Hanging on

With the vernal equinox occurring next Monday, metrologists and astronomers will both agree that summer is over and we are in autumn. This week we had a couple of signs that summer was just about hanging on; we spotted some swallows that had not yet migrated south and the temperature made wearing a jacket too warm for work. However, with little sunshine and a couple of light drizzle showers it certainly felt more autumnal that summery.

Thursday 18^th September

Nine of the team in attendance, so an even split with three in each of three vehicles to start with.

Nigel, Dave and Peter travelled to Stanton to undertake the clearance of culvert 11C which is just north of Stanway viaduct. This was the task which we postponed from last week. Both the inlet and outlet ditches were completely dry enabling a thorough removal of bankside vegetation.

Bone dry - inlet ditch of 11C.

Roger, Jonathan and Andrew also headed to Stanton. Their first task was to complete the removal of silt from crest ditches on the down side between bridges 10 and 11. Also they inspected several cess chambers in an attempt to devise a plan to repair the damaged chamber by bridge 10. We might have to purchase some more of the heavy concrete chamber rings – alternatively we may be able to move some from other chambers and replace those with GRP rings. That does require the use of concrete to GRP adapters, which we have not used before.

Silt removed from a crest chamber at Stanton.

After coffee break these six then teamed up to complete the clearance and inspection of 11C; and the down side slip markers there. In years gone by the embankment here suffered some slips; and was the home to a family of badgers. Probably these two items are related. Fortunately now, no sign of badger activity or further slipping.

Andrew inspecting the inlet bore of 11C - last year such an operation would have resulted in very wet feet. [Photo by Jonathan]

The remaining three, Martin, John, Stuart, proceeded to Toddington. They started with the clearance of cross drain 14A; which runs under the yard and the narrow gauge line before exiting somewhere in the adjoining field. So only an inlet to clear, but this where we have encountered contaminated water in the past. Hence, extra PPE is required when working here. They then moved down to culvert 14B clearing the down side before the rest of the team arrived.

14A inlet hides in the toe ditch on the down side at Toddington.

Roger and Andrew took a diversion to investigate the cess drains at the south end of the platforms at Toddington. The platform extensions here are going to have some impact on these chambers.

Inside the cess chamber near Toddington Signal Box. Just a trickle flowing in and then out to the right towards the ditch that eventually runs to 14A. 

A brief, but fortunately light, rain shower meant our lunch was taken inside the vehicles. After lunch, the combined groups continued heading south clearing cross drains, culverts and around cess chambers. The structures completed were culverts 14B, 15A, 16C; cross drains 16A, 16B and the road gulleys under bridge 16 (Didbrook No2) bridge. Plus a start was made on clearing at bridge 17A – one of the large structures reclassified from a culvert a few years ago. Four of these (15A, 16A, 16B and 16C) had no water flowing through – something none of the team had seen before. Being able to stand in the ditches not only enables better clearing of the banks, it also enables inspection photographs to be taken looking into the bores.

Unsurprisingly water was flowing through 14B, however it was shallow enough to enable a close up of the inside of the bore. 

All the edge slabs on the 15A inlet were still upright - just a shallow pool of water in the bore.

Cleared roadside gully under Didbrook No2 bridge. [Photo by Jonathan]

Dave clears by the hedge line to locate where we repaired the overflow pipe from 16A down side. No sign of leaks. Lot of rose hips here.

16C completely dry.

Wildlife report: Beside the aforementioned swallows (at Stanton); the team spotted quite a variety of bird species. Three raptors (red kite, buzzard, kestrel), woodpecker, great tit, wren, a small flock of finches and a large flock of crows at Didbrook. On the ground we noted two unidentified species of caterpillars and several species of slugs. Amongst the vegetation that we were clearing were wild hops and mint; whilst along the vacant trackbed at Didbrook we noted quite a number of deadly nightshade plants.

Hops at Didbrook.