Wednesday 22 May 2019

That Monday feeling

Monday 20 May 

Typical Monday, the plan goes out of the window before we start. The first job for this morning was going to be producing another batch of concrete lids, but as with a lot of plans it went awry. We had to abandon the production run because the concrete poker had gone walkabout, this vibrates the mix in the mould to remove any air bubbles, essential for load bearing.

After tip off that some gully drain tops were being stored in the yard we went on a quick reconnaissance mission to track them down, they were hiding, but not well enough.  

Stored gully drains ex Broadway, these will need mechanical handling 😉

Next off was to go and change some catchpit lids down at Bishop's Cleeve, a ToDo list item that's been waiting for a while to be completed. While down that end of the line we called into Hunting Butts to do a quick inspection south of the tunnel.

Hunting Butts Tunnel South Portal, vegetation growing fast  

We only found 1 chamber where the lids had been tipped off, not sure what the attraction is that makes people do it, there's nothing to see in there. We did spot one that has been used as a target for ballast throwing as well.  

Dave and Michael wondering why these have been tipped off 

Lids back on 

There's not much flowing down the down side cess, but what there is seems to be soaking away at the scour pool on the outfall. 

Down side cess outfall 

Next we went up to Southam Lane to check the cess drains are still running and look at the water running out of Bridge 42. 

Still a bit of water running out of the
down side abutment 

More greenery bouncing up 

Eventually we worked out way back down to Kayte Lane to do the lid swap. The original lids had been damaged by the contractor with the vegetation flail back in February. Needless to say the chamber furthest from the access point needed the most lids. 

Dave swaps the first lid 

Last chamber = 3 lids needed 😒
Job crossed off the list  

The afternoon saw us training for 'Worcestershire and All Comers Brick Chucking Contest'. It might as well have been, as we loaded the truck with concrete and brick that has been accumulating in Winchcombe Yard and took it up to Stanton to await its eventual disposal for recycling. 

Concrete products 
All in all, a less strenuous day than of late.  


2 comments:

  1. A fine and interesting blog. As was the view of Hunting butts tunnel. I am wondering if trains will ever run through there again

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  2. Sorry about the poker. C & M had borrowed it and it was in the workshop. We used it again at CRC on Wednesday so it might still be in the workshop. Hope you are taking good care of our transit it seems to be getting a lot of use by good selves recently.

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