Track at Bury Bolton Street
 

Just a question for the more knowledgeable ELR people here about the track at Bury Bolton Street.

I couldn't help but notice that just outside the short bridge/tunnel at Bolton Street there's a peice of track that appears to have a fair ammount of ballast missing from under it - and the track dips rather visibly when a train runs over it and makes a rather loud clinking sound. I know track is supposed to dip slightly when trains run over it but I can't recall ever seeing quite so much "dipping" on any peice of line I've ever seen. :p

It's been there for a long while now since I've noticed it before but I was just curious as to if anyone else knows about it (sure they do) and if it's a problem - since I would imagine it would wear that peice of rail out rather significantly?

I'll be honest with you, I don't know the answer to this. Which end of the station are we talking here, north or south. Either way I'm sure that there'es nothing to worry about, our P-Way department is very good. Hopefully Mark (Mushroom) will be able to give you a better answer when he's next on.

It's at the North end I think, heading towards Rawtenstall, though I'm not great with my North's and South's. :p

I'll tell you where I notice it, on Bolton Street, where the chicken wire fence is near The Trackside, which just had the wood replaced on it this weekend, when a train runs over there you'll know exactly what I mean.

Of course I wouldn't question anyone who works on the ELR as you all do a fine job but it's just been bugging me a little and you never know what might have been missed, it's a remote possibility but one nontheless.

Perhaps someone else who regularly visits knows where I mean?

Just so this is clear in my mind, are we talking between the station footbridge and Bolton Street tunnel? I'm going to have a look today anyway, as a few of us are painting the inside of a brake van at the moment, and we've got it stabled in that sort of area. P-Way will definately know about it anyway, by the sounds of it it's right outside there messroom.

Pavarossi - can you advise me please?
 

Adam, while you're here, I wonder if you could give me a bit of advice. My family have got some Australian relatives staying with them for a few weeks, & I offered to look after them for a day, which was going to be a trip to the ELR on Sunday (He is a goods train driver in Oz so I thought the steam trains might be attractive to him).

However, I've since remembered I have a christening to go to on Sunday, so it looks like Monday will now be the ELR day. I notice from the website there's a kids event on Monday (Teddy bears picnic) so I'm not sure if it's a good day to go. Would you know what services will be running and what would be the best time to get the train to Ramsbottom, was thinking of walking through the park up to Irwell Vale & getting a train back from there. But don't want to be overrun by rugrats.... (I like kids, but couldn't eat a full one.) :)

Also if you're around on Monday would be nice to say hello.

Pete

By the way it sounds like that bit of track is opposite the little hut that gets used as a model shop when you turn left at the bottom of the footbridge on the platform with the pub on it?

I think...

Pete, I've had a look into it and here's what I've come up with. The odds are that most of the trains will be full of kids. However, I'd imagine that trains heading away from Ramsbottom in the late morning through to the early afternoon may be quieter. Also, the first and last services will probably be quiet. We'll be running to our high season timetable, which I'll posta link to. The only thing is, we've got a steam shortage at the moment, so we'll almost definately only have one steam hauled train. I think we'll be running a diesel hauled service and a multiple unit as well. I hope this information helps. As much as I do enjoy meeting other forum members, I'm afraid I won't be on the ELR on Monday as I've arranged to go to Barrow Hill with some friends. Anyway, I hope you enjoy your visit.

http://east-lancs-rly.co.uk/timetable/?t=ttyellow

I know exactly the rail section in question, and agree that it does dip a lot, although I have seen worse at Manchester Piccadilly. The rails at Bury Bolton St have been there since the very beginning and are somewhat tired, they are inspected weekly by the permanent way team and must be still all right as nothing has been done to them as yet.

This weekend there may end up being no steam!, yesterday the general manager was flying backwards and forwards like a demented bee trying to sort trains for the weekend out. I'll keep people posted when I find out, they've got to tell me at some point, im guarding all 3 days this weekend, i need to know what I get to play with!

What's happened to the Jinty then Mark?

As far as im aware its still running in, this may be wrong now, they tend not to tell us the important things like that.

Do you remember where that is? I'd like to have a look when I'm next there, just out of curisoity.

This steam shortage seems to be slowly turning into a depression - especially considering the 9F has gone now too - hope it gets sorted soon. Do you guys have any plans yet? It would be nice to have some more steam locos at the ELR permanently.

I believe that the steam department is pressing on with the overall of the Crab. Ian Riley's new Black 5 and also 45337 can't be too far off I don't suppose. And dare I mention the Standard 4? The situation will sort itself out as we go into winter though, then the mainline engines based on the line won't be in such high demand elsewhere.

Thanks for that Adam, I'll let you know how we get on

Pete

Dipping Track
 

If you want to see an example of severely dipping track, I'd suggest a visit to Warrington Bank Quay.

Where northbound trains meet the bridge over the Arpley-Ditton line (this is under the platforms and runs somewhat diagonally, so you'll have to look carefully to see it until a train goes over) the track always used to drop by what looked like several inches, especially when fast freight went over at speed.

On several occasions I was convinced something would derail, yet regular drivers who must be aware of it make no effort to slow for it, so I'm assuming its considered to be within safe parameters.

DeeMersey.

At the far end of platform 8 is a good example. Just Watch when a pendolino goes over it!

As for this weekend. Locos will be: Jinty on a set of 4, tailed by the class 40 on sunday with the diner. The Hymek and 37901 will be on the other 2 sets. People better enjoy them, I spent a while on Weds shunting things around trying to dig the 37 out of a stack of locos.

I'll pop down and enjoy the 37 if it makes you feel better. :p

My mate Chris from York will be driving the Hymek, so I will be at Rawtenstall for a quck natter with him. I went to Bury today on the DMU with one of my grandsons and noticed 50015 Valiant, I did`nt know it was there have you had it there a while Mark ? she looked well. All the best.

50015 has been around for years, just in a state down the sidings, was recently refurbished and has been running since the middle of the Santa specials last year. Would it be Chris Short on the Hymek by any chance, I know he's around and has been all week, was shunting with him and Chris Guntripp on Wednesday.

Bit of news i'm hearing, but this is a BIG if.... If 71000 DoG is fixed in time, and has a successful test run on Saturday. It may be turned out on service trains on Sunday on Monday. Once again this is a BIG If and Maybe!

Hello Mark yes it is Chris Short, he is a radio ham like me and we have known each other for many years now. Thanks for the info on 50015. Do you mean that the Duke will be running on the ELR Sunday and Monday ? That would be good if it is.

I know that it's still only a maybe, but I'd love to see the Duke out and about this weekend, I've still never been a ticket inspector behind it, the only East Lancs regular I've not done.

From what i'm hearing, duke should be out in tomorrow