The 1.7km of slab track mentioned in the article doesn't seem to correspond to any of the TRU tunnel dimensions.
Is it by any chance at Mossley, to improve clearances for the tight bridge and lineside houses?
Slab track is doubtless measured in single track km. #7868 said Stalybridge and Scout tunnels would require track lowering. They are double track. To get the length of slab track required for them, add their lengths and double the result. It comes to just under 1.6km but maybe the slab needs to extend slightly outside the tunnels.
Photos on the Garforth page at railwayarchitecture.org.uk show the parapet was raised sometime between 1974 and 1993. The description on the Grade II Listing says that the 'raising of the parapets has been carried out sensitively in matching ashlar.'... I don't know if I agree with that, they look like concrete blocks rather than a matching stone.
Transitions between slab and ballasted track are tricky - going directly from one to the other risks a "hard spot" as the ballasted track settles a bit but the slab stays put. There might have to be some sort of transition structure to make this more gradual, which would probably sit outside the tunnel.
I remember when Southampton tunnel was slab tracked the transition sections were very obvious during installation, just outside each end of the tunnel, before they were effectively buried under the finished ballast level and shoulders. Basically there’s a wide sloping trench to retain the ballast that is gradually reducing in depth towards the tunnel.
I think we have already establised that, thanks!
Genuine question: why would a Stalybridge test train first go all the way from Longsight to Crewe, just to come back again on the same route?
Think it will be from June that the wires are used by 769 & 802s.
Has ran, using TPE 397006
