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.