Not so famous five

Thursday 21^st May

Just five of the team attending today – Polly, Martin (S), Martin (J), Jonathan and Andrew. All were working at the now repaired slip site between Gotherington and Bishops Cleeve.

Despite the small size of the team, we accomplished quite a number of tasks.

Polly worked on raising the final exit chamber of cross drain 37D. This involved a change of plan. We were originally going to use concrete blocks. However, those we earmarked had disappeared from Winchcombe Yard over the last week. So instead we used some reclaimed imperial bricks. The chamber needs raising here as the slip repair has raised the level of the ground. Also on the bricking tasks was the repair to the coping of the headwalls at either end of the 37D outlet ditch. We installed some marker posts by the inlet headwall of the exit bore – no excuse for hitting this with robot flails or other machinery now.

Polly starting the brick laying on the 37D final exit chamber. [Photo by Martin(S)]

37D exit bore inlet headwall with marker posts in place, two bull nose coping bricks ready for replacement.

37D final exit chamber, first course complete and second course on the embankment toe started. Blue mesh cover temporarily positioned at right angles to final fitting. One of the old thick heavy concrete lids in the foreground - used as a slop board.

Martin (J) and Martin (S) completed the clearing of the down (Cotswold) side toe ditch which runs back from the 37D inlet to the foot crossing. This enables us to closely monitor any build up of water here; and to check the inlet to the pipe that runs under the foot path to the crossing.

Martin (S) racking out the down side toe ditch.

In the other direction Martin (J) doing the same, before getting the hedge trimmer to complete the clearance up to the foot crossing.

On the other side (up or Malvern), Jonathan and Andrew completed clearing the outlet ditch of cross drain 37C. This is outside the railway boundary, this work was undertaken with the land owner’s permission. Some high spots in the ditch were removed; so we should not now get any pooling water in the wetter months. Also we now can fully examine the discharge end of the 37C outlet pipe.

Jonathan works on the 37C outlet ditch.

An interesting discovery was a small brick structure; just two bricks wide mostly buried in the railway side bank of the ditch. Further digging and demolition revealed this was a small headwall on the end of a length of small diameter SGP pipe. There was a metal clip embedded in the end of the pipe. The depth, location and orientation of the pipe does not suggest an embankment toe drain. So this is a bit of a puzzle. As we removed a telegraph pole stay from the ditch, it may have some connection with that.

The mystery brick structure before excavation and demolition...

... and after, revealing the end of the SGP pipe with a metal clip.

Finally we installed another replacement fence post on the up side of the footpath by the crossing.

Wildlife report: We had a continuous serenade from Chiffchaffs in the hedges – not the most melodic birdsong. On our way back near Manor Lane we spotted some yellow hammers. The adjacent field on the down side was aglow with buttercups, whilst along the top of the embankment there are lots of tall white daisies. By the footpath we noted Ocimum basilicum, which has many common names – Common basil, Great Basil, Sweet basil, Saint-joseph's-wort. Green shots are appearing in the top soil covered areas of the slip repair, but nothing as yet in the compacted stone sections.

Basil!

J 

Post slip

Thursday 14^th May

A decidedly chilly day, the temperature being more like March than May. Luckily we managed to avoid all the heavy showers.

The ten team members in attendance split into two groups.

Roger, Stuart and Martin (J) first headed to the filled in bridge 41 between Two Hedges Road and Kayte Lane. The task was to put a second coat of paint on the safety marker railings, the ones made from old steam loco boiler tubes.

Roger illustrating why safety marker rails are required at the filled in bridge 41. [Photo by Martin (J)]

On the way back to the access at Pecked Lane, then check on the infamous ‘Bonsai World’ down side crest inlet. The stream was not running – so if it stays that way we might be able to undertake a good internal inspection of the circular manhole next week.

Where we suspect the manhole is leaking is around the exit pipe. [Photo by Martin (J)]

The collection of footballs removed from the line at Bishops Cleeve. [Photo by Martin (J)]

 

Then it was on to Manor Lane, to fit the new head for milepost 16. Finally back to Winchcombe to progress the manufacture of new milepost heads; they completed that for 15¾ and commenced on another destined for the Laverton to Broadway section.

