Jungle bashing

Thursday 17^th July

A return to a normal size work force of  nine today.

Jonathan, Polly and Peter travelled to Pecked Lane crossing at Bishops Cleeve. The main task was to fit mesh over the grids covering the down side entry of culvert 39A. This is to prevent some anti social behaviour by some users of the crossing who regularly toss filled dog poo bags into the culvert.

Wire mesh added on the top of the metal grids of culvert 39A inlet.

Whilst attending to this, they noted that just inside the down side entry, there is a large accumulation of silt which is causing the flow of water to enter the down side cess. Removing the metal inspection lid on the up side exit confirmed that no water is actually flowing through the culvert. To gain access to remove the silt will require removal of the metal grids on the down side inlet. We have provisionally planned for this next week.

The bar of silt is just visible immediately under the inlet entry on the down side of 38A.

From above.

Whilst at Pecked Lane, they checked on three items on the defect register concerning fencing – one had already been rectified. Also Polly added more mortar to the cracks in the down side wall of the crossing approach ramp. Obviously the continuing dry weather is causing the ground to shrink further. Maybe some attention to this structure, combined with a facing of blue engineering bricks will be one of our future projects.

More repointing on Pecked Lane crossing down side access ramp. 

The other six attendees (Roger, Ian, Andrew. Nigel, Dave, Martin) headed to the Willow Drive mobile home park at Woodmancote. One of the residents there had grated us permission to access the down side of the line through his garden, even removing the larch lap panels from his fence to facilitate this. This enabled us to safely and comfortably access the inlet of culvert 38A and the toe ditch that runs either side of it. This was like a jungle. First we removed a large quantity of bramble and ivy covering the original fence line by the resident’s garden. Dave and Nigel then proceeded in the Cheltenham direction, clearing the toe ditch up to the point where it ends.

Dave and Nigel's handiwork on the high mileage end of the ditch. A month ago this was impenetrable. 

Clearing the vegetation from the ditch reveals a lot of other debris, including old concrete fence posts that will have to be removed later

In places the land outside the railway boundary has been raised, but the ditch is now undercutting that. Our current thoughts are to pipe some of the sections of this ditch.

They also cleared around the down side headwall of culvert 38A. Ian and Roger headed in the opposite direction, clearing the ditch back to the point where our colleagues from Lineside Clearance had reached a few weeks ago. Meanwhile Martin and Andrew, our chain saw operators, tacked some of the larger branches around the stream.

Martin gets to grip with some of the thicker ivy.

The continuing dry spell was a bonus, the 38A stream was just a trickle and the toe ditch was just damp in places. However the hot humid weather made for uncomfortable work whilst wearing full brush cutting or chain sawing PPE. Fortunately for most of the day the sun was not shining.

In this hot weather, frequent breaks are essential. (L to R: Ian, Roger, Martin, Nigel, Dave)

Jonathan, Polly and Peter joined the team at Willow Drive at lunchtime. They loaded the tipper transit with the larger items of debris, tree trunks, fence posts and rails and several lengths of wire from the original GWR post and wire fencing. Broken wire is a hazard to brush cutters. Finally we cleared the area on the down side embankment above the culvert bore. This prevents any roots from vegetation penetrating the brick arch. Special mention to Roger and Ian who skilfully handled brush cutters on this very steep embankment.

Roger clearing from the trackside down the embankment - immediately prior to discovering the wasps nest.

Ian clearing up the embankment, watched by others in the group from the resident's garden.

The original line of the boundary fence is apparent from the remaining GWR post now at angle.

At the end of the day, the transformation was very noticeable. However, we will need some further visits here to fully mulch the vegetation we cut today; to remove some more large branches and saplings; also to clear some obstructions in the toe ditch on the low mileage side of the culvert and to clear along the boundary fence line up to Station Road Bridge. Also back towards the exit of cross drain 37G near footpath underbridge 38 is another length of toe ditch requiring vegetation cutting. This will have to wait until a treated patch of Japanese Knot Weed has finally died off and the contaminated stems removed.

Near the 37G outlet the marked off section with treated Japanese Knot weed on the other side of the ditch

End of day - looking in the low mileage direction from culvert 38A inlet.

Wildlife report: As ever at Bishops Cleeve, some of the resident black headed gulls were noted circling over head at lunchtime. A lone red kite swooped low over the embankment, obviously spotting some small mammals we have disturbed. In the ditch we noted several large dragonflies – but less welcome were some angry wasps who are nesting on the embankment. Our helpful resident informed us that there is a family of foxes living under an empty home of the site; and he often spots a lone badger in the same spot.

