Excavation at Southam Lane

Saturday 4 January 2020 

There's no trains running during January and February which give us the opportunity to get jobs done where we need to access areas close to the running line. Southam Lane bridge is one such location, there has been water leaking out of the down side abutment of Bridge 42 for some considerable time. We started to improve the drainage back in November last year, clearing some calcite and scooping out the ballast from the top of the cess drain blocks. The gang were back today to expose the rest of the blocks along the abutment and then excavate down the low mileage wing wall to improve the drainage into the cess. 

Dave starts to clear the drain blocks
(Photo: Andrew) 

Dave and Michael digging out the drain blocks along the down abutment
(Photo: Andrew) 

Andrew digging the abutment
(Photo: Dave) 

Michael tackles base of the wing wall
(Photo: Dave) 

The weep holes have built up a significant amount of scale, this is being removed today 

Weep hole on the low mileage wing wall
(Photo: Andrew) 

Calcite being removed from below the weep hole
(Photo: Dave) 

Back to the brick face
(Photo: Andrew) 

Calcite removed in a lump
(Photo: Dave) 

Shallow trench being dug down the wing wall base
(Photo: Dave) 

Drain blocks nearly cleared by lunchtime
(Photo: Dave) 

The abutment wall tells the tale of the wet, the staining to the bricks is the result of years of seepage. The weep holes don't seem to clear that much water although one runs all year round. 

Abutment weep hole runs constantly
(Photo: Dave) 

The drain from the crest of what is a shallow cutting looks to be in poor shape, the small headwall is clear but the end in the chamber at the cess has some limescale issues 

Crest ditch drain to the cess
(Photo: Dave) 

Cess - drain from the crest
(Photo: Dave) 

Another weep hole was found buried
(Photo: Dave) 

The weep hole uncovered seems to be blocked, but a jet is running out through the bricks alongside the pipe 

The new weep hole must be blocked
(Photo: Andrew) 

Last part of the task was to backfill along the drain blocks with gabion stone and a layer of permeable membrane, this will improve the water flow. 

Roger placing the gabion stone along the abutment
(Photo: Dave) 

Gabion stone in place, another load required
(Photo: Andrew) 

Michael measures up for ordering pipe to
run down the wing wall 
(Photo: Dave) 

While the Southam Lane gang got to work, Roger and Stuart headed round to check on the land slips at Winchcombe and Gotherington. Winchcombe seems to be dormant at the moment, still weeping water but minimal movement. Gotherington is on the move slowly, levels have been taken so that the sinking can be measured. 

Winchcombe cutting cess drain at the toe of the slip 

Winchcombe Cutting up side slip area 

Winchcombe cutting slip on the up side 

At Gotherington, surveyors have taken some core samples to find out what the cutting is composed from. 

Gotherington, up side, core waste 

Gotherington slip, Roger heading off with the level 

Gotherington, slip tension crack more pronounced 

Gotherington up side slip,
the fence was on the access track when erected last month 

Toe drain chamber was cleared and opened last month

The stone on the drain in the centre was horizontal last month  

Gotherington slip face 

Measuring the 1.5m to the base of the crack 

Meanwhile at Winchcombe on the River Isbourne the contractors have been away for Christmas. The up side is almost complete. 

Swamped digger

Station cess drain outfall part exposed 

Culvert 21A River Isbourne up side erosion control 

River Isbourne up side erosion control works 

River Isbourne down side, work hasn't started yet