The new routine

Thursday 17th September 

It was off to Cheltenham for a safety check first thing for Andrew and Martin, some work is planned to fence off the tunnel end following repeated vandal attacks. The cess drains needed to be checked to ensure no lids had been damaged before C&M start work. After that it was back to clearing culverts in preparation for the visual inspection round. 

Working south from Toddington the first was Culvert 14B at Didbrook... 

Photos from Andrew 

Culvert 14B down side headwall 

Culvert 14B up side headwall 

Culvert 15A down side headwall 

Culvert 15A up side headwall 

The up side on 15A hasn't got any wing walls, it's another thing that needs to be addressed in coming years. 

Culvert 15A up side headwall 

Culvert 16C had a detailed inspection, but still got cleared while passing 

Culvert 16C down side 

Culvert 16C up side 

Culvert 17A down side 

Culvert 17A barrrel 

Culvert 17A up side headwall 

Culvert 17B down side headwall 

Culvert 17B at Hailes has a crack up the down side end, plus it has sustained a bit of damage to the coping on the end of the headwall 

Culvert 17B down side headwall 

Culvert 17B up side headwall 

Culvert 20A down side 

Looking around the yard at Winchcombe the haul road used by the contractors on Culvert 21A still has some very soft patches where a leaking pipe had flooded the track. The areas in the shade are still very soft... 

Winchcombe Yard footprints in the clay 

Friday 18th September 

Friday team back on lid production, the first 3 of the 1.8m lids cast last week were turned out, they need another 21 days to cure before they can be used 

First batch of 1.8m lids 

Roger paints the mould oil on 

Air bubble removal 

Batch 2 - 3 x 1,8m + 3 x 1.2m 

Giving the mixer a good clean 
(Photo: Roger) 

The Winchcombe Station team were busy today clearing heaps of vegetation, they have a 1960's Cotton Sturdy factory truck for moving all their spoil and tools around, quite a handy bit of kit, and it fit's the Winchcombe period nicely. The truck was made in Gloucester by E. Cotton (Motorcycles) Ltd. in the 1950's and 60's. Cotton used Villiers or JAP motorcycle engines, they had diversified into these 3 wheelers after years of bikes as the market shifted. Their bikes were Isle of Man TT winners in the 1920's.   

The Cotton Sturdy factory truck 

The bags of 40N were moved into the shed under cover as rain is forecast for next week. Only 4 bags so far seem to have spoiled. 

40N supply still to be used this month 

Last operation was taking a look down at Culvert 21A the River Isbourne, the project to stabilise the banks is another casualty of the lockdown. The gabion baskets on the up side have been taken over by vegetation and are hardly visible now. In the winter they will probably be submerged in flood water. 

Culvert 21A up side bank stabilisation