Twas the night before Christmas

Saturday 21 December 

Not quite the night before, but it's our last working day before Christmas. A time for tidying up some odds and ends ready for a new start in the new year. First off the blocks today was checking the slip in Winchcombe cutting, then out to Stanton to continue the confined space survey and have a tidy up in the yard. All the photos today are from Alastair. 

Winchcombe cutting up side slope 

Stanton drain ring replacement 

Michael with the measuring wheel 

Depth and gas recording 

While in the vicinity the aqueduct got a clear out... 

Dave clearing the up side outlet from the aqueduct 

Stream flowing well across the aqueduct 

Some land drains were installed at Stanton on the down side during the years when the railway wasn't operating. These pipes run out onto the surface of the cutting slope, this has the potential to make the slope unstable as it wasn't deigned to take extra water flows. The plan is to extend the drain pipes down  to the cess to safely remove the excess water. First job is to find them all. 

Dave cutting the veg back round a suspected land drain 

Marker post knocked in at the end of the land drain 

Down in Stanton yard a bit more of the overgrown vegetation was removed to expose the stored rail and fencing materials. 

Fighting the way down the hedge line 

Michael and Dave have to resort to hand tools in amongst the rails 

It looks like we are starting a collection of stray furry animals, Michael found a lonely Christmas pug discarded on the side of the track, he possibly got lost on the way home from a Christmas party. If anyone wishes to make a claim, he's now resident in the truck. 

Alf, the pug in the elf suit found wandering the track 

On behalf of all the drain gang, I'd like to wish all our supporters and followers a happy Christmas. We are taking a break for a week and will be back with more adventures soon. 

Monday and Thursday

Monday 16 December 

Dave has sent some pictures from the gang's exploits along towards Bishops Cleeve on Monday. Before leaving Winchcombe they nipped up to the slip site to clear around the cess chamber at the toe of the slope. 

Uncovered cess chamber Winchcombe Cutting up side 

Ground water running into the chamber 

Next, a diversion via Toddington north cutting to check the marker posts running across the slip plane there. There's no discernible sign of movement which is bit of a relief. 

Toddington north cutting down side
Roger and Nigel checking the marker posts 

Eventually Bishops Cleeve was reached and work could get under way. 

Dave clearing out Culvert 37D down side
(Photo: Roger) 

Culvert 37D down side inlet 

Culvert 37D up side headwall 

Culvert 37D outlet headwall 

Culvert 37F down side headwall 

Culvert 37F up side headwall 

Culvert 37F outlet ditch 

The culvert that runs along parallel with the down side toe doesn't cross the track, it diverts a stream along to Culvert 38A by running under the occupation roadway. 

Culvert 37G inlet headwall 

Thursday 19 December 

Taking advantage of a break in the weather Alastair, Andrew and Michael did some emergency first aid on the slip area at Winchcombe. This involved filling in the tension cracks to stop surface water running into them and potentially making the situation worse. After that it was up to Stanton to moves some pipes ready for contractors coming in during January to work on the viaduct. They even managed to get  some more chambers surveyed before the rain closed in after lunch. All the photos are from Alastair. 

Winchcombe up side cess, Michael and Andrew lift the lids 

Winchcombe up side cess 

Stomping earth into the cracks to stop the water getting in 

Andrew practising the stomp 

Up at Stanton the pipe stock needed to be moved for a contractor's welfare cabin. 

Pipe for the Culvert 11B to 11A carrier drain 

Culvert 11A up side running well 

Michael and Andrew opening another chamber 

More progress this week on the River Isbourne, the gabions are going in on the station side of the river. The Winchcombe Station cess drain outfall has been dug out and this will be incorporated into the corner wall. 

Culvert 21A up side, River Isbourne 

Always expect the unexpected

Sorry we have been off-line for a while unexpected events caught up with us and that has meant that posting updates has been on the back burner. It was more like they were not even near the hob than the back burner, but here's a catch up of what's been going on. All the pictures are from Alastair.  

Saturday 7 December 

The contractors have completed the installation of erosion control on the first corner on the up side of Culvert 21A, River Isbourne. 

River Isbourne erosion control 

The gang headed off to Manor Lane, Bridge 37 to do some clearing on the down side so that the state of the embankment toe and drain can be assessed. This being the opposite side to the new slip. 

Culvert 37A down side chamber 

Culvert 37A down side accepts the toe drain from Culvert 36B

Michael working south to north along the toe 

Roger hiding in the weeds 

Roger clearing north to south along the down side toe  

Culvert 36B down side toe drain outlet 

Culvert 36B down side, toe drain running in from the south 

Toe drain chamber uncovered 

 

Roger and Michael struggle with the toe drain lid 

Down side toe drain A few leaves and gentle flow 

A quick check on the upside chamber shows that water is moving on that side as well and that it has been seeping into the chamber through the lift hole in the ring 

Gotherington, up side toe drain chamber 

Monday 9 December 

The closed season gives us the chance to get a possession so that the culverts around Gotherington loop can be cleared. There's no vehicle access close so a trolley is used for all the kit. 

Andrew and Nigel head off with the days supplies 

Culvert 35B up side 

Andrew on Culvert 35A down side 

Clearing the stream that feeds into Culvert 35C down side 

Inlet from the field for Culvert 35C 

Culvert 35A down side pre-cast headwall on the toe drain 

Culvert 35B up side outfall 

 

Andrew digging out the down side toe ditch 

Dave disposes of some brambles in the fence 

Culvert 35C down side headwall 

To finish the day of there was time to squeeze in clearing the siphons at Bishops Cleeve.  

Culvert 39B down side 

Culvert 40A down side 

Back at Winchcombe the contractors have started installing the sheet piles to protect the work on the station side of the river. 

Work starting on the station side of Culvert 21A 

Thursday 12 December 

For one reason or another, there was a lack of bodies on the ground today. Michael went down to Coleford to collect some workbenches for Construction & Maintenance and that about sums up the day. 

Saturday 14 December 

The coffer dam on the station side of the river Isbourne is in place and the base mattresses are being installed. 

Culvert 21A down side erosion control works 

First stop today was Culvert 25A at Working Lane Gretton, Lineside Clearance have been round the bridge wing walls but left the channel for us to clear.  

The rickety fence along Culvert 25A up side 

Michael, Roger and Dave tidying up after clearing the ditch 

Major works are planned for 2020 to improve the flow and stabilise the lane on the up side of Culvert 25A. This is another area that has suffered from the increase in the size of farm machinery. 

Major works are planned for 2020 to improve the culvert 

Although we haven't had any torrential rain lately the total for October and November was 255 mm, the average for the last 5 years for the same 2 months was 130 mm. So the rain has been persistent and more prolonged. The drains have coped well, but the earthworks are starting to suffer. There's signs of movement in the cutting slope on the up side at Winchcombe. Saturday afternoon saw the gang in action to clear a large area of the slope for consulting engineers to see what's going on.  

Dave Michael and Roger getting kitted up to start clearing 

The gang tackle the slope 

There's a bit of movement over the cess chamber 

Along the new up side fence line 

Winchcombe cutting general view up side 

Winchcombe cutting up side, vegetation cut back 

Monday 16th December 

No pictures today, but that doesn't mean no work. Roger, Nigel and Dave had a busy day clearing Culverts at Bishops Cleeve, these were 37D, 37E, 37F and the toe drain at 37G. Then along to Culvert 38A to clear the up side, the down is outside the fence. 

That about brings us up to date, still a couple of working days left before Christmas but hopefully no more surprises.