approaching Freehold :-







Down the long slope into South Chaddeh :-



The red roof of the MEN building at Hollinwood prominent on the skyline :-







Can you tell I like this tramstop? :-





Back up the rise towards Hollinwood :-



Over the M60 :-



The Bricklayers Arms at Failsworth :-



The trailing point into the single line by the waste destructor, and the barred off connection to Network Rail on the right :-



Newton Heath and Moston under the bridge :-



The facing points are set for us to proceed right-road on the left :-



The freight line now goes its separate way :-



Good dovetailing of the timetable as we approach Thorpes Bridge :-



Under Thorpes Bridge and over the finback :-













Slinking snakily into Central Park :-







The bridges of Monsall :-



Like Werneth, the tunnels of Monsall and Queens Road also have a daylight respite in the middle :-





Out on to the Smedley Viaduct :-



The crossover to the depot turnout :-





Bananas in the depot and strange ways on top! :-



I can never come into sight of this fabulous city without catching breath :-



Or missing a heartbeat . . .



The temporary portmanteau signal is giving us the road :-



The double t68 on the main line is non-conflicting outbound, so we’re ok to press ahead :-



All change for Bury!! :-







Reverse trip Irk Valley - Mumps http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...age=1026#20509

[apologiesforthedelay]

Great pics again Johnny!

Question: Do the crossovers on the Oldham line have points indicators??

[LNGCats]

Ignore, miss understood the question.

[iheartthenew]

Fantastic photo tour of the ORL line to Mumps there Mr de Rivative! As good as being there in person!

[Johnny de Rivative]

Post consolidated above

[kriis101]

Originally Posted by apologiesforthedelay

Great pics again Johnny!

Question: Do the crossovers on the Oldham line have points indicators??

Nope, they are all trailing crossovers, and I assume therefore sprung.

[kriis101]

Originally Posted by Johnny de Rivative

Final part :-

The ticket looks to me as if it's only valid for a few hours..... valid until 06:08 on 13th june....

Edit.. nevermind its a single so therefore only valid for the 1.5hrs...

[LNGCats]

Outbound tickets on singles and returns are valid for 90mins from purchase.

We got out tickets just after 4:30am.

Mind, no one was going to get done for not having a ticket on Wednesday.

[Chorlton Bloke]

Originally Posted by iheartthenew

Fantastic photo tour of the ORL line to Mumps there Mr de Rivative! As good as being there in person!

Actually better I reckon! When you're there everything passes in a flash, no time to ponder

[martin2345uk]

Originally Posted by kriis101

Nope, they are all trailing crossovers, and I assume therefore sprung.

Isn't the turnback at St. Werburgh's Road sprung? But has a points indicator?

[Signalman 60]

Originally Posted by Johnny de Rivative

The recycled portmanteau signal is giving us the road :-

There's nowt recycled about signal 475, Johnny - all brand new, it is

[Tony_H1]

Central Park's industrial size water feature was being put to good effect this afternoon!

[Phreud]

Ah, epic, I didn't make sure the lens of my phone was clean today so I have no usable pictures.



Well, at least I won't take up room on this thread with more pictures of the Oldham line!

Got chatting to the driver of a tram at Mumps who told me that it is hoped to open the EML to Droylsden in 6 weeks or so. All the staff at Mumps very friendly and approachable and very enthusiastic about the new developments.

I found a nice place for a pint on Union Street - the Royal Oak (Robinsons pub). The rest of Oldham town centre seemed a bit shut, to paraphrase W.C. Fields...

A very leisurely trip back to Vic in 3024 allowed plenty of time for sightseeing all along the line - very impressive.





Oh well.

[apologiesforthedelay]

Originally Posted by Phreud

Got chatting to the driver of a tram at Mumps who told me that it is hoped to open the EML to Droylsden in 6 weeks or so.

Merely my opinion but I can't see it happening that quickly.

Surely a fair bit of training/route familiarisation would be needed for that section due to the street running sections.

[Signalman 60]

Originally Posted by Phreud

I found a nice place for a pint on Union Street - the Royal Oak (Robinsons pub).

The Royal Oak used to be a mega-dump many years ago (70s/80s) - its probablt much nicer these days - but despite that, they always kept a great pint.

[Signalman 60]

Originally Posted by apologiesforthedelay

Merely my opinion but I can't see it happening that quickly.

Surely a fair bit of training/route familiarisation would be needed for that section due to the street running sections.

I agree, and they'll certainly need to get full control of the points at Ashton before they can run passengers up to there. That requires TMS to work properly, so unless Thales pull a rabbit out of the hat very soon, I wouldn't hold your breath...
Failing that, in the absence of TMS, they'll need to draft in the cavalry again and do what they've done for Trafford Jct, Irk Valley Jct, and the Newton Heath single line section. Same goes for the SL section at Rochdale.

[Phreud]

Wonderful pictures again, JdR - hats off, gentlemen.

[apologiesforthedelay]

Originally Posted by Signalman 60

Failing that, in the absence of TMS, they'll need to draft in the cavalry again and do what they've done for Trafford Jct, Irk Valley Jct,

They won't use block signalling on the EML line as the City Centre already runs under Line of Sight.

[LNGCats]

Don't the traffic lights on Sheffield St require TMS and block signals are not an option.

Still, if TMS is working and it is only a contractual dispute....