Size six

Thursday 30^th July

Three groups set off from Winchcombe yard, all heading south. So all had to follow a diversion due to the closure of the Greet Road bridge.

First to depart were Dave, Nigel and Polly. Their destination was cross drain 37E between Manor Lane, Gotherington and Bishops Cleeve. The task here were to repoint around the barrel of the cross drain on the outlet (up or Malvern side); and to install some rubble as anti-scouring material in the outlet ditch. Once completed they made their way on to Pecked Lane at Bishops Cleeve.

Anti-scour rubble placed in the outlet ditch of 37E. [Photo by Dave]

37E outlet headwall repointed around the barrel and flaunching added to aid the exit of the water. [Photo by Dave] 

Roger, Jonathan, Phil, Dee and Martin (S) were the second group to depart – this time directly to Pecked Lane. Here the job was to investigate all the cess chambers on both sides of the line between Station Road bridge and Two Hedges Road. At the site of the old station, there is only one cess drain in the old 6 foot space between the two tracks. Only a couple of chambers between Station Road bridge and Pecked Lane crossing required silt removal. South of the crossing it was a different story!

Phil, Dee, Roger and Martin(S) extracting silt.

Phil removing silt from a down side cess chamber. (PW track walkers in the background). [Photo by Martin(S)]

Andrew, Peter and Laurence were the third group to leave. Before leaving they made up the new head for milepost 17 – the number 7s are acrylic. They made their way to cross drain 31A, between JJ Farms and Prestcott Road bridges. Laurence is going to produce some detailed design drawings of the new chamber and retaining wall we are going to construct on the down (Cotswold) side; and the additions to the small headwall on the outlet on the up (Malvern) side. Hence the visit to check the measurements we took back in January – we certainly subscribe to the ‘measure twice – cut once’ method of working. Like at most locations along the line, the vegetation has grown substantially this spring and summer. Hence the first task here will be some site clearance. Once the measurements were checked, this group also joined all the others at Pecked Lane.

Somewhere in the undergrowth on the left is 31A inlet!

The damp patch in the 31A exit ditch indicates that there has been some recent flow.

The combined team at Pecked Lane continued with the silt removal from the cess drain chambers south of the crossing. Nigel and Dave used a brush cutter to clear growth from around the up side chambers. Andrew and Jonathan removed a section of the metal cage protecting the inlet of culvert 39A. This allowed Jonathan to climb down into it (following the agreed confined spaces method of working) to inspect the inside of the ‘bore’. There was a considerable amount of silt just inside the entrance; which was causing the level of water to be above the overflow which runs into the down side cess. Hence the reason why we are seeing a lot of water flowing south in that cess, and why there was a lot of silt in the cess chambers. We were able to remove some of the silt and other debris from the inside of the culvert. This reduced the flow into the cess. We will come back later to undertake further removal.

Roger, Jonathan, Laurence and Dee investigate the silt and water flow in the down cess chamber adjacent to 39A. (I'm not sure to whom the accusing pointed finger belongs!)

Another day when working in a culvert in the shade was the coolest place to be. Jonathan investigating 39A.

Inside 39A, using tracer dye to see where and how the water flows. The overflow into the down side cess is visible top left. [Photo by Jonathan]

Removing the silt from the inlet of 39A. [Photo by Jonathan]

Polly trimming the brambles around the 39A inlet.

Just like last week, the team recovered some more ‘foreign objects’ from the down side cess. Today it was one shoe (size 6) and some clothing – only now suitable for the bin.

Only two footballs found today. [Photo by Dave]

Nigel, Polly and Dave pause vegetation clearance around an up side cess chamber to wave to passengers on a passing up train.

A much cleaner task was fitting the new replacement head for mile post 17; undertaken by Nigel, Peter and Dave.

The new milepost 17. Originally this would have been on the up platform at Bishops Cleeve station, you can just see a cess chamber in the old six foot at the right. [Photo by Dave] 

Much to the delight of some of the team, both trains today were hauled by green diesels. Resident green class 37 D6948 was on train 1, whilst visiting Hymek (class 35) D7018 was on train 2. The later is approaching Pecked Lane crossing having just passed under Two Hedges Road.

At Winchcombe. Was the choice of 'Lime Green' title for the fire risk all diesel timetable influenced by the two tone livery of the Hymek?

Wildlife report: The most audible item was a couple of very loud gulls over the yard a Winchcombe first thing in the morning. Perhaps these are same ones which make a racket at Bishops Cleeve at lunchtime. Otherwise not a great deal of unusual or new sightings; some wasps and hornets, a domestic cat by Two Hedges Road and lots of spiders in culvert 39A. Quite a lot more blackberries are ripening, so too are some elderberries.

Handbags and glad-rags

Thursday 23^rd July

We took advantage of the day before the Diesel Gala having no scheduled passenger trains to obtain a line block to enable us to work safely and easily with equipment near the line at Bishops Cleeve. As there was some shunting movements in the afternoon, we had to return the long section Toddington to Cheltenham annets key just after lunch. Many thanks to the operations team and to the signalers for arranging this at short notice.

