We can fix it

Thursday 27 June 

Where did June go? only 1 more working day left and then half the year has gone, the bulk of the time seems to have been spent up at Stanton. There was a change of scene for 2 of the gang today as the office took a call from a worried resident at Gretton to say her garden had been flooded and she suspected one of our culverts may be to blame. She wasn't far wrong with her suspicions. 

The truck returned from the MOT this morning with no issues found, so we are good for another year. The only problem being that the welfare cabin key had been removed from the truck keyring for safe keeping; we only remembered that the key was still in safe keeping when we got to Stanton . 

First job was to see if the downpour on Tuesday had washed anything away; the only visible sign was the puddle under the bridge, the track level hasn't been sorted out yet so the water still hangs around. Some spent ballast will be brought in to level the road shortly.  

Water still pooling under the bridge 

Inlet end survived the downpour 

Michael got started on the headers on the south wall 

The outfall end of Culvert 11A
(Photo: Alastair) 

Michael laying the headers
(Photo: Alastair) 

Our Admin office took a call from a worried resident at Working Lane, Gretton who phoned to say her garden had been flooding, she suspected it may be caused by one of our culverts. Stuart and Dave headed off to investigate. First thoughts were to check on Culvert 25A at Working Lane and Culvert 24C the next one to the north. 

Culvert 25A no sign of flooding 

Culvert 24C up side outlet 

Culvert 24C up side outlet, some flooding
but not topping the ditch 

Next they went round by Culvert 24B and 24A and then back south to Culvert 25B.  

Royal Oak land slip site growing back 

looking north from Bridge 25, vegetation in abundance 

Culvert 25A up side, hidden from view 

After tracking down to Culvert 25B down side, it was evident what the problem was, a bit of rotting log had got wedged across the inlet. This was enough to send the peak flow on Tuesday over the bank and into the neighbours garden. The log was removed and shifted to above the high water mark. 

Did this just wash down into the culvert? 

Culvert 25B down side, log removed 

Emergency job over, the dynamic duo headed back to Stanton with the welfare cabin key in time for a late lunch. The afternoon was spent doing some small jobs while Michael carried on with the bricklaying. 

Dave get to grips with the hedge trimmer 

Alastair removing the headers with the bolster 

The heat getting to Michael 

The plan is to remove the headers from the up side north wall to lift the level. More earth was removed from above the headers, exposing concrete backing. 

Stuart clearing the back of the north wall headers
(Photo: Alastair) 

Dismantling the end of the up side north wall was started to allow the incorporation of the up side cess outfall.  

Alastair calls in the SDS drill 

Culvert 11A inlet end, more concrete broken up 

Michael surveying today's progress 

Dave couldn't resist cleaning a few more bricks 

Outfall end - the 'J' shaped channel 

That was all for today, there'll be another thrilling instalment on Saturday