Mp 16 - refurbishment complete. [Photo by Martin (J)]

Meanwhile, the group of seven, Jonathan, Dave, Polly, Martin (S), Peter, Ian and Andrew, made their way to the site of the now repaired slip by the foot crossing between Gotherington and Bishops Cleeve. (See the Gotherington Slip Repairs - Week 4 post on the Civil Engineering blog). The tasks here were to repair the fence by the footpath on the up (Malvern) side of the line. Dave and Ian cleared the brambles from around the old fence. Jonathan operated the auger this week to drill out four new post holes. Only one stone and a few roots were encountered, so the auger behaved much better than last week. Polly took charge of the woodwork repair and the installation of the new posts.

Holes drilled for the new fence posts.

Repaired horizontal at the foot crossing - slip site in background.

Repaired fence - apart from one missing new post. That is on the list for next week.

Peter and Martin (S) used the drain rods to ensure that the bore of cross drain 37D was clear – this tends to get obstructed with straw and other animal bedding it does not carry a great deal of water in the summer. Dave and Ian brush cut the ditch leading to the outlet chamber. All four then combined to clear out the outlet chamber and the short bore leading to it. An attempt to rod the pipe which runs under the boundary fence meat with solid resistance after a foot or so. Taking a photo with a phone revealed why. There is a small grill here where the exit pipe abuts a smaller diameter field drain in the adjoining land. We will have to ensure that this is regularly checked for obstructions.

Peter and Martin (S) clearing the 37D outlet. The slip repair ends just to the left (low mileage). [Photo by Dave]

Martin (S) clears the grill on the inlet to the short exit bore of 37D. [Photo by Dave]

The surprise find, a grill inside the exit pipe of 37D. [Photo by Dave]

As part of the slip repair, our contractors have installed two new 150mm perforated twin wall pipes which drain the embankment into the outlet ditch of 37D. We are going to install a small new headwall to protect the downstream end of these, so Andrew measured up the dimensions. Also measured was the exit chamber of 37D, as this now requires raising by two block courses. The repair has altered the profile of the up side embankment, so our plan to install a piped toe ditch now looks to be unnecessary,. So aided by Martin (S) and Peter, Andrew also investigated the possibility of installing French drains or transverse pipes instead.

After lunch, Jonathan and Polly undertook some clearance of the ditch that takes the outflow of cross drain 37C. This is outside of our boundary, so the work was with permission of the landowner. This removed quite a sizeable obstruction, we have often noted pooling water here during the wetter months. The others turned their attention to the low mileage down (Cotswold) side toe ditch that leads to cross drain 37D. As this was last fully cleared a few years ago, this was a significant task. With the exception of a tree that will require chain sawing, they managed to clear about three quarters of the length back to the foot crossing.

The tree that will need removing. Peter and Dave busy clearing beyond it.

Wildlife report: Plenty of bird life at Gotherington. Today we noted, robins, black birds, gulls, chiffchaffs, great tits, long tail tits, magpies and pheasants. Also heard, were skylarks. At lunchtime a kestrel hovered low over our work site, seeking out any rodents. On our way back we spotted a couple of squirrels. From a vegetation point of view, it is going to be interesting to observe how quickly nature covers over the slip repair site.

There she blows!

Thursday 7th May

Today, six of the team reported for duty on a warm, sunny day.

A big treat at lunchtime was the sight of Stanway Fountain being powered up - such a fine sight!  We all met up at the new drainage system at the top of the embankment at the Stowe Road. over-bridge at Toddington, hence the view of Stanway.  Fencing in the system was the aim of the day and this meant nine upright posts and four (GWR style) horizontal bars screwed to the posts.  Polly was our expert alignment operative, with his extensive building experience and his insistence upon all things being in line and square.

Jonathan and Dave were dispatched to collect the Postcrete from our supplier at Honeybourne (and enjoying a JT-inspired café stop on the way back).  The rest of us followed Polly’s lead and set out the post positions.  Ian was PIC, (Person in Charge) and therefore takes the blame for any cock-ups discovered later.  One-armed Martin was protecting his still-poorly wrist and was keen that Ian should not go the way of his injury while he manfully operated the new petrol-powered augur.  His cries of “Ouch!” And “This thing is violent!” were met by team member Peter with suggestions of him being glad that he was not on the “driving” end!   It was clear that a pilot hole dug by hand made life easier for the “augurist”, so Martin, Peter and Dave set to.  This improved life for the muppet operating the augur, with extra hands occasionally applied.

