Wet, Wet, Wet

You can always rely on the English weather! That is relying on the exact opposite of your wants. After one of the driest February’s, March has gone the other way, very wet. This has played havoc with our plan to progress the 11B to 11A upside outlet diversion at Stanton. We do not want to churn up our neighbour’s field by bringing in the digger on a trailer. Plus of course, it is very hard to work in excavations that are filled with water! At least work on the aqueduct repair is generally out of the water.

Thursday 16^th March

Six of the team in action today. Two of the team attended to Stanton Aqueduct. Main activity was to plan the construction of the shuttering for the grout on the up side to restrain the new collar. The area under the trough cleaned out as much as possible including removal of the second old roller. The hole outside of the railway fence on the outlet was covered with a blue mesh cover; anchored into the ground. On the down (Cotswold) side we checked that all the slip marker posts were still upright and in line. We did notice several spots where water is seeping out of the cutting side. The likely source of this water is the land drains in the adjoining field; at one time these may have emptied into the cutting crest ditch. We checked both the up and down side cess drains. The up side is flowing south which eventually takes the water to culvert 11A. The down side cess is a deep concrete U channel which has got some ballast/gravel washed into it. This will need further investigation. The Senior Bridge Inspector met with us on site to discuss the method of filling the up side anchor space with grout and concrete.

Stuart clears out the narrow gap between the aqueduct trough and the concrete foundation. The anchor points for the new collar fit in this gap. [Photo by Dave.]

The other four members of the team attempted to progress the 11B to 11A up side diversion. However the existing outlet ditch was backing up from the boundary exit and its level only went down an inch after a couple of hours pumping with small electric pump. (The larger electric pump was with the C&W electrician for cable repairs, but subsequently was deemed to be beyond repair). Consequently squaring off the hole for the first new chamber and concreting it's base was abandoned, the water was still more than one wellie depth. So instead we moved bricks, blocks, gravel and one concrete ring to site in readiness for when the weather dries out. We also moved sufficient lengths of 225mm twinwall pipe to the line of the new bypass to confirm our marked location for the second new chamber.

This illustrates the reason for this work at Stanton. This is the down (Cotswold) side, standing water at the foot of the embankment and puddles in the adjoining field between bridge 11 and the farm accommodation crossing.

The existing 11B outlet ditch running to the small field drain by the hedge. In the foreground is the hole for the first of the new chambers. The bottleneck caused by this field drain is the root cause of the pooling water here.

Moving the lengths of pipe on the LWB Transit. Polly watches the load as Nigel backs the transit towards bridge 11. Lack of trains helps with this sort of operation.

 

 

However, we did manage to complete one task from our ‘to do’ list; another spot of repointing/mortar fill on the inlet (down side) of 11A. This was one of the few items noted in last summer’s detailed external inspection report for this culvert.

Back at base, Polly, Martin and Nigel dug out the petrol pump and tested it on the yard puddles. Once suitably primed this works well. Should have taken it to site, rather than the small electric one.

Thursday 23^rd March

Wet again!

Following a very heavy rain storm in the Winchcombe area on Wednesday evening / early Thursday morning we re-planned work for the day; once again avoiding use of the minidigger as taking it across the neighbours field at Stanton on the trailer could have made sone deep ruts. There were very deep puddles at the field gate.

With seven of the team in attendance, one group of three headed for Stanton Aqueduct to further progress the design and build of the shuttering for the up side foundation repair. Following a call with the Infrastructure Manager, the method was finally agreed. This is to use both Five Star grout and 40N concrete. Measurements were taken and the quantities estimated so the materials can be ordered. Using a mix of grout and concrete saves quite a few pounds - the grout is relatively expensive.

Following this the team of three installed the replacement bridge rail post for milepost 8¼ (near bottom of the high mileage slope from Stanton Yard). The old milepost was a battered BR style yellow metal head mounted on a round post – the worst example on the line, as noted by a recent post in the Heritage Herald blog.

The refurbished length of bridge rail for milepost 8¼. The blue marks on the ground either side were to ensure it is correctly half way between 8 and 8½. In the background is one of fine pear trees at Stanton. [Photo by Roger]

 

Our plant operative took the telehandler to Toddington Yard. The other three members followed along the railway, stopping at culvert 20C at the high mileage end of Chicken Curve. Following the heavy rain this had been reported as backing up on the inlet side. There was some evidence of this – so we cleared the concrete apron of silt and grass. The bore was just coping with the flow from the stream. The new balancing pond in Chicken Curve down side orchard was inspected; about one third full of water so nothing flowing out of the overflow into 20C. This is going to be a signifiant help in controlling the flow through 20C. Then on to Toddington Yard to met the telehandler. The first of the two remaining stacks of concrete chamber rings was loaded and taken to Stanton Yard. Then a swap of vehicles to take the second LWB Transit back to Toddington to collect the second stack; and then move the telehandler to Stanton. This means that after 3½ years there are now no stacks of drainage chamber rings residing at Toddington.

The new balancing pond on the down (Cotswold) side at Chicken Curve. Not quite finished, but already regulating flow of water into 20C. This is the orchard, newly planted fruit trees on the left. Next spring this will probably be one of the most attractive sites on the line.

 

Culvert 20C inlet (down side) after clearing. In wet periods this always has some standing water, as the outlet on the up (Malvern) side outside of the railway property is a small diameter pipe. That pipe runs along the boundary of the old orchard, when the GWR built the line it went through the middle of the orchard. Environment vandalism in Edwardian times!

After lunch the combined team worked as much as the wet conditions would allow on the 11B up side diversion. All the required 225mm pipes and collars were laid out and the exact positions of the intermediate chambers marked out. The petrol pump was used to pump out the existing outfall ditch allowing the two team members with wellies to dig out the hole for the new chamber. A bit more digging is still needed - hopefully we will get the minidigger on site next week.

With the telehandler on site at Stanton, this was the mode of choice for moving the 225mm twinwall pipes. Requires careful positioning to get the balance right, and of course checking with the Operations Manger that no trains on the move.

 

Stuart tends the pump, Nigel in the hole digs out, whilst Roger, Martin and Dave assist from the bank. Pumped out existing outlet ditch of 11B in the foreground.

Close up of the entrance to the existing land drain under the boundary hedge. Depth of water removed by the pump obvious. Last time we saw this pipe was back in the hot weather last summer when it was completely dry. This land drain will remain; just that it will not be taking any of the flow from the down side that comes trough 11B.

Pipe lengths laid out along the line of the new bypass. All we need now is the ditch in which to bury them (and the chambers at 30m intervals).