Size six

Thursday 30^th July

Three groups set off from Winchcombe yard, all heading south. So all had to follow a diversion due to the closure of the Greet Road bridge.

First to depart were Dave, Nigel and Polly. Their destination was cross drain 37E between Manor Lane, Gotherington and Bishops Cleeve. The task here were to repoint around the barrel of the cross drain on the outlet (up or Malvern side); and to install some rubble as anti-scouring material in the outlet ditch. Once completed they made their way on to Pecked Lane at Bishops Cleeve.

Anti-scour rubble placed in the outlet ditch of 37E. [Photo by Dave]

37E outlet headwall repointed around the barrel and flaunching added to aid the exit of the water. [Photo by Dave] 

Roger, Jonathan, Phil, Dee and Martin (S) were the second group to depart – this time directly to Pecked Lane. Here the job was to investigate all the cess chambers on both sides of the line between Station Road bridge and Two Hedges Road. At the site of the old station, there is only one cess drain in the old 6 foot space between the two tracks. Only a couple of chambers between Station Road bridge and Pecked Lane crossing required silt removal. South of the crossing it was a different story!

Phil, Dee, Roger and Martin(S) extracting silt.

Phil removing silt from a down side cess chamber. (PW track walkers in the background). [Photo by Martin(S)]

Andrew, Peter and Laurence were the third group to leave. Before leaving they made up the new head for milepost 17 – the number 7s are acrylic. They made their way to cross drain 31A, between JJ Farms and Prestcott Road bridges. Laurence is going to produce some detailed design drawings of the new chamber and retaining wall we are going to construct on the down (Cotswold) side; and the additions to the small headwall on the outlet on the up (Malvern) side. Hence the visit to check the measurements we took back in January – we certainly subscribe to the ‘measure twice – cut once’ method of working. Like at most locations along the line, the vegetation has grown substantially this spring and summer. Hence the first task here will be some site clearance. Once the measurements were checked, this group also joined all the others at Pecked Lane.

Somewhere in the undergrowth on the left is 31A inlet!

The damp patch in the 31A exit ditch indicates that there has been some recent flow.

The combined team at Pecked Lane continued with the silt removal from the cess drain chambers south of the crossing. Nigel and Dave used a brush cutter to clear growth from around the up side chambers. Andrew and Jonathan removed a section of the metal cage protecting the inlet of culvert 39A. This allowed Jonathan to climb down into it (following the agreed confined spaces method of working) to inspect the inside of the ‘bore’. There was a considerable amount of silt just inside the entrance; which was causing the level of water to be above the overflow which runs into the down side cess. Hence the reason why we are seeing a lot of water flowing south in that cess, and why there was a lot of silt in the cess chambers. We were able to remove some of the silt and other debris from the inside of the culvert. This reduced the flow into the cess. We will come back later to undertake further removal.

Roger, Jonathan, Laurence and Dee investigate the silt and water flow in the down cess chamber adjacent to 39A. (I'm not sure to whom the accusing pointed finger belongs!)

Another day when working in a culvert in the shade was the coolest place to be. Jonathan investigating 39A.

Inside 39A, using tracer dye to see where and how the water flows. The overflow into the down side cess is visible top left. [Photo by Jonathan]

Removing the silt from the inlet of 39A. [Photo by Jonathan]

Polly trimming the brambles around the 39A inlet.

Just like last week, the team recovered some more ‘foreign objects’ from the down side cess. Today it was one shoe (size 6) and some clothing – only now suitable for the bin.

Only two footballs found today. [Photo by Dave]

Nigel, Polly and Dave pause vegetation clearance around an up side cess chamber to wave to passengers on a passing up train.

A much cleaner task was fitting the new replacement head for mile post 17; undertaken by Nigel, Peter and Dave.

The new milepost 17. Originally this would have been on the up platform at Bishops Cleeve station, you can just see a cess chamber in the old six foot at the right. [Photo by Dave] 

Much to the delight of some of the team, both trains today were hauled by green diesels. Resident green class 37 D6948 was on train 1, whilst visiting Hymek (class 35) D7018 was on train 2. The later is approaching Pecked Lane crossing having just passed under Two Hedges Road.

At Winchcombe. Was the choice of 'Lime Green' title for the fire risk all diesel timetable influenced by the two tone livery of the Hymek?

Wildlife report: The most audible item was a couple of very loud gulls over the yard a Winchcombe first thing in the morning. Perhaps these are same ones which make a racket at Bishops Cleeve at lunchtime. Otherwise not a great deal of unusual or new sightings; some wasps and hornets, a domestic cat by Two Hedges Road and lots of spiders in culvert 39A. Quite a lot more blackberries are ripening, so too are some elderberries.