Holes dug, post were set in and checked for alignment so then water and Postcrete could be thrown in the hole, Polly’s magic spirit level satisfied us that posts were upright and within a very short time were securely in place.  While Ian and Martin worked to measure and cut the horizontals, the rest of the team secured them to the posts and thereby enclosed the new pair of chambers within railway property.  Both chambers were completed and covered, so now we await a real downpour to see if the solution we have implemented really does handle the flooding for which this location is renowned.  We hope that the neighbours in the railway cottages opposite would benefit from our work, but this remains to be seen.  Talking of neighbours, having Jonathan on the team regularly ensures that our relationship with them is eased and working at this entrance of a farmer’s field was no exception.  We were observed, but not interrupted or prevented from using the entrance for parking and material storage.

Carefully positioning the fence around the new gully chamber. [Photo by Dave]

Polly checking the corner post is vertical in both planes. [Photo by Dave]

The roadside sections of fence complete. [Photo by Dave]

 

Peter, Ian and Jonathan working on the uprights for the field-side fence sections. [Photo by Dave]

The resulting enclosed space now looks like GWR fencing, with a neat removable set of bars to allow the egress of the robot flail and the parking of its delivery vehicle safely off the main road.  The passengers will, as usual, be unaware that the new drainage system is even there,  Merely the absence of a flood up top and the sight of water draining into our downside cess would show success and something only the observant would appreciate.  Much of our work falls into this category of absolutely necessary, but rarely seen.  It is unlikely that the television cameras due to film our line in a couple of weeks will show any more than an inspection chamber cover.  However, we know and the permanent way above, below and alongside our culverts will be more permanent for our efforts.  Our workplace is a free gymnasium for all the team and indeed a temple for some.  Not bad value at all.

Today's team - (L to R) Dave, Jonathan, Polly, Peter, Martin, with the Stanway fountain in the background.. [Photo by Ian]

The completed field side fence. [Photo by Ian]

Wildlife report: Do sheep count?  Plenty were observed in the field and a deer was seen cantering across the field of verdant grass/. The team encouraged it not to clear the face and cross the road.  Much birdsong surrounded us, with wrens, blackbirds and robins all having their say.  The passing of Betton Grange and the Bubble car showed plenty of wildlife at table.

Off with their heads!

Thursday 30^th April

Another working day when we had multiple groups working at multiple locations.

First group out of Winchcombe yard were Dave, Phil, Peter, Polly and Jonathan. Their destination was Stow Road Bridge at Toddington. Today’s task was to complete the backfilling of the entry gully chamber; and then to add two rows blue engineering bricks as copings. With the backfilling complete, Jonathan returned to Winchcombe Yard to locate the materials for the replacement boundary fence, and to check out that the powered auger was working.

Polly laying the coping bricks on the gulley inlet. [Photo by Dave]

The completed gully inlet - but with temporary covers. [Photo by Dave]

Bretton Grange pulling away from Toddington with an up train. [Photo by Dave]

Found at Stowe Road, a tall narrow Bovril bottle with a long neck. This is likely to date from around 1900 to 1913, so may have been dropped by one of the navvies building the railway. [Photo by Dave]

 

Next to depart were Dee, Martin (J), Stuart and John Their first task was replacing a broken cess chamber lid at Didbrook. An easy task – once the offending chamber was located. Next they proceeded to Stanton Fields to undertake rodding out of the down side inlet bore of syphon cross drain 6C. This proved to be a tricky operation; the bore was almost bone dry and the obstruction was mainly soil. So each push of the drain rods only brought out a small quantity of material.

Final departure from the yard consisted of Ian, Roger, Martin (S) and Andrew. They headed to Manor Lane, Gotherington. Andrew went down to the slip site to inspect progress. The contractors have installed some additional perforated twinwall pipes in the reconstructed embankment. So the position of these were noted. Once the embankment reinstatement is complete, we are going to install new toe drains alongside the boundary hedge. These are going to run to the outlet of cross drain 37D. As the new twinwall pipe also drain into this, we will improve the exit chamber of this at our boundary. The outlet of 37C would be more suitable, however to use that we would need to make water run up hill.