When the Cat is Away

Over the past few weeks the Drainage team leader and blog writer has been away undertaking a practical study of applied fluid dynamics, mainly from a narrowboat on the canals of the East Midlands but also in one or two waterside refreshment establishments. Hence the pause in weekly blog updates. Thanks to other team members for these notes and photos.

Thursday 19^th June

The weather certainly curtailed our activities today. Flaming June had arrived at long last! Attending were Nigel, Peter, Polly, Roger and Dave. We inspected both sides at syphon culvert 7A. Polly and Nigel then proceeded to carry out minor repairs to the upside outlet.

Polly and Nigel working on 7A outlet. [Photo by Dave]

 

Result - much tidier. [Photo by Dave]

The down side structure is much more problematic. The bank behind the structure is gradually moving and has caused the top 7 or so courses of the brickwork of the high mileage side wall to shift inwards. This will require a rebuild in the not too distant future.

We also investigated along the roadside fence line on the low mileage down side at Stanton bridge 10, with access for a mini-digger in mind. We established that currently this section of fence has no removable section, and discussed where and how to install such a section.

At this point, the heat became overwhelming and we returned to Winchcombe for a rail based tour of culverts going south behind 2807.

Wildlife report: demonstrating that it's summer time and the living is easy were several red kites and buzzards effortlessly idling away their time on the thermals. Also a partridge and her (unlikely to be his?) many tiny offspring running along the empty side of the trackbed and slowing our reversing from Stanton Yard to culvert 7A.

Field of flax adjacent to the upside by Stanton Road Bridge (10). [Photo by Dave]

Thursday 26^th June

Attending were Ian, Jonathan, Peter, Polly and Dave. The main focus was the roadside fence on the low-mileage down side of bridge 10 (Stanton Road bridge). We cleared a good length of the fence line of vegetation before removing the fence rails at this cleared section. This left two exposed fence posts, one of which (the one further from the track) is easily removable, while the other will require a little more encouragement. We lightly nailed a couple of rails back across the exposed posts to form a temporary barrier, easily removable when access for the digger is required. The rest of the removed rails were placed to the side of the exposed area, invisible from the road, for reattachment after the ditch work is completed.

Working roadside rather than trackside on bridge 8 at Stanton. Jonathan, Ian, Roger and Polly in action. [Photo by Dave]

Peter and Jonathan get to grips with a fence post. [Photo by Dave]

Jonathan and Polly check the temporary access fence. [Photo by Dave]

The vegetation and overhanging branches were cut back for some distance northward along the crest, in preparation for the digger to excavate the crest ditch.

Looking along the crest of the downside cutting to Stanton Road. [Photo by Dave]

We found one field drain along the cutting between bridge 10 and the aqueduct, clearly marked by a post and blue-marked sleeper at rail length 8. There was no clear sign of a French drain taking the outflow down to the cess and, as the drain emerges high up on the cutting, the digging of a ditch along the crest might well cut into this field drain anyway.

Blue dots on the sleeper mark where land drains enter the cutting. [Photo by Dave]

We returned to syphon culvert 7A with the intention of adding dye to the inlet chamber and investigating where the flow reappears as this does not seem to be the outlet chamber. The consensus was, however, that the volume of water passing through the inlet chamber was so small as to make the exercise impractical. We will have to wait until rain re-establishes a better flow into the culvert.

Finally, we cut back some of the vegetation around the entrance to Stanton Yard.

Thursday 3^rd July

A day spent clearing access to and the inlets and outlets of the larger culverts that are on the programme for external detailed examination later in the year.

First was culvert 3B near Peasbrook Farm. A surprising amount of water flowing here. Note whole Himalayan balsam plant pulled out on down side and left to dry on top of head wall.

3B downside entry - an easy one to deal with. [Photo by Dave]

 

 

Polly is almost lost in the vegetation alongside the 3b upside exit. [Photo by Dave]

The low water level allowed access to the bottom of the exit stream. [Photo by Dave]

Next was culvert 4A.

4A downside inlet from above. [Photo by Dave]

Not a drop of water entering 4A. [Photo by Dave]

Looking through the bore of 4A. [Photo by Dave]

Finally culvert 5C.

