Cool and dark

A catch-up-post covering three weeks (but only two work days) due to the Team Leader taking another holiday.

Thursday 6^th August

Eight of the team were in attendance.

Nigel, Polly, Dee and Jonathan headed to Pecked Lane Crossing, Bishop's Cleeve. Jonathan continued clearing sift from culvert 39A and its approach on the down side, as well as removing some accumulated debris on the up side, accessed through the manhole in the footpath to the crossing. The silt accumulation continues all the way through the culvert and, short of using a water jet, it will be very difficult to remove it all.

Because of this remaining silt, all the water flowing into culvert 39A on the down side continues to find its way into our down side cess through an overflow pipe. This appears to be about 6in diameter in the high mileage sidewall of the culvert approach. The consensus is that this overflow pipe should be blocked up so that the water flows through the culvert, and the use of a bung, which could easily be removed again should the need arise, was discussed by the team.

Some repointing of the down side culvert sidewalls was also carried out.

Nigel, Polly and Dee continued clearing round and removing silt from the cess chambers south of Pecked Lane Crossing on the up (Malvern) side. A broken cess chamber lid was replaced, and a metal grid lid installed further south, at 17¾ miles on the down (Cotswold) side, where a missing lid had been reported. As we had discovered a few weeks ago with a missing lid at milepost 17, the errant lid was in the chamber, so can hopefully be retrieved using straps at some point. There are still further chambers on the up side to investigate - we got as far as the chamber at rail length 20.

Removing silt from a cess chamber. [Photo by Dave]

Phil, Martin [J], Peter and Dave started the day with a trip to a landowner site by Southam Lane Bridge at the top of Kayte Lane. Here, a length of Palisade fencing had been installed by Tom Clarke at the top of the slope down to the track, but a further length of the boundary of the site, where it starts to slope down to our track, needed to be fenced off. We installed about 15 lengths of Heras fencing to complete the barrier between the landowner's site and our land.

Installing the Heras fence panels. [Photo by Dave]

Following this, the group ventured further south, to beyond the running line, to culvert 45A, where Wyman Brook runs under the embankment. The task here was to measure up for a key clamp style barrier across the top of the headwall to help prevent falls from the narrow (unofficial) path across the headwall into the brook, some 2m below.

Culvert 45A outlet headwall which is to be fenced off. [Photo by Dave]

The group then joined the other group at Pecked Lane to assist in the work there.

Wednesday 12^th August

The destination of the team leader's holiday was Iceland, primarily to view the total solar eclipse. Certainly the weather was cooler, damper and during the total phase of the eclipse darker than that in Winchcombe. Some of the other team members requested snow and ice to be brought back.

Despite some high cloud, the sun's corona and a prominence (the red dot on the left) were visible during totality.

Iceberg - too large to bring back!

Iceland currently has no railways. However, between 1913 and 1928 the 900mm gauge Reykjavik Harbour Railway carried rock used in the construction of the harbour and breakwaters. The railway was operated by two steam locomotive built by the Arnold Jung Lokomotivfabrik of Germany. This is Minør, now an open-air static exhibit on the quay side in Reykjavíkn. 

Wildlife report: Common dolphins, minke whales, humpback whales, orcas and puffins were amongst the wildlife spotted which are very unlikely to visit Gloucestershire. Also unlikely to be found beside our railway are most of the plants in the Akureyri Botanical Garden, as they are mostly arctic and high altitude species.

Icelandic or Arctic poppy [Papaver nudicaule]

Thursday 13^th August

The weather forecast correctly predicted a hot day; it turned out to be the hottest day of the year (so far) in many parts of the Midlands. Consequently, in line with the railway cancelling all passenger trains, the deputy team organiser cancelled the planned drainage work.

Thursday 20^th August

For Phil, Dee, Martin [S] and John the first item for the day was attending the education class on the Confined Spaces working methods. Once completed they, together with Jonathan, proceeded to Pecked Lane at Bishops Cleeve. Here they were able to apply their training to facilitate on work inside culvert 39A. This included fitting bungs into the overflow pipe into the down side cess. Observation at the first down stream cess chamber showed that the flow was considerably reduced, but not entirely stopped. So a further visit will be required to apply some sealant.

Inside 39A, the blue mark shows the location of the now partially plugged 'overflow' to the down side cess. [Photo by Jonathan]

The 39A exit outside of railway property - most of the flow will now come here. [Photo by Jonathan]

Roger, Nigel and Dave headed to Dixton Cutting. Starting at Prescott Road Bridge (32) they cut the vegetation around all the cess chambers and mileposts through the cutting to Gotherington Yard. They also cleared the sections of the up side cess drain which uses concrete troughs and lids, this is to make them more visible to trackside workers – the lids break if driven over. The group also cleared silt, debris and vegetation from the inlet and outlet ditches of cross drain 33A.

Nigel clearing around an up side cess chamber by Dixton Road Bridge (33). [Photo by Dave]

Cracked and dry silt in the 33A inlet. [Photo by Dave]

Roger clearing out the 33A inlet. [Photo by Dave]

Stuart, Peter, Martin [J] and Andrew’s destination was cross drain 31A, between JJ Farms bridge (31) and Prescott Road Bridge (32). The task was to start clearance work on the inlet pit on the down side in preparation for the rebuild later this year. The main objectives were to facilitate an access down the embankment, to check whether the existing sandbag pit has a concrete base (it doesn’t) and to explore potential access routes for our mini-digger. On the outlet (up or Malvern side) the exit ditch was cleared to the boundary fence.

Stuart finishes the brush cutting around the 31A inlet pit.

31A inlet, showing deteriorating sand bags and collapsing shoring of the adjoining land. 

31A outlet with the ditch cleared and the remains of the headwall revealed.

Wildlife report: We found plenty of wild hops growing on the top of the down side embankment at cross drain 31A. These were not quite ripe, unlike some of the blackberries on nearby brambles. Whilst in the sky we spotted red kites, buzzards, black birds and starlings; we heard a woodpecker, but with out a sighting could not confirm the exact species.

Hops - probably a wild version of the Fuggles cultivar.

Blackberries. [Photo by Dave]

And finally…

I thought there was only one Father Christmas. But it looks like a second Santa exists, as he will have his own container in Winchcombe Yard!

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