Dry January

No, nothing to do with abstinence or not of alcoholic drinks in the first month of the year. But a statement on the weather. The first three working days for the team were entirely dry, and on the fourth the precipitation was just some early morning drizzle. (Or mizzle as the weather forecaster called it – it was more of a mist and low cloud). As the fourth Thursday of January was Burns Night – I am sure that one or two of the team enjoyed an after work tipple or three.

Thursday 18^th January

The dry weather certainly has made a big difference. Some of the watercourses we inspected today were dry or just damp, this time last year some were noted as flowing strongly; and no sign of the standing water reported just before Christmas. However, the weather did give us one problem - frozen metal inspection lids on the inlets of cross drains 39B and 40B. Not surprising with overnight temperatures of -8C; but a combination of hot water, WD40 and brute strength managed to shift them.

With no wind and plenty of sunshine, our lunch break was longer than last week - and we had a stunning view west past the Malverns with the Welsh mountains just visible.

Opened eventually! Frost and ice still on the inside of the metal lid of 39B inlet.

Six of the team were in attendance. The work was the internal visual inspection and clearance of cross drains 39B, 40A, 40B, 41A, 41B and 41C between Bishops Cleeve and Kayte Lane. We also greased the 10mm bolts on the metal inspection cover in the footpath by Pecked Lane crossing at Bishops Cleeve. Also cleared was the remaining vegetation round cess chambers, mileposts and some other uprights which the robo fail can not reach. There are a few more of these to do - but these can wait until later in the year as this is strimming activities not brush cutting so can be done in bird nesting season and the better tool is a cord strimmer rather than a brushcutter.

 

For a cross drain, 40B is quite a drawn out structure. Here is where a stream enters the cutting on the down side, it comes from some springs up on Cleeve Hill. Some of the water runs in pipes down to the cess, but some runs south in a crest ditch. Where the cutting transitions into an embankment, this becomes a toe ditch; and the cess empties into it (see next photo). Finally it all runs into the inlet of the main 40B structure - over quarter of a mile from the stream entry. Quite why the GWR (or the contractors) built it this way is a mystery.

This is the little dinky headwall where the down side cess is piped into the toe ditch to run to 40B.

We noted quite a large amount of litter around Two Hedges Road, obviously tossed over from the footpath. A little further south were some larger items of non-railway rubbish inside the boundary fence. We removed some the bigger metal items.

Just before Christmas there was a pond here - all dry (well OK just damp) here now. This is the outlet  (up or Malvern side) of cross drain 41A. Downstream is the school playing fields, without a proper channel for this watercourse.

The wildlife spotters in the team were on the lookout for the visiting winter birds. A small flock of fieldfares were noted at Bishops Cleeve in one of the lineside back gardens. No sign of waxwings or redstarts though. As usual with clearance activities, it is the tame robins that come closest. Near Kayte Lane we even spotted one inside a cross drain bore.

Thursday 25^th January

Headline activity for today was the completion of the 2023 programme of internal visual inspections and clearance of culverts and cross drains - the last two (as usually is the case) being those south of Hunting Butts on the disused course of the line.

Again the team size was six, and we appreciated the warmer temperature. Once the early morning mist cleared, it was a reasonable day. In places the ground conditions were noticeable dry – a consequence of a few days with no rain and a good drying breeze.

Initially all the team were involved with the recovery of 3 9-foot lengths of bridge rail from under Evesham Road bridge at Cheltenham Racecourse. We also recovered two concrete catch pit rings from near the siding point south of the bridge; and some various bits of metal scrap.

The only item moving on the rails south of Gotherington was our permaquip trolley. Here Ian provides the motive power heading south through Racecourse station. Coming back with three lengths of bridge rail and two concrete chamber rings required more effort!

Then three of the team headed off to culverts 44A south of Hunting Butts tunnel and 45A at Wymans Brook to undertake the visual inspections and the essential clearance. The brickwork of the outlet (up side) of 45A Wymans Brook has noticeably deteriorated as a stump of an ash tree is growing again. The other item of note was that the up side low mileage toe ditch that feeds into 44A outlet was flowing - probably from field run off as the field had just been ploughed. There was no flow in the up side cess chambers south of the tunnel, but as expected a steady flow in the down side and into 44A inlet.

Looking down the 'chimney' chamber on the down inlet side of culvert 45A at Wymans Brook. The brook is over 20 feet down; it is piped all the way back to the lake in Pritville Park. This the most southerly structure on today's GWSR.

