Digging complete

A major milestone is the completion of the digging of the trench for the 11B to 11A up side diversion at Stanton. We started this on 2^nd March – 5 months ago; making it one of our longest running projects.

Thursday 13^th July

Seven team members working, fortunately only interrupted by a heavy shower of rain for a couple of minutes. On that count, for Summer 2023 it was a dry day!

We made some more progress on the up side diversion of the exit of culvert 11B at Stanton. At the high mileage end the chamber at the current exit of the bore was built up to ring height. Also we back filled it with concrete, just leaving a hole to insert the first length of pipe of the new run. This will be the last item to do - as when we do that water will run down the new pipe. The gap in the trench for this was reduced in height and length - heavy manual digging in the clay soil.

The new entry chamber; gap left to insert the first length of pipe. Three concrete rings required for completion.

At the other end of the ditch our mindigger excavated the pit for the third and final intermediate chamber and began the trench down to the 11A exit. It was pleasing to be working on the final length of trench - the end is in sight! The minidigger was returned to Winchcombe Yard so that it can be used next week on the children's play area by platform 2. In return we will have a contractor with a larger machine at Stanton - this should cope better with the heavy clay.

Almost lost in the long grass - our minidigger works on the site of the third intermediate chamber.

 

Finally we checked the level of the trench between the second and third intermediate chambers; adjusted as necessary and laid two more lengths of pipe.

Wildlife report – with a focus insects

We spotted quite a few - the following were identified:
Tortoiseshell butterfly
Large yellow underwing moth (Noctua pronuba)
Caterpillar of cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae)
Long-winged conehead bush-cricket (Conocephalus fuscus)

Cinnabar moth caterpillar

Thursday 20^th July

Five team members attending, including a new to the team (but not new to the EMD) member; welcome Ian. Plus we had one contractor working.

The contractor was from Graham Morrison, with a 3 ton excavator. This enabled completion of the digging of the 11A to 11B up side diversion trench at Stanton. [A major milestone!] The heavier machine with a longer jib arm made (slightly) lighter work of the clay. Not only was the last length of ditch dug out; but the pit for the exit chamber by bridge 11 and enlargement of the third intermediate chamber was completed.

The contractor's 3 ton excavator starts on the last length of trench. The tree in the hedge prevented a bigger machine from working here.

Some of the last bucket loads of clay being removed from the exit chamber alongside the farm track which goes under bridge 11.

Looking back along the completed trench (towards high mileage) from the exit chamber. The S  bend is to avoid the tree roots.

 

We used our new(ish) 110v electric pump to pump out the accumulated rainwater in the third section of the ditch. Once removed we noticed a small flow in the installed pipes, this is from old land drains which now drain into the intermediate chambers.

Temporary shuttering installed in the third intermediate chamber. About the only advantage of digging in such thick clay is the the tench sides are relatively stable - unless the clay dries out. Not much chance of that this July!

Some more manual digging at the entrance to the diversion; we are slowly reducing the size of the bund.

We installed a further two lengths of pipe; packed four lengths of pipe with pea gravel and constructed safety shuttering in the third intermediate chamber. Finally we collected yet another tonne (the sixth so far) of pea gravel from Elliots.

Finally (well actually it was the first task of the day) we undertook some vegetation clearance around the entrance gate to Stanton Yard.

Wildlife report

Concentrating on birds of prey at Stanton we noticed kestrel, red kite, buzzard. Again several butterflies - species identified were red admiral and peacock.

Thursday 27^th July

Six of the team in attendance to progress the up side diversion of 11B exit to 11A at Stanton. First task was to trim the pits for the third intermediate chamber and the final exit chamber; including checking for levels. Then it was laying the concrete base for both of these chambers. The exit pipe under the farm track (laid in 2019) was trimmed as the digger mauled it last week; a joint collar fitted so a short length of pipe can be added to exactly fit the new chamber.

110v pump in action emptying the water accumulated in the trench over the past week.

Ian (top) and Nigel tamping the base of the third intermediate chamber.

Exit chamber concrete base after tamping.

Exit chamber, showing the collar installed on the exit pipe installed in 2019. Notice this pit is much shallower than the third intermediate chamber, as the land falls away to the farm track running under bridge 11.

Wildlife report

Reptiles this week. We observed several lizards, we think young common lizards, around bridge 11 and at the vehicle turning point on the low mileage end of it. Also noted were two different solitary bees (large ones) - different species; but with 250+ species of bee in the UK we were not able to be more positive.

Lizards sunning on old sleeper near bridge 11. [Photo by Dave]

One of the solitary bees.

Thursday 3^rd August

Nearly a full complement of the team this week - just one absence due to illness.

A picture of a train for a change. Visiting BR Standard "Mickey Mouse" 2MT 2-6-0 78019 (from Great Central Railway) on the first down train crossing bridge 11 at Stanton.

Once again all the activity was at Stanton on the 11B to 11A up side diversion. Well nearly, three of the team first went to Gotherington to collect building sand and sharp sand that a homeowner had donated as surplus to a patio construction project.

At Stanton the main task was building the brick and block lower courses of the third intermediate chamber. The pipe between the second and third intermediate chambers was packed with pea gravel - completing that section. Two lengths of pipe were laid in the last section of the trench. The level of the trench at its entry to the exit chamber was deepened; and in places the trench alignment widened to ease the bends around tree routes. There is just three lengths of pipe to lay at the exit end of the trench; plus the first length at the current 11B exit chamber.

Brick and block courses of the third intermediate chamber complete.

Already the length of pipe completed so far and the trench beyond it are carrying water; entering from the old land drains and off the embankment.

Between the second and third intermediate chambers the pipe is now complete with pea gravel bedding.

Wildlife report

Nothing significant to add to previous. However we noted a large number of butterflies (several species) on up side low mileage of bridge 11; there must be some vegetation that attracts them. Also more common lizards spotted - including some at the existing 11B outlet on the up side.

For a change we took a detour on the way back to Winchcombe to take a closer look at the Stanway fountain. This is in action on Thursdays in the summer. Located in the grounds of Stanway House, it was opened on 5 June 2004. The single-jet fountain, which rises to over 300 feet (91 m), is the tallest fountain in Britain and the tallest gravity-fed fountain in the world.