Saturday's travels

Saturday 11 January 

The team got split up this morning, Roger, Dave and Michael went to Stanton to peg out at Culvert 11B before going down to Southam Lane with gabion stone. On the way they checked Bridge 6 at Laverton and Bridge 16 at Didbrook to make sure that there was no flooding following the heavy rain on Thursday. Stuart had a look at Winchcombe cutting and then headed off to Hunting Butts to talk about fencing via a check on the slip at Gotherington. After lunch there was a quick recce out to Dixton Cutting to check on the boundary around Culvert 32A. 

First batch of photo's are from Dave at Stanton.  

First peg in for the 11B to 11A carrier drain 

Culvert 11B outlet,
just a pipe sticking out the embankment 

Roger and Michael measuring 

More calculations 

Working out where the end is 

The Culvert 11B drain work is to take away the wet area on the down side around the culvert. The water runs in off the field and catches in the embankment toe 

Culvert 11B down side water ponding 

It looks like there is a deer path across the track just north of the culvert, we've spotted a couple of roe deer around here a few occasions, they must be crossing the track on regular basis. 

Deer tracks, have they been PTS trained?

The gabion stone had to be hand loaded today, no digger handy on Saturdays 😒

Picking out the best stones, no dross on this load 

The wiggly tin roof from the container was removed in the week, the sheeting has been taken back to Winchcombe for re-use by another department  

Michael and Roger unbolting the sheets 

Roger went down to look at Stanway Viaduct, the south end pits are being backfilled with hard limestone. Plastic sheeting has been laid over the original GWR waterproofing to add an extra level of protection. 

Stone backfill around the drainage pit
(Photo: Roger) 

Drainage pit sub-base backfilled
(Photo: Roger) 

Both Laverton and Didbrook bridges were clear of water, Didbrook gully drains were cleaned, the last of the leaf drop was still lingering on the tops. 

Didbrook cess drain overflow
(Photo: Dave) 

Didbrook bridge gully drain
(Photo: Dave) 

Didbrook bridge signs of flooding
(Photo: Dave) 

Bridge 16, Didbrook 2 

The gabion unload at Southam Lane (Bridge 42) was another bit of keep fit 😉

Roger takes on the wheelbarrow race
(Photo: Dave) 

Micheal tries a few reps on the weights
(Photo: Dave) 

Preparing the stone for the Turner Prize judging 😊
(Photo: Dave) 

Bridge 42, the wind catches the flow from the weep hole
(Photo: Dave) 

Thursday evening saw some more heavy rain, looking at the flood data for the River Isbourne it shows it was a bit of deluge. This meant a check of the landslips was required to see if there had been any more movement. 

River Isbourne level data 

Winchcombe up side slip is still holding steady, but there is evidence that the water from the adjacent land had over-topped the crest on the down side and run across the track. 

Winchcombe cutting down side slip 

Winchcombe cutting down side cess, sleepers and ballast silted

Silt spreading over to the up side 

Up side line has sticks caught in the chairs, washed in by flood water 

Gotherington slip near Bridge 37 is on the move still, the chamber at the toe has almost disappeared, there was 8" of lid showing last Monday. There are signs on the slip face that it has dropped by about 6". 

Gotherington toe drain chamber almost lost 

Slip face breaking away 

Gotherington slip face

Back at Winchcombe work has started on the down side of the River Isbourne. There's a considerable amount of spoil to move to get the river back on its original course.  

Culvert 21A River Isbourne down side 

Culvert 21A high mileage side is worst affected 

Culvert 21A down side, erosion cutting under the roots of a willow 

The Dixton excursion was to check if there is any evidence that the railway land extended beyond the current fence on the up side and to see if there is any obstructions in the brook that are impeding the flow. 

Dixton cutting, Culvert 32A, Tirle Brook down side 

Culvert 32A up side fence line 

Tirle Brook, downstream, S&T Cabinet door!  

Tirle Brook downstream, remains of a footbridge 

Tirle Brook downstream,
bridge rail straining post 

Tirle Brook downstream, GWR bridge rail fence posts teetering
on the far bank above a slip area 

Tirle Brook downstream, GWR bridge rail fence post 

Typical railway post and wire fence
downstream Tirle Brook