 

The other three team members cleared vegetation from around all the cess chambers on both sides between Evesham Road bridge and Hunting Butts tunnel north portal. Good to report that all the anchored down blue mesh chamber covers are still intact. Hunting Butts does suffer from trespassers and vandals, so everything needs to be anchored down. On the south side of the tunnel there was evidence of recent trespass. We spotted a Deliveroo bag inside the tunnel and the burnt out remains of the Deliveroo tricycle on the old trackbed at the footpath crossing. Even with the dry days, water was still running of the down side field north of the tunnel. It runs into the cess drain and then out through the tunnel. There was some evidence of a significant flow during the recent storms.

In Hunting Butts tunnel, the two cess drains combine into a single drain that runs in the 6 foot. This is the lid of separation chamber on the south (high mileage) end. Firmly screwed down - a job we did several years ago.

 

After lunch the combined team cleared the access on both sides of the line to bridge 42A - the Hyde Brook watercourse. This is bridge and not a culvert, so the visual inspection is down to the bridges team. However it does look to be in good condition - one of the best on the line!

Outlet (up or Malvern side) of Hyde Brook watercourse - bridge 42A. One day all our headwalls will be this good!

Finally back at Winchcombe yard - the unloading task included finding a suitable spot for the lengths of bridge rail. The milepost replacement project will be restarting shortly.

Not a great deal to report on the wildlife front this week. There were plenty of slugs and woodlice under the loose coping bricks and in gaps on culverts 44A and 45A. We spotted a single black headed gull at Cheltenham Racecourse. The noisy flock of herring gulls around Cheltenham Spa (Landsdown) station do not seem to have ventured north – yet.

Fox on the run

Like many mainline and heritage railways, the route of the GWSR is a haven for wildlife, both animal and plant. Working outdoors on the line, which in places is well away from roads and human habitation, is a good opportunity to view the wildlife at close quarters. One of the members of the Drainage team is the primary author of the “Nature Between The Fences” page on the Railway’s web site. However, close up observation of most birds and all mammals suffers for two reasons. Firstly, apart from tea and lunch breaks we are too busy, often using machines which create some noise. Secondly we are wearing bright orange PPE – easily spotted by animals as well as the crews of approaching trains. Hence, good pictures of mammals and birds from our work sites are rare. Just occasionally we do get lucky.

Fox at Gotherington. [Photo by Dave]

Dave was able to capture this fox near Gotherington on our first work day this year. It was during morning tea break and the vehicle made for a reasonable hide. Not to be outdone, the other team that day had a visit at lunchtime from a felis catus (OK, not really wild life!); probably the smell of tinned fish from a lunch box was the attraction.

Thursday 4^th January

A very productive day to start the year, and importantly there was no rain. However, underfoot conditions were very wet; storm Henk and the wet period over New Year has left a lot of water. Almost every watercourse we looked at was flowing strongly or even furiously. At Gotherington on the down (Cotswold) side there was a stream coming across the field to cross drain 35A with evidence of recent very strong flow.

Down (Cotswold) side at Gotherington. Normally there is just a depression in the field. Flowing water into cross drain 35A only happens in really wet weather.

The attending six members split into two teams of three for most of the day. Because of the ongoing Permanent Way work south of Gotherington loop, we revised our plans. A gap in the rails near the south points to the loop prevented use of a permaquip trolley from Manor Lane. Using a trolley from Gotherington Yard is strenuous – as there is a good uphill section. So to access the three cross drains by the loop (35A, 35B and 35C) we obtained permission to use the field of the adjoining garden centre. This reduced the amount of carrying equipment (and flasks for tea/coffee) considerably.

We don't have many red brick drainage structures. This is an exception, the under footpath entrance headwall for cross drain 35C. Strictly this is outside of the railway boundary, but we keep it in good order.

Between the teams, we completed the clearance and inspections of cross drains 35A, 35B, 35C, 35D, 36A, and 36B. We also cleared cross drains 37A, 37B and 37C south of Manor Lane.

Whilst at Manor Lane we inspected the roadside gulleys under bridge 36. Although flowing sufficiently to clear the water; one gully was partly obstructed with stones. As we did not have the finger grab with us, full clearance of this was deferred. Also at bridge 36 we measured up for an alternative scheme to replace the coping on the down (Cotswold) side parapet. Ideally this should use 16" coping bricks, of which we don't have any in stock. Instead we plan to use pairs of standard single bullnose bricks (BN1); which does involve some cutting. There is a good possibility that we will be donated a supply of imperial bullnose bricks which would be ideal for this project.

Up side parapet of bridge 36 (Manor Lane). Note how the 16" coping block overhangs the outside face but not the inside. We plan to make the down side parapet appear similar.

Apart from the mammals reference earlier, noted wild life was mainly birds. Three species of raptor (kestrels, red kites, buzzards); robins and several unidentified LBJs (little brown jobs).

