Return to Culvert 44A

Monday 26 August 

Only 2 volunteers took advantage of the double pay and day off in lieu for working Bank Holiday Monday. For Dave it was his chance to revisit Culvert 44A, last visited on 31st January this year when the temperature ranged between -5 and +2 degrees C. Today was slightly different as it managed to struggle up to 20 degrees by the time we left. 

The weather forecast this morning mentioned that it may be the hottest August Bank Holiday on record, well they forgot to tell Winchcombe as the day started off with fog. 

Winchcombe, autumn is on the way 😒

Cheltenham was no better, finding Culvert 44A was the first challenge. 

Culvert 44A down side in the distance 

Culvert 44A up side at the bottom of the field 

While on site we had a check around the tunnel and the cess drains heading south. The tunnel has been adorned with a burnt out shopping trolley. We had a complaint last month to say that people can't walk along the old trackbed, it can't be that overgrown if they managed to get a trolley along there.   

Hunting Butts Tunnel south portal 

The concrete slabs on top of the GRP anti-vandal lids have been removed once again, we didn't replace them this time there didn't seem much point. 

GRP anti-vandal lid still intact 

The purpose of the mission today was to clear the vegetation from the ends of Culvert 44A as it's another structure on the detailed examination list for September.  

Dave cuts the path into Culvert 44A down side 

Culvert 44A down side headwall exposed 

Culvert 44A internal view 

After a lengthy chat to a local resident, we was a little surprised to find strange people with noisy equipment out and about on a Bank Holiday, we ventured over to the up side, with access via the field now the crop has been harvested. 

Culvert 44A, Fog lifting fast 

Culvert 44A up side headwall 

Culvert 44A up side headwall visible 

Can you have too much of the bright lights of Cheltenham, evidently so, as we headed back to to Stanton at the first opportunity. 

Stanton - back on home turf in time for the DMU passing 

This afternoon's work was finishing off clearing the down side of Culvert 11B. 

Culvert 11B northbound ditch 

Culvert 11B south catchment 

11B south end cleared 

Culvert 11B is unusual in that it has 2 inlet ditches and they run into separate pipes that meet under the embankment. Phase 3 of the Stanton work is to eradicate this anomaly and install a chamber at the toe of the embankment. 

11B south inlet 

11B north inlet 

By the time we had finished cutting the vegetation back, it was around 28 degrees so we decided to head for base to find some shade and a well deserved 🍦🤭  

Dave clearing up some boulders uncovered by the brushcutter