Spring cleaning

Thursday 16th April

Eleven team members attended, split into 3 groups.

Stuart and Roger stayed at Winchcombe undertaking mile post manufacture. They cleaned up three lengths of bridge rail for replacement posts; built up and numbered three heads and fabricated some new metal caps.

Three new heads - including one with numbers cut from acrylic sheet. (Can you tell which?) [Photo by Roger]

Jonathan, Ian and John went to Gotherington yard. Jonathan drove the JCB telehandler in order to level the yard so as to make room for more vehicle parking and a decent flat area for PWay ballast, which is delivered by road. Also some of the materials for repairing the most recent slip south of Manor Lane may be transferred from road to rail here. Skilful driving saw Jonathan build up the embankment next to the track with spoil.   He then cleaned up the ballast pile and tried to move some of the clay into the corner, but the telehandler hasn't got the break out force - there was some impressive “wheelies”.

Telehandler in action. [Photo by Ian]

Telehandler at rest as the class 122 DMU passes by. [Photo by Ian]

End result - a lot larger and flatter area in the yard. [Photo by Ian]

The final group, Martin (S), Martin (J), Peter, Phil, Dave, and Polly schlepped off to the Tirle Brook culvert 32A.in Dixton cutting. 

Polly and Martin (S) deepened the low mileage down side crest ditch, as occasionally during the winter months run off from the adjoining field overtops this and runs down the cutting side to the down side cess.

Deepened crest ditch. [Photo by Martin(J)]

Martin (J) with a chainsaw and Phil cleared debris from the exit channel; whilst Peter and Dave concentrated on the removal of moss and other vegetation from the inlet flume. This clearance work needs a spell of dry weather - the Tirle Brook can flow strongly after several days of rain.

Tirle Brook exit (up side) - the fallen tree was left as this is too big to move and is not impeding the flow. [Photo by Martin(J)]

Phil on the inlet flume of 32A. [Photo by Ian]

Spring growth much in evidence. Phil and Polly removing some of the debris. [Photo by Ian]

A final task for the clearance team was at Working Lane, clearing more debris from the ultimate exit grill of culvert 24C. Whilst not a difficult job (unless the stream is in flood), this is one of our most frequent tasks. Consequently, fitting a better grill here is on our list of jobs for this summer.

More spring greens at 24C. [Photo by Ian]

All in all, a very successful day, which saw all set tasks completed.  It was kind of Sarah (Infrastructure Manager) to pop down and check we were ready to roll at the start of the day and then come and inspect the work at Gotherington Yard later.  We like MBWA (Management by walking about) - it makes a team feel wanted and cared for.

Wildlife report: Wildlife was abundant - some might cruelly suggest that pigs may fly, as two Police helicopters flew low over us, plus the team saw many of the Dixton deer herd, a lone kite was searching for offal, but only saw drainage workers! At Gotherington yard, John spotted a slow-worm, which was assisted out of harm’s way.

Slow worm. [Photo by Ian]