The new embankment drain pipe entering the outlet ditch of cross drain 37D.

 

The other end of the new pipe at the boundary of the new infill.

Unloading of the infill delivered in Dogfish wagons from Cheltenham requires a shute and two excavators. When the material is slightly damp, it requires more encouragement to exit the Dogfish hoppers.

From the inlet of 37D, an unusual picture of an 03 shunter against a deep blue sky.

Meanwhile, the other three of this group attended to mileposts 16 and 15 & three quarters; either side of Manor Lane Bridge. Whilst both of these have bridge rail posts, their heads were the yellow BR style – made from fibre glass. These heads were removed (executed?); the bridge rail wire brushed down and then painted with black MIO.

Milepost 16 decapitated.

Same treatment for 15 & three quarters.

Next site for this group was Working Lane. Ian and Martin (S) performed some clearance around milepost 13 – mainly sycamore and willow saplings. Andrew and Roger met with Peter Brown, the Chief Civil Engineer, to discuss work to improve the drainage between the up side embankment toe and the Working Lane to Royal Oak haul road. This is the site of a historic slip, probably back in BR days. There is a french drain which terminates in a head wall that is now leaning at an angle. Also, the construction of the haul road after the Greet tunnel slip around 10 years ago has lead to some spots where water pools during wet weather. Our plan is to add some more pipes under the haul road and to dig out some ditches between the embankment and the haul road. Potentially we will tackle this in two stages, starting with a rebuild of the leaning headwall.

All three groups met up back at Winchcombe for lunch. After lunch some of the team sorted out and measured the fencing material for Stowe Road. The rest of the team continued with milepost construction. One length of bridge rail was wire brushed down, the new head for 16 was completed and one of the recovered hollow heads from Laverton was taken apart. This has not weathered at all well, the only reuseable component being the architrave at the bottom.

New head for milepost 16 - using acrylic numbers.

Wildlife report: Suddenly chestnut trees, both horse and sweet, are in full boom. Also in full bloom are the blue flowers of borage, lots of this at the foot of the Working Lane haul road. The cuttings and embankments which were cut back last autumn and winter are rapidly regrowing. And on those cut two years ago a lot of sycamore and ash saplings are pushing up. No unusual bird or mammal sightings today, apart from a skull found at Stanton Fields. This looks to us like it was once a fox.

Fox skull. [Photo by Martin (J)]

Not a cloud in the sky, and plenty of hawthorn blossom. The stunning view north west from Gotherington.

 

No longer unlucky

Thursday 23^rd April

Roger, Martin (J) and Ian formed the milepost restoration group today. First task was installing the three new heads completed last week. First was milepost 13, on the embankment above the Working Lane Haul Road. Previously this was a BR style metal head attached using twigs. The bridge rail post did not need replacing, just de-rusting and then painting. We are now using MIO black paint for the posts, as used by C&W for carriage underframes. Hopefully this will last better than Hammerite. Then up to Laverton to install the new heads on 6 and 6¾; on the lengths of bridge rail we installed a few weeks ago. Back at Winchcombe, after lunch the group de-rusted and painted a couple more lengths of bridge rail. Next on our milepost restoration plan are the six remaining non-authentic ones between Laverton and Broadway. The heads and the wooden posts of these have not weathered well.

Martin(J) and Roger fixing the new head for mp13. [Photo by Ian]

Looking smart in the spring sunshine - correcting the lean will have to wait for the ground to be softer. [Photo by Ian]

Six and three quarters looks even better. [Photo by Ian]

Completing the trio - mp6. This is the first one where the new head uses acrylic numbers. Can you tell? [Photo by Ian]

The other group consisted of Jonathan, Nigel, Polly, Dee, Phil, John and Andrew. They worked on the Stowe Road crest drainage improvement at Toddington. The objective of the day was to construct the runoff spillway with the gutter gulley drain. A length of flexible pipe connects the gulley drain to the pipe in the crest drain ditch.

First item of the day was an on-site meeting with GCC Highways engineer Jacob Cottrell (yellow hi-vis) and councillor Cheryl Ag. They are happy with the new arrangement, it does not need Highways approval as it is all on our land (just!). Infrastructure Manger Sarah looks on as Andrew explains the new setup. [Photo by Jonathan]

Andrew measures and marks out the area to be excavated. [Photo by Jonathan]

Polly levels the gutter gulley on the bed of concrete.

