Clearing and inspecting commences

Regular readers of this blog probably know that main activity of the Drainage team in the autumn and early winter months is performing a visual inspection of the 24 culverts and 45 cross drains along the line. Additionally we clear the access, in most cases from the adjacent cess, and clear any vegetation, silt or other obstructions in the water courses. Also cleared is the vegetation growing around the cess and crest chambers; and the mileposts. As some of the vegetation is scrub, where birds may be nesting, a lot of this work can not be undertaken during bird nesting season (March to August). So this year we were hoping to make a start on the first Thursday of September. But, not surprisingly, the weather had other ideas.

Thursday 5^th September

Seven of the team attending on a damp, misty autumnal day.

The main activity was at Stanton, cross drain 11B inlet on the down side. The fourth upright and the final cross rails were fitted to the safety railing above the chamber walls adjacent to the embankment. Backfill was added to the level of the top brick course, apart from the tallest wall abutting the embankment. This is to try to avoid vegetation growing there. All the remaining plant, equipment and materials from the site were recovered and returned to Winchcombe; apart from the mini digger. That remains on site, as the deepened boundary ditches are not quite complete. Jonathan used the digger to get the low mileage boundary ditch dug up to the point where we have the access gap in the fence.

Nigel, Polly and Martin installing the safety rails at 11B inlet.

 

Dave fills another barrow of aggregate to be returned to Winchcombe.

Jonathan with the mini digger excavating the boundary ditch by the hedge on the low mileage end of 11B inlet.

Almost complete, the 11B inlet chamber.

 

As the recovery of items from Stanton took longer than anticipated; and as the weather had not substantially improved, we postponed the planned culvert/cross drain inspections and clearing at Working Lane/Royal Oak. So after lunch we took the train to Cheltenham and back. This did allow for:
(1) observing the state of the Working Lane/Royal Oak haul road; it s quite overgrown we will ned to take the self propelled flail to mow it
(2) inspection of the crossing by Cheltenham Racecourse signal box where a silted up run off gully on the racecourse side is leading to water pooling by the down line during heavy rain; clearing this out and making a better soak-away will be straight forward half day task, but a proper fix to take water into the cess drain in the six foot is much more complex
(3) a ride behind 3850 on its third day back in service.

3850 arrives at Winchcombe with the 13.27 to Cheltenham on it's third day back in service.

 

Thursday 12^th September

Definitely another day to keep warm by keeping working! Six of the team attending.

Jonathan and Polly completed the boundary ditch excavation at Stanton 11B down side. Most of this was accomplished with the mini digger - but the last few yards by the gap in the hedge where the mini digger has to come out were dug by hand. Next week the mini digger will be returned to Winchcombe and a fence reinstated in the gap. This will then complete the work on 11B; apart from the painting of the safety rails. Still no decision a yet on the colour to use; but it does need to be visible so yellow, white and silver are the obvious choices.

 

The low mileage 11B inlet ditch with the entry into the inlet chamber top right. The last few yards required digging by hand as the mini digger could not get close enough. [Photo by Jonathan]

The mini digger at the gap in the fence/hedge with the completed ditch. [Photo by Jonathan]

 

The other four (Roger, Nigel, Martin and Andrew) went to Working Lane to start the delayed culvert/cross drain inspections and clearance. However the first task was to use the self propelled flail to clear some of the vegetation from the haul road; and the turning point on the up side of the line opposite the Royal Oak. This has made a significant improvement; but there is more to do. On the first section of the haul road from Working Lane gate the fail can not clear any further width because it is embankment on one side and overhanging hedge the other. We will need to call in one of our contractors with a tractor mounted fail arm.

Nigel gets to grip with the vegetation on the high mileage side of the 24C outlet ditch at Working Lane.

In the distance, Martin is clearing the exit of 24C by the boundary fence. The outlet ditch is not now in a green tunnel.

The effect of the wet spring and summer is very evident with the length and thickness of the vegetation. Before lunch we cleared the outlets (up side) of 24C and 24A; including the full length of the 24C outlet ditch from the haul road to the boundary exit grill. Silt and debris removal in this ditch will be a regular task until next spring. After lunch we cleared the up side exit of 24B and the down side inlets of 24A. Hence total for the day was one and two half clearance; so only one internal inspection fully carried out. Importantly that was 24A, where the under track bore has an extension consisting of a 24” x 24” rectangular brick channel with a steel plate roof. This steel plate is now seriously corroded, and giving cause for concern. A tentative plan for fixing this will be discussed with the Civil Engineering team.

The up (Malvern) side exit of the main bore of 24A with the corroding steel plate roof.

 

 

3850 again - at the top of the haul road by the rear of the Royal Oak pub.