Triple safety - stop boards at Pecked Lane crossing in addition to signal WE33 (Winchcombe Down Starting) having a collar and we were in possession of the Toddington to Cheltenham annets key (the single line token).

The main reason for the line block was to setup our 110v submersible pump in one of the flooded down (Cotswold) side cess chambers between Pecked Lane crossing and Two Hedges Road. Both the cables from generator (on the LWB Transit truck) and the outlet hose crossed the line – something not possible when trains are running. Once the blocked chamber was pumped out, Nigel, Martin (J), Martin (S), Peter (D) and Peter (Chief Civil Engineer) used a variety of techniques and tools to unblock the cess drain. The blockage was a schoolbag and a pair of shoes – probably illicitly obtained from a local school student, valuables removed and then evidence hidden. The down side cess is flowing steadily here; initial investigations seem to indicate a leak from culvert 39A.

Sorting out the pump for the full cess chamber.

Using a small usb camera attached to a phone to see what is in the pipe.

School bag and shoes removed from the cess drain. [Photo by Dave]

Andrew, Stuart, and Martin (S) worked on the roadside inlet manhole of syphon culvert 39B adjacent to Two Hedges Road bridge. The task here was to use grout and mortar to seal the joins in the bottom block course of the manhole. During wet weather (remember that!) this manhole was leaking into the cutting side by the wing wall of the bridge. There was just a trickle of water flowing through today. The bottom of the manhole was probably one of the coolest places to work.

Some of the joins in the bottom of the 39B inlet before grouting/pointing...

... and after.

Another ‘need a dry day’ task was at the famous Bonsai World inlet stream manhole on the down side crest – this runs to cross drain 40B. Roger, Dave, and Phil were the team hear. This also involved working in the manhole, but there was no flowing water here. The task was to grout around the 600mm diameter twinwall exit pipe. Hopefully this will cure the leaks that run down the cutting side to the cess here. We will have to wait for some significant rain to test it.

Dave enters the Bonsai World inlet manhole. (We filed in three confined spaces work forms today!)

Grouting around the exit pipe of the Bonsai World inlet manhole. [Photo by Dave]

Grouting around the exit pipe of the Bonsai World inlet manhole. [Photo by Dave]

After lunch Roger spoke to some of the team members who missed his session on Hand-Arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) earlier in the month. The rest of the team undertook some vegetation clearance of railway land roadside on Two Hedges Road. This was made possible by temporary traffic lights reducing the carriage to single alternative direction; and by agreement with the road works foreman.

Roadside verge cleared at Two Hedges Road. [Photo by Dave]

In his role as company road vehicle mechanic, Jonathan spent most of the day at Winchcombe. The main task was to coordinate a replacement tyre for the while Ford Ranger, as this had suffered a major puncher the day before.

Wildlife report:  Again lots of insects. The most interesting was a blue butterfly, probably a Common Blue, but its very small size led us to wonder whether it was the much rarer Small Blue (Cupido minimus).

Common Blue or Small Blue? [Photo by Dave]

Friday 24^th July

Drainage team member Ian helped man the Railway Trust stand at the Welland Steam and Country Rally. A spectacular event, with
137 traction engines, steam rollers, showman’s engines, crane engines, steam wagons and steam cars
40 miniature steam engines
4 fairground organs
1 rail mounted steam crane
1 standard gauge steam loco (Kerr, Stuart 4388 of 1926 from the Foxfield Railway)
100 vintage tractors
191 Field Marshall tractors (and derivatives)
208 veteran, vintage and classic cars
191 historic commercial vehicles
110 stationary engines
133 classic motor cycles
45 historic pedal cycles
146 historic military vehicles including 4 tanks

Just a few of the Field Marshall tractors.

 

The Heavy Haulage Hill.

Two large trenching machines at work in the Living History field. Perhaps a little too big for use on our crest ditches.

A steam powered rail mounted Land Rover. The team's chief engineer would like this as our inspection vehicle.

Kerr, Stuart 4388 of 1926 from the Foxfield Railway

Wet and dry

Thursday 16^th July

Today’s score was not 2-1, but 29-11. Maximum temperature 29C with 11 team members in attendance.

Jonathan, Phil, Dee, and Martin [S] continued with vegetation clearance on the down (Cotswold) side of the River Isbourne, that is up stream of the bridge. Most of the vegetation removed was Himalayan balsam. Martin [J] initially helped with some brush cutting around the safety rails on the bridge parapet. He then joined Roger at Working Lane. The plan was to brush cut around the ‘No trespassing’ signs adjacent to the Royal Oak pub. However, the new pub garden fencing and height of vegetation is a better deterrent to the trespassers.

A clear passage for the low mileage down side ditch to flow into the river. [Photo by Jonathan]

Dee clearing the foot of the wing wall safety rails. [Photo by Martin (S)]

Down side Isbourne access steps all cleared.  [Photo by Martin (S)]

On the 'to do' list is clearing the down side low mileage ditch - like a lot of places this year's growth is enormous. [Photo by Jonathan]

Nigel, Peter and John headed to Manor Lane with our drain rods to rod out cross drains 37A, 37B and 37E. They also took lifting straps to recover the ‘6-foot’ cess chamber lid at Bishops Cleeve.