 

Front view of the spillway at the end of the day. Next week we will add some blue engineering bricks as a coping. Also we will add a covering mesh grill to stop any small mammals disappearing down the pipe.

Rear view. Also on the list for next week is completing the back filling, as this is best once the mortar has set and the blocks are solid. Note the flexible pipe joining the gulley gill to the crest drain.

Whilst at Toddington, Andrew and Infrastructure Manager, Sarah, undertook some initial investigations of the Malvern side boundary of the former garden centre site. This is in connection with the plan to improve the main public entrance.

Wildlife report: Spring is rapidly springing. Bluebells, late flowering white daffodils and yellow cowslips were all in full bloom on the cutting side at Stowe Road. Also a deep red peony was just budding. Up at Laverton, the hawthorn was coming into full blossom. Whilst back at Winchcombe, we found a field mouse – unfortunately deceased. No doubt the local Red Kites will soon remove it. Finally, we are pleased to report that the resident robins are safely nesting in the rafters of our wooden shed.

 

The temporary Brown timetable provides more end of day activity for us to observe at Winchcombe. Class 122 single car DMU W55003 gleams in the sunshine. This could almost be a photo from the late 1950s - apart from the number of passengers on board!

Spring cleaning

Thursday 16th April

Eleven team members attended, split into 3 groups.

Stuart and Roger stayed at Winchcombe undertaking mile post manufacture. They cleaned up three lengths of bridge rail for replacement posts; built up and numbered three heads and fabricated some new metal caps.

Three new heads - including one with numbers cut from acrylic sheet. (Can you tell which?) [Photo by Roger]

Jonathan, Ian and John went to Gotherington yard. Jonathan drove the JCB telehandler in order to level the yard so as to make room for more vehicle parking and a decent flat area for PWay ballast, which is delivered by road. Also some of the materials for repairing the most recent slip south of Manor Lane may be transferred from road to rail here. Skilful driving saw Jonathan build up the embankment next to the track with spoil.   He then cleaned up the ballast pile and tried to move some of the clay into the corner, but the telehandler hasn't got the break out force - there was some impressive “wheelies”.

Telehandler in action. [Photo by Ian]

Telehandler at rest as the class 122 DMU passes by. [Photo by Ian]

End result - a lot larger and flatter area in the yard. [Photo by Ian]

The final group, Martin (S), Martin (J), Peter, Phil, Dave, and Polly schlepped off to the Tirle Brook culvert 32A.in Dixton cutting. 

Polly and Martin (S) deepened the low mileage down side crest ditch, as occasionally during the winter months run off from the adjoining field overtops this and runs down the cutting side to the down side cess.

Deepened crest ditch. [Photo by Martin(J)]

Martin (J) with a chainsaw and Phil cleared debris from the exit channel; whilst Peter and Dave concentrated on the removal of moss and other vegetation from the inlet flume. This clearance work needs a spell of dry weather - the Tirle Brook can flow strongly after several days of rain.

Tirle Brook exit (up side) - the fallen tree was left as this is too big to move and is not impeding the flow. [Photo by Martin(J)]

Phil on the inlet flume of 32A. [Photo by Ian]

Spring growth much in evidence. Phil and Polly removing some of the debris. [Photo by Ian]

A final task for the clearance team was at Working Lane, clearing more debris from the ultimate exit grill of culvert 24C. Whilst not a difficult job (unless the stream is in flood), this is one of our most frequent tasks. Consequently, fitting a better grill here is on our list of jobs for this summer.

More spring greens at 24C. [Photo by Ian]

All in all, a very successful day, which saw all set tasks completed.  It was kind of Sarah (Infrastructure Manager) to pop down and check we were ready to roll at the start of the day and then come and inspect the work at Gotherington Yard later.  We like MBWA (Management by walking about) - it makes a team feel wanted and cared for.

Wildlife report: Wildlife was abundant - some might cruelly suggest that pigs may fly, as two Police helicopters flew low over us, plus the team saw many of the Dixton deer herd, a lone kite was searching for offal, but only saw drainage workers! At Gotherington yard, John spotted a slow-worm, which was assisted out of harm’s way.

Slow worm. [Photo by Ian]