Back to the future, the builders return

Thursday 30 January

Today was spent inspecting things and working out what we need for the next project. Some work on Winchcombe cutting slip is due to start next week, this will stabilise the slip so that the full remedial package can be put in place in due course. First off we ran up to Stanway Viaduct, the southern end has been competed and track laying will start at the weekend. On the north end, pit 14 the last of the batch was being excavated and the rest were being backfilled or being prepared for backfilling.

Stanway Viaduct drainage pit refurbishment

Stanway Viaduct drainage pit 13 stone backfill in 

Stanway Viaduct drainage pit 12 ready for backfilling 

The River Isbourne has turned green, this is the dye we dropped in the down side crest drain chamber up on Winchcombe cutting to prove the flow reaches the river where we expected. The dye is bio-degradable and will fade away as it flows downstream. Andrew and Michael waited for 40 minutes watching the stream for the dye and then gave up. An hour and half later there was a call from the contractors at the river to say it had turned green. Where the water had been for all that time is a bit of mystery still.

Tracer dye reaches the Isbourne 

New safety handrails being erected on the down side headwall 

Down side steam outlet at the river 

In between jobs, Andrew and Michael refitted the jockey wheel to the flail.

Many hands make the wheel work in this case 

After lunch we headed out to Working Lane at Gretton on a reconnaissance trip to work out if it was feasible to resume operations on Culvert 24A.

Very wet ground around up side of Culvert 24C 

Land next to the haul road up the tunnel is still wet 

The cess outfall has been spotted on Culvert 24A up side 

Gretton Meadow aka Royal Oak 

There was a headwall on the end of the crest drain where it joins Culvert 24A, it butted up to the headwall on the culvert. The redesign is in the form of a quadrilateral that will be covered when it's up the ground level. 

Culvert 24A crest drain chamber as left in October 2019 

Some additional drainage work needs to be done around the Gretton meadow area on both sides of the line. 

Down side opposite Gretton Meadow 

Base of the slip repair needs to be drained 

Michael skirts a boggy patch on Gretton meadow 

On the way we looked at Culvert 24C down side outlet, improvement works are planned here that will add a headwall and silt trap. It's prone to blockages as the grille gets covered in debris. 

Culvert 24C down side outlet before clearing  

As Michael has some wellies, he gets the wet jobs 

Culvert 24C after clearing the grille 

Saturday 1 February

As the sun was shining and the wind was blowing we decided on two streams of work today. Dave and Michael shot off to Gretton and Culvert 24A to resurrect the rebuild of the down side crest drain chamber that was started back in October, it was then abandoned when it got too wet and other interests intervened. Meanwhile the other operative went to Winchcombe Cutting to continue with the ditching work along the down side crest.

Truck loaded with bricks and barriers ready for the off 

Stacking the unloaded bricks in the shadow of monster truck 😃
(Photo: Dave)

Micheal back on the bricks
(Photo: Dave) 

A course of imperial solids goes on first to level up
(Photo: Dave) 

Someone has to stick their head above the parapet
(Photo: Dave) 

Mixer loaded ready for a quick get away
(Photo: Dave) 

Back at Winchcombe cutting the down side ditch got extended a bit further along. Work on this will be put on hold next week until the contractors build a haul road up the slope to remove the failed soil from up side slip. 

Making the most of the weather 

Ditch work in progress 

When the bucket hits an buried obstacle it's always best to proceed with caution until you identify what it is. In this case it's a chamber we didn't know existed.  

Bricks and bridge rail uncovered in the ditch line 

Top of chamber scraped clean 

24" crest pipe running in 

24" crest pipe running out, mystery pipe running in from the field 

Concrete fencepost dug our of the ditch 

Winchcombe Cutting down side crest, ditch extending