Macclesfield YV route works

[yv47r]

Ok a quick selection of photos showing some of the work that has been done so far on the towers just north of Macclesfield.
Ok first thing is that most of the standard height towers and those with extentions have received some additional steelwork bracing at the bases of the towers - quite noticable by the fresh galvanised steelwork. I think all of the towers right through to Bredbury tee have been done already. Looks like this maybe a new scheme to strengthen the L2 towers that are on 400kV routes - I haven't seen this mod before on my travels I don't think
L2 D towers
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/2010%2007%20Macclesfield/DSCF2111.jpg
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/2010%2007%20Macclesfield/DSCF2187.jpg
L2 D60 tower
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/2010%2007%20Macclesfield/DSCF2127.jpg

Then some general views of the newly strung insulator sets and new twin conductors and work in progress.
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/2010%2007%20Macclesfield/DSCF2106.jpg
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/2010%2007%20Macclesfield/DSCF2139.jpg
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i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/2010%2007%20Macclesfield/DSCF2175.jpg

I took loads more photos but these few give you a taste of the work that is being done. Good to be able to get close-up views of the work going on.

Cheers Paul

[pendragon]

I nipped up at lunchtime to have a look and the first stretch from Macc-Bollington looks complete. One thing struck me though - the new insulator sets are glass and have a much smaller profile than the old ones meaning that, at a distance, the pylons now look a bit lopsided.

[yv47r]

Ok the work has now spread from Macclesfield on the upgrade of the YV route and in particular the renewal of the insulators and wires on the Macclesfield to Stocksbridge 400kV circuit that is on the eastern side of the towers.

Recent work near to where I live has seen the L2 D towers YV 47R, 46, 45 and 44 reinsulated and the pulley wheels fitted to allow the existing cable to be tensioned before replacement with the new cable. YV 47A the L8 tower had up until Sunday 8th not been touched but it has now had the longer new glass insulator strings fitted. And tonight when coming home I noticed what looks like work on the L2 D60 and D30 towers heading towards the tee junction at Bredbury.

I will post some photos asap

Cheers Paul

[yv47r]

Ok folks some long overdue updates on the refurbishment. The work is progressing nicely back towards Macclesfield. All of the following photos are taken around Offerton which is to the south east of Stockport where the route crosses through the housing estate that was built in the early 1980s.

First visit on 29th July shows little sign of the works except for the scaffold towers either side of the A road
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/YV%20route%20refurbishment%20works/DSCF2260.jpg
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i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/YV%20route%20refurbishment%20works/DSCF2272.jpg

Just over a week later the work has started 8th August and the L2s have already been reinsulated.
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/YV%20route%20refurbishment%20works/DSCF2280.jpg
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/YV%20route%20refurbishment%20works/DSCF2289.jpg
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/YV%20route%20refurbishment%20works/DSCF2294.jpg
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/YV%20route%20refurbishment%20works/DSCF2297.jpg
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/YV%20route%20refurbishment%20works/DSCF2304.jpg
These are the grey ceramic insulators that were originally on my namesake tower YV47R.

Another week later and more work on D60 tower YV 51 with materials and equipment stored at the base of the tower
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/YV%20route%20refurbishment%20works/DSCF2327.jpg
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/YV%20route%20refurbishment%20works/DSCF2328.jpg
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/YV%20route%20refurbishment%20works/DSCF2329.jpg

Work in progress on the D60
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/YV%20route%20refurbishment%20works/DSCF2331.jpg
Work in progress on the D30 YV 50
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/YV%20route%20refurbishment%20works/DSCF2334.jpg

Work in progress on the D YV 49
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/YV%20route%20refurbishment%20works/DSCF2340.jpg

And more work on the next tower along D60 YV 48
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/YV%20route%20refurbishment%20works/DSCF2343.jpg

L8 D YV 47A has now received its new insulators - note the difference in length compared to the ones on the 275kV circuit.
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/YV%20route%20refurbishment%20works/DSCF2344.jpg
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/YV%20route%20refurbishment%20works/DSCF2349.jpg

Now another week has gone by 20th August. YV 51 now completed with its new insulators
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/YV%20route%20refurbishment%20works/DSCF2361.jpg

As is YV 50
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/YV%20route%20refurbishment%20works/DSCF2363.jpg

YV 48 D60 and YV 49 D towers largely complete
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/YV%20route%20refurbishment%20works/DSCF2365.jpg

And the final round-up visit sees this across the valley view of the junction with the ZZC route.

From what I could see it would appear that they are reinsulating the L8 DJT tower from the trackway mats that you can see in the fields.
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/YV%20route%20refurbishment%20works/DSCF2466.jpg

In the same order as the previous photos the final finished towers with the earthing wires still attached.
i195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/YV%20route%20refurbishment%20works/DSCF2467.jpg
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The work has now progressed up towards High Lane where the route crosses the A6 road and it will continue to Middlewood and Higher Poynton in the coming weeks.

I hope you enjoy them
Cheers Paul

[lesc]

Excellent set of photos.

Doesn't the L2 (and indeed the L8!) look like it's pushing it at 400kV as the insulators appear longer than the air gap to the next arm.

Les

[poyks]

Amazing photos!! Thanks Paul.

[yv47r]

Yes the new insulators on the L2 D and L8 Ds are I guess 3 or 4 discs longer than the originals. It is more noticable on the L8 I think.

Glad u like the photos.

Cheers Paul

[yv47r]

Updated link to Macclesfield set
s195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/2010%2007%20Macclesfield/

Updated link to YV route refurb set
s195.photobucket.com/albums/z231/paulsrailphotos/UK%20Pylons/YV%20route%20refurbishment%20works/

[caldridge]

Some of the pylons in L2 route ZF, have had new insulators installed, but I can't remember when they were done.

It hasn't been done to all of the pylons and some only have new insulators on one side.

[yv47r]

Thats not unusual to see only one side of a tower with new insulators, the work is often staggered by a year or more depending on circumstances. There would seem to be a rolling programme to eliminate the older red ceramic and brown/green glass insulators on L2 and L6 towers with the current standard glass insulators and on the L2 add additional bracing as can be seen in the towers involved in the Macclesfield to Bredbury tee YV route. And this even included the replacement L8 towers as well.

Cheers Paul