Just a slight flow into 5C. [Photo by Dave]

Thursday 10^th July

With most of the team away on holiday or out for other reasons, there was no normal Drainage work today. However, Jonathan met with Adrian Clements from Tewkesbury Borough Council and Sarah Clayton our Infrastructure Manger to discuss the problems with debris and other rubbish entering culvert 39A at Pecked Lane, Bishops Cleeve. This carries the stream that runs through Honeybourne Meadow. Discarded rubbish can block the mesh on the entry; whilst larger items can get stuck in the exit where it splits into two pipes which emerge alongside Pecked Lane.

Still Not Flaming June!

Thursday 12^th June

The second working day in a row where rain has affected our plans! With some of the odd jobs we planned to attend to between Gotherington and Bishops Cleeve postponed for a second week.

Until we install proper permanent location marker posts, we use blue marker paint to denote the position of the cross drains and culverts. But after a few months the rain washes it away! [Photo by Jonathan]

Before the heavy rains (it was more than a shower) set in at lunchtime, the team attended to several odd jobs south of Two Hedges Road. This included measuring at cross drains 40B and 41A for safety rails; repointing on the up side exit chamber of cross drain 41B and the down side inlet chamber of cross drain 41A. Also at 40B we added a barrow load of stone as scour prevention to the outlet chamber.

Polly with a bucket of mortar for repointing down side of 41A. [Photo by Jonathan]

Another small repointing job attended to was a crack in the down side wall of the footpath approach at Pecked Lane crossing.

Polly made quick work of repointing the crack in the footpath retaining wall at Pecked Lane crossing.

The Bishops Cleeve area received some heavy thunderstorms over the previous weekend, several roads, including Church Street, we flooded. So we checked all the water courses between cross drains 37F and 41B – nothing untoward noted. However, it is very apparent that the recent rain has cause the vegetation to rapidly grow; we are going to have a lot of clearance work in the autumn to restore access.

Even after the heavy showers in the past few days, some watercourses are still bone dry. This is cross drain 41B.

Before declaring the rain to heavy to continue with repointing and concrete repairs, we placed another barrow load of stone as scour prevention into the outlet stream of cross drain 37F.

The seven members of the team who got rather wet were John, Peter, Andrew, Nigel, Dave, Jonathan and Polly.

Wildlife report: Before the rain stated, we watched an impressive ariel ballet from gulls, red kites, buzzards and crows. North of Station Road Bridge we has a quick glimpse of a deer – probably a muntjac. On the floral side, we noted quite lot of wild roses in bloom.

Not flaming June!

Thursday 5th June

Our first wet working day for over two months. Fortunately the heavy shows coincided with morning coffee break and lunchtime.

Two teams, both starting work at Pecked Lane, Bishops Cleeve.

Jonathan, Martin and Peter formed the first team. Their first task was to clear the debris that had accumulated inside culvert 39A; where it splits into two pipes almost at the railway boundary on the up (Malvern) side. They also cleared the trash screen on the down (Cotswold) side inlet in Honeybourne Meadow.

Checking for gases in the manhole above the split of culvert 39A. This is part of the confined spaces entry procedure we follow. The build up of debris below is very obvious. [Photo by Jonathan]

Debris removed - revealing the start of the twin pipes where sticks get caught.  [Photo by Jonathan]

Cleared trash screen on the inlet of 39A right under the boundary fence. [Photo by Jonathan]

Then it was a trip down to Elliots to collect a tonne of building sand. An indirect journey back was lineside, which enabled stops for attend to silt clearance at cross drains 37E, 37D, 36B and finally 36A at Manor Lane. Ironically all these clearance tasks were on our ‘dry day’ list! However, the recent rains so far have not significantly increased the flow and, more importantly, the depth of water in these watercourses.

Martin and Peter clearing silt from the down (Cotswold) side inlet of cross drain 36B.  [Photo by Jonathan]

After lunch, the bag of sand was unloaded in Winchcombe Yard using the telehandler in Jonathan’s capable hands.

Meanwhile, the larger team (Nigel, Dave, Polly, Andrew, Stuart, Roger) headed south of Two Hedges Road to the point where the cutting becomes an embankment. The task here was to raise the height of two up side cess chambers to make them more visible; and to replace broken concrete lids with blue mesh. For both chambers we used double (220mm) height GRP chamber rings. One chamber is a standard cess chamber; but the other is where a foul water pipe passes under the railway, effectively cutting through the cess drains on both sides. Probably this chamber and the corresponding one on the down side were built whilst the railway was closed. They are a non standard size. So this meant some of the team returning to Winchcombe to collect two reinforced concrete lintels and a few bricks on which to sit the GRP ring. This delay, together with the heavy rain shower at lunchtime, meant the rebuild took a bit longer than expected. Consequently we postponed attending to some other small tasks between Bishops Cleeve and Gotherington. Typically, arrival back at Winchcombe coincided with the rain stopping. So at least unloading the vehicles, including storing away the reusable concrete lids and concrete chamber ring, took place in the dry.

