Engineering Work

Engineering Work

Saturday March 18th 2006, saw engineering work being undertaken on the semaphore signals at Blackpool North station. All three bracket signals were completely covered in scaffolding. At first sight it looks like they're being taken down, however this couldn't be further from the truth. Network Rail contractors were in fact upgrading the electric cabling which enable the colour aspects to be illuminated at night.

Sunday January 22nd 2006, saw the Blackpool North line in the possession of engineers who undertook track renewals at Kirkham & Wesham station. They concentrated on the down line through the platform, which saw replacement of sleepers and jointed track. These pictures illustrate the work being carried out.

Sunday January 30th 2005, The first picture shows 66082 with a rake of ballast wagons on Sunday the 30th of January 2005, during track renewals in the vicinity of Carleton Crossing. The work is nearly done, but there is still ballast to be laid on the up line. Class 66, 66239 waits patiently in Poulton station for the instruction to move forward with its load of ballast.

66082 is seen with a rake of ballast wagons

January the 16th 2005, witnessed the start of engineering work on the Blackpool North to Preston line. The stretch of track between Poulton and Carleton Crossing is being completely renewed, and on the first Sunday work started at the Poulton end. Here are two views showing the progress being made, with two members of the ubiquitous Class 66, numbers 66186 and 66194 in attendance.

January the 23rd 2005, continuing engineering work on the Blackpool North line, saw a Class 66 with a rake of hopper wagons stabled by Carleton Crossing's down home signal. Work was being undertaken to de - stress the rail that had been laid the previous weekend

On Sundays between the 13th of January and the 17th of February 2004, Engineering work on the Blackpool North line meant that some services from Manchester were diverted along the South Fylde line into Blackpool South. The only stop between Kirkham and South was St.Annes, and so these services were classed as semi fast, and travelling through stations such as Ansdell & Fairhaven at 50 m.p.h. was quite exhilarating !

It was interesting to see a number of diesel locomotive classes in attendance on works trains, that aren't normally seen along the Fylde coast on a day to day basis. The three pictures here show Class 66, 66119 on a short works train at Poulton. Celebrity Class 56, 56006 is seen on a ballast train at Kirkham. Finally, on the windswept and wet platform at Blackpool South, Class 150, 150135 is patiently waiting for departure back to Manchester Airport.