All clear through 37F. [Photo by John]

Dave and Andrew travelled to Two Hedges Road. Taking advantage of the dry weather, they investigated the inside of the now famous Bonsai World inlet of cross drain 40B. With only an inch of water in the manhole and nothing flowing through it, they were able to identity cracks around the 2 foot diameter twin wall exit pipe. If the weather stays dry, we should be able to attempt a repair next week with some grout.

Crack around the exit pipe of the Bonsai World inlet.

Nothing flowing into the down cess at the Bonsai World inlet.

Next was a check on the water levels in the road inlet to syphon cross drain 39B, on the down side just on the low mileage side of Two Hedges Road bridge (40) – well actually adjacent to the footbridge 39Z. This chamber also has a leak. Despite the dry weather, there was a dribble of water flowing trough it.

39B roadside inlet manhole - some silt needs clearing and then we can plug the leak in the base.

The leak eventually runs into the down side cess; so Dave and Andrew checked that too. Surprisingly the cess was flowing well – but from where. Checking the upstream chambers (back towards Pecked Lane); they discovered a chamber almost full of water.

Dave investigates one of the filled down side cess chambers.

So hence a major obstruction in between. So Nigel, Peter and John came down with the drain rods, and with help from the Railway’s Chief Civil Engineer, Peter Brown, six of us attempted to remove the obstruction. This was only partially successful, we managed to get the water flowing better and the level in the chamber went down by several inches. But as it was then well past lunchtime, and the afternoon heat was increasing, we decided to leave the full unblocking to next week. So we are hoping that there is no rain in the next seven days, so we can undertake all three tasks.

The rodding team take a break as an up train hauled by 24081 (D5081) passes under Two Hedges Road Bridge.

Back at Winchcombe, we met with another new recruit to the team, Laurence. So the team size is now up to fifteen. One member jokingly suggested that we need a longer railway to look after!

Wildlife report: Very much an insect day. Inside the Bonsai World chamber we found many peacock butterflies sheltering from the sun – initially we thought they were moths. Lots of other butterflies and insects including hover flies flitting around, plus several water boatman (Corixidae) in the cess chambers. The group at the River Isbourne reported brown trout. Plus several of us found some ripe blackberries - ripe enough to eat!

Peacock butterfly. [Photo by Dave]

Heat waves two and three

The combination of the June heatwave and various team members holidays resulted in a significant drop in productivity of the team during June and the early part of July.

Thursday 18th June

Some of the team took the opportunity to visit the RAIL Live industry exhibition at Porterbrook’s Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre. Others attended a presentation by the team from Birmingham University who are trialling a bridge strike monitoring system on the B4632 Evesham Rd. Bridge at  Broadway (BU01). One very keen team member attended both.

Thursday 25th June

With the whole railway temporally closed (no passenger services running on 23rd, 24th or 25th June) due to the extreme heat, we cancelled our planned work. 

Thursday 2nd July

The day started off with Roger talking to the team about Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). One day in the autumn we will monitor the teams use of all toos which give rise to HAVS. This is when brushcutting and hedge trimming are in full swing, so we can determine how each operative’s usage time matches up against the maximum safe daily time.

Peter and Phil went up to inspect the trackbed north of Broadway Station. The drainage from the station runs northwards along both sides of the former trackbed before entering a stream north of the bypass.

One of the cess chambers on the disused trackbed - in surprisingly good condition. [Photo by Peter]

Dee and Jonathan went to the River Isbourne to clear along the banks, the recently reinstated ditch and other outlets into the river. 

Martin [J], Nigel, Polly and Dave headed to Manor Lane. While Martin and Dave prepared and painted the parapet railings at bridges 37 and 38; Nigel and Polly replaced the coping stone at bridge 37 and fitted the cross bar to the chamber marker uprights at culvert 37D up side.

Martin [J] preparing parapet railing at bridge 37. [Photo by Dave]

Replaced coping stone on bridge 37. [Photo by Dave]

Painted parapet railings on bridge 38. [Photo by Dave]

After lunch, the group planted the replacement bridge rail upright for mile post 17, this is at the site of the old Bishops Cleeve station. At the same location on the up side, they replaced the paving slab being used as a chamber lid with a metal grid cover. They discovered what had happened to the proper lid: it is in the bottom of the chamber! The chamber is quite small but also deep so retrieving the lid will be a bit of a challenge, but at a later date we will manage it with judicious use of a couple of straps.

Installing the bridge rail upright for mile post 17 at Bishops Cleeve. [Photo by Dave]

Thursday 9th July

Another heat wave, so another day when we  cancelled our planned work. (Strictly postponed it to next week - when the team leader is back from his annual expedition to undertake practical experiments in fluid dynamics on the canals of England and in some canal side establishments.)

From our Northern Correspondent 

The Millennium Walkway over the River Goyt at New Mills. The large retaining wall top left is for the Hope Valley Railway line just east of New Mill Central Station.

Along side the trackbed of the former Peak Forest tramway was this fine specimen of a Common Spotted Orchid, (Dactylorhiza fuchsii).