GRP ring on the standard cess chamber (left); the bigger chamber with the foul water pipe running through it on the right.

Polly completes the reduction base for the GRP ring on the odd sized chamber.

Job complete - chambers proud of the ground and with visible blue mesh covers.

Wildlife report: The headline item today was finding a slow worm south of Two Hedges Road. Otherwise most animal and bird life was sensibly sheltering from the rain.

Slow worm.

 

 

 

Wednesday 4th June

Attendance at a meeting at Toddington coincided with the train preparations. The two GWR 2-8-0s make a very pleasing sight when side by side.

 

A good day for washing

Thursday 29^th May

Warm, sunny and with a strong south westerly breeze, ideal conditions for drying washing outside – and also almost ideal conditions for working outside.

The target location for today’s team of eight was either side Little Buckland bridge.

The first tasks were placing some scour prevention rocks in the bed of the outlet streams of culverts 3B and 4A. Next, taking advantage of the continuing spell of dry weather; two of the team checked the outlet manhole of cross drain 3A, removing the last little bit of silt.

4A outlet - the stones we added in the bed are there (honest!).

Still a small flow off the adjoining fields into the toe ditch/pipe and then into 4A inlet. [Photo by Jonathan]

A ‘dry day’ task that we were not able to undertake was some minor repointing of the outlet headwall of culvert 3B. Whilst the water level was low; the amount of vegetation growing on the steep sides of the outlet channel prevented safe access. We will have to devise a safe way of clearing all of this before proceeding.

A deep and steep drop to the outlet of 3B.

The main task for the day was in the toe ditch on the down (Cotswold) side on the low mileage side of culvert 4A. Two brush cutters and one hedge trimmer were put to action to clear access from the lineside and then along the length of the ditch. There are two chambers in this ditch on the low mileage side of the culvert, these are where run offs from the adjoining field enter. The ditch is piped between the second chamber and the inlet of 4B. One section of pipe was missing; so we repaired this with a length of plastic twinwall, neatly cut to fit into the existing pipe and the adjacent chamber. We also cleared out both chambers and the inlet of 4A. Most of the material from the chambers was badger bedding – not surprising as there is a large active badger sett in the side of the embankment. Worryingly there are also signs of badger excavations on the up (Malvern) side too.

The gap in the toe ditch pipe filled with a length of twinwall.

One of the entrances to the badger sett on the down side.

Continuing with our programme of installing safety markers for headwalls, we measured up the headwalls of 3A, 3B, 4A, 5A, 5B and 5C. 5C is over half way on to Laverton Meadow; so that was quite a long work. However, this did give us the chance to inspect all the drainage and fencing improvements made by our neighbour at Archer Farm. This will have sorted out the long standing problem of pooling water during the wet seasons in parts of the down side toe ditch.

Cross drain 5B inlet chamber in the down side toe ditch along side Archer Farm, reconfigured with a new overflow pipe from the farm's pond.

What a difference - the reinstated toe ditch and sheep proof fence near 5B. [Photo by Jonathan]

Almost the same spot back in October last year before work commenced.

For the record the team today (in no particular order!) was Peter, Nigel, Roger, Polly, Dave, Martin, Andrew, Jonathan.

Wildlife report: The interesting observations were early in the day – we found both a frog and toad in the yard at Winchcombe whilst loading materials. Near Peasbrook we spotted more roe deer; and several rabbits. Plenty of insects of a multitude of species – including some ladybirds. Taking advantage of the abundance of flying inserts were several swifts.

Gala overtime

Like many GWSR volunteers, several members of the Drainage team also help out with other teams and departments. This is especially true with Special Events. For the 2025 Cotswold Festival of Steam (‘Spring Gala’) four of the team were assisting. Roger spent all three days manning the First Response Team's mobile unit; Jonathan was on crossing duty at Winchcombe; Andrew put in a turn as good train chaperone; and Ian helped prepare 76077 for display in the steam shed at Toddington.

Riding a freight train south of Cheltenham Racecourse was an unusual opportunity to inspect the cess drains without a long walk from the station.

 

 

 

 

Looking almost like a complete loco, 76077 in the steam shed at Toddington.