Thursday 11^th January

Another dry day – so far 2024 is so much drier that 2023. However, it was cold. Not too cold to work, but our lunch break was certainly shorter than usual! The seven team members attending found to keep warm meant to keep working!

Main task for the day was to complete the culvert and cross drain clearance and inspection between Manor Lane, Gotherington and Pecked Lane, Bishops Cleeve. This was helped by already having cleared cross drains 37A, 37B and 37C last week and the Saturday clearance team having cleared the down side at 38A (the up side there is not accessible). Hence there was 9 visual inspection reports to be written and reviewed. (cross drains 37A to 37G and culverts 38A and 39A). 39A is the one by the foot crossing at Pecked Lane. Here we were able to remove the metal lids of the manhole in the footpath so were able to clear out most of the debris which had collected where the outflow from the railway property divides into two concrete pipes.

The intermediate chamber of cross drain 37D by the foot crossing between Gotherington and Bishops Cleeve. This is bore under the track; there is then another pipe under the footpath.

One of our larger culverts, 38A. This is by the mobile home park at Woodmancote. Flood alleviation work, including some 'leaky dams' has meant this does not get overwhelmed by flood waters now.

39A at Pecked Lane crossing. Opening the metal lids in the footpath reveals where the exit from railway land by the houses splits into two concrete pipes. And this is where a build up of debris occurs - at least mostly leaves and small twigs. When we open up these sort of manholes we use our gas detector to check the levels of carbon monoxide; carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide and other nasty gases.

Pleasing to note that we found no significant deterioration of the inspected culverts and cross drains. Just a lot more water flowing into and through them, and evidence of deeper and faster flows in the preceding weeks. Additionally clearance of the up (Malvern) side embankment by our contractor with his robot flail has enabled us to spot a couple of damp patches. These are between milepost 16¾ and bridge 38; and are probably as a result of the wet autumn and early winter. The downhill drainage here is minimal, the ground is quite flat. No doubt this is why it is a prime spot for new houses.

At the beginning of the day we tackled three odd jobs at Gotherington. First we replaced the broken lids on the outlet chamber of cross drain 36B, a casualty of the robo flail.

New lids and marker posts for 37B up side. [Photo by Roger]

Second, we completed the clearance of the road gullies under bridge 36 using the pronged grab; the offending material being medium sized stone.

Not quite wildlife at Manor Lane. This does show how the road dips under the bridge. This is one where there is no alternative road access if blocked drains makes the road impassable. (No this was not a photo from January!)

Thirdly, mile post 15¾ by Gotherington loop was reset and the bridge rail post cemented into position. It no longer leans at an alarming angle away from the track. We will repaint the bridge rail and replace the BR style yellow metal head in due course.

MP15/III (to use it's structure id) concreted in place at the correct lateral angle and square longitudinally. [Photo by Roger]

Finally back at Winchcombe we inspected the up side low mileage wing wall of the River Isbourne bridge (21A). Repairing the displaced coping stones and first few courses of bricks is within our capabilities - it will need at least one replacement 18" bull nose coping block. This is likely to be one of our first tasks following the completion of the culvert and cross drain visual inspection programme. It does, of course, depend on dry weather and normal river levels. And no other urgent tasks cropping up!

Nothing new or unusual on the animal or bird front for our wildlife report this time. One noticeable item is the large amount of mistletoe on the trees between Gotherington and Bishops Cleeve. We should have worked on this stretch before Christmas to enable some to be harvested for decorations!

Mistletoe near Gotherington. We will take orders for next Christmas!

Finally, the easing of the wet weather has allowed our contractor to complete the infilling of the 11B to 11A up side diversion ditch at Stanton. So at last our major project of 2023 is complete! Well almost! We may have to raise some of the inspection chambers by one or two rings as they are now flush with the ground unless the ground compacts and shrinks. Ensuring that inspection chambers stand clear of vegetation does help prevent close encounters with robo flails, telehandlers and other road vehicles.

River Isbourne

One of our regular readers has asked for some pictures of the flood alleviation work that Walsh completed on the River Isbourne at bridge 21A. So here are some – including a 'before' picture of the wing wall that we will be working on.

Down (Cotswold) side, or upstream. Pipe inlet at top right comes from the stream which runs behind Winchcombe Yard and under Churchward House compound.

Down (Cotswold) side showing inlet from embankment toe drain.

Down (Cotswold) side portal.

Up (Malvern) side low mileage wing wall - the end of which which we will rebuild.

Up (Malvern) side, or downstream.

Up (Malvern) side showing the outfall of the cess drain that runs between the platforms at Winchcombe station then through the deep man hole by the Usk weighbridge building and then alongside the boundary fence.