Moving stone

Weekending 10 April 

Split team for the morning, with two team going to check reports of standing water near MP 17½, south of Two Hedges Road, Bishops Cleeve. Nothing was found, but this is probably down to the fact it hasn't rained for over a week. 

Report and photos from Andrew. 

Foggy start at Bridge 33 over Dixton Cutting 

The main task for the day was to backfill the down side counterfort drain pipe on the low mileage side of the Three Arch Bridge at Dixton (Bridge 33). Stone and hardcore was carted from Manor Lane at Gotherington. The estimate was for 8 loads, but it actually took 10😫 It turned out to be a merry go round operation with the 2 Transit trucks. Fortunately the barrow run at Dixton Road was short and it was empty barrows to be pushed uphill.  

Back filled drain at Dixton 

Backfilled drain at Dixton from the top 

Week ending 17 April 

Another mob handed week, with 5 present. Two went to remove silt from the manhole on the up side at Culvert 28A, Stanley Pontlarge. This is a regular occurrence, it dried up for a while but it looks like the upstream blockage has been rectified. Chamber was half full of slit, with evidence it had overtopped.

Next 4 photos from Dave.  

Slurry coming out of the chamber on Culvert 28A 

Slurry trail 😏

All left clear and tidy 

Here's a reminder of what it's all about, trains are back running again after a very disrupted year. 

GWR 2-8-0 4270 running bunker first 

The rest of the team went Culvert 27A  and 27B, on the up side to sort out an area of boggy ground by the new fence and gate. The boggy area was most pronounced from the new gate for about 10 yards towards Cheltenham. A ditch was dug out to investigate and a twin land drain was uncovered. The clay pipes between the gate and the culvert had been displaced at some time with gaps in the joins causing the leak. 

Next batch of pics from Andrew. 

Culvert 27A Boggy gate area 

Ditch between 27A and 27B up side 

Misaligned clay pipes 

An exploratory hole was dug under the gate and a green plastic pipe appears to be be connected to one of clay pipes. This seems to have been disturbed by the fencing contractor when the gate was installed. 

Plastic pipe under gate 

It was decided that leaving the temporary ditch draining the boggy area was best for today, a return visit will be made to finish the job off. 

End of day