More Inspections and Gotherington Wrap Up

Friday 5 June 2020 

First round of culvert inspections saw Andrew and Martin head off up the north end of the line. Starting with Culvert 3A at Peasebrook Farm and working south towards the viaduct at Stanway. It was a very productive day with only a couple of issues picked up and the bonus of some clearance work completed.

Separate vehicles were used and all work was completed under the COVID-19 social distancing with the necessary Risk Assessments in place. 

All the next batch of photos were by Andrew, unless noted otherwise 

Martin clearing debris from Culvert 5B up side 

Culvert 5B down side 

Culvert 5C down side 

Culvert 6B down side 

Culvert 6B up side
(Photo: Martin)  

Culvert 7A down side inlet under the B4632
(Photo: Martin) 

Culvert 7A up side 

We have been watching the siphon culvert (7A) near Bridge 8 on the B4632, the up side headwall has been leaking for several years. Part of the problem is the landowner downstream can't clear the stream and water backs up in the outlet looking for a way to escape. It has come though the wall and down under the trackbed to the up side cess drain. It was on the cards for attention this summer, but with the team still hobbled by lockdown it'll have to wait. Lack of funding will probably further hamper repairs. 

Culvert 7A up side leaking headwall 

The famous Culvert 11A, star of the 2019 rebuild, is very subdued, just a trickle, but the vegetation is growing again on the plot Dave carefully landscaped. 

Culvert 11A up side 

Culvert 11A up side 

Culvert 11C down side 

Culvert 11C up side
(Photo: Martin)

Back at Winchcombe the haul road for the River Isbourne works is still holding water, this seems strange after so long without rain. More investigation is needed. 

Haul road to Culvert 21A River Isbourne 

Tuesday 9 June 

Dave was back out today escorting John the Bridge Inspector and did some culvert spotting in the process. 

All the following are from Dave. 

John peering over the footbridge at Toddington
while inspecting it 

Culvert 14B is another on our watch list, we are waiting for some remedial work on the outlet since it was revised by the landowner. 

Culvert 14B up side outlet stream 

Culvert 14B up side 

Culvert 16A overflow 

Bridge 16 Didbrook 2 

Bridge 16 gully drain cleared 

Bridge 43 Evesham Road Cheltenham 

Back at Winchcombe, a trip in the other direction to look at the slip. 

Winchcombe Cutting up side
Grass growing back, looks to have dried a bit 

Gotherington Slip Winding Up  

Work has finished on the slip at Bridge 37 up side, south of Gotherington. The phase 2A and 2B soil nails have been installed and the land around the steel pile landscaped. This was only possible because 1,357 donations were received following the GWR Trust's Landslip Appeal. These donations included 456 from people who aren't members of the trust or shareholders, it clearly shows the great affection with which so many people hold the railway. 

The next batch of photos are from Peter Muir. 

Gotherington slip repair looking south  

Gotherington slip - Phase 2 soil nails 

Gotherington slip site overview 

Gotherington slip - the up side formation 

Gotherington slip - handrail installed to protect the pile tops 

That's it for his week, the team is planning to continue the inspections next week. Until then, stay safe out there.