Five go to Didbrook

Thursday 8^th October

Five of the team headed to Didbrook today. However, this was not an epic adventure as we were not that surprised at what we found. Nor did we have lashings of ginger beer!

First port of call was Toddington. The drainage system here is very complex. As well as the cess drain, which is in the six foot between the platforms, there are inlets from the car park, the loco shed area and the land on the down (Cotswold) side. As carriage washing takes place in the platforms, the cess drain never dries out even in a dry and hot summer. All these inputs meet up in chambers by the signal box. So this is where Martin (S), Dave and Andrew started inspecting. On previous inspections we had noted traces of foul air in some chambers; so this time we used our gas monitor for confirmation. Good news – the measurements of hydrogen sulphide, carbon monoxide and explosive gases were all zero. Not quite so good news is that one length of the down side cess appears to have an obstruction so will require rodding out. Martin (J) and Peter cleared the vegetation from the chambers at the rear of the signal box and then opened them up for inspection.

From the signal box, the drain is piped close to the boundary fence at the toe of the embankment. Approximately 120 yards further on, the pipe ends and the drain is then in an open ditch which flows to the inlet of cross drain 14A. On previous occasions we have encountered foul water here; so we take extra precautions when clearing around this exit. This includes wearing a FFP2 face mask and eye goggles as well as the forestry visor and helmet; disposable gloves and a plastic apron which are binned afterwards, and finally use of a disinfectant spray afterwards; particularity on our boots. This does make brush cutting hard! It was Andrew’s turn this year; with Martin (S) assisting with the disinfectant spray. They found a pool of water at the exit of the pipe, and a slight rotting vegetation smell.

Pooling water at the exit of the pipe from behind Toddington signal box.

 Meanwhile, about 100 yards further on, Martin (J), Dave and Peter were clearing the inlet of 14A. Here, there was a trickle of water running in from the low mileage ditch, and no foul smell. The outlet of 14A is outside of railway land on the far (Malvern) side beyond the narrow gauge railway.

14A inlet - a tall stack of concrete rings in the toe ditch.

Next the team tackled culvert 14B – one of the more challenging structures. One challenge is the steep slope down on both sides. Another challenge is that there is a deep pond on the outlet side, thus weed clearance is restricted to use of rakes from the bank. After the hot and dry summer; the water level was low. This enabled us to clearly see the deteriorating wing wall on the outlet; and to get a good view into the bore from the down (Cotswold) side inlet. Sorting this structure out is certainly going to be most challenging!

Dave, Martin (J) and Martin (S) examining the outlet of 14B.

Looking into the bore of 14B from the inlet side - usually water is too deep to take this shot.

As we packed up after lunch, the Broadway bound class 122 single unit DMU pass by.

3850 heads a down train past the14B marker posts.

 

After lunch, the team again split into two groups. Martin (J), Dave and Peter took on the clearance of culvert 15A – another one with steep climbs down the embankment sides. An additional constraint here is that there is insufficient width on the vacant up side trackbed to safely park a vehicle the required 3m away from the nearest running rail. Hence we take the equipment to this site in one vehicle, which then goes forward to a safe spot; and use a second vehicle to collect the gear.

Andrew and Martin (S) went forward in one of the vehicles to Didbrook No2 bridge to clear a safe parking space by mile post 10¼. Whilst there they also cleared and inspected culvert 16C. This is one of the smallest culverts on the line, and the one with the inlet closest to the running line. Today this stream that runs through it was bone dry. It was flowing slowly last autumn, so this shows that the drought this summer has had a greater effect.

16C inlet.

Wildlife report: The strangest sight today was a plague of flies which settled on the bonnet and cab of the white Transit van at Didbrook. They also seemed to be attracted to other white surfaces – like some parts of our brush cutters. Didbrook No1 bridge seems to be a good spot for bird watching. Over lunch we spotted buzzards, crows, robins, long tail tits, blue tits and a couple of unidentified little brown jobs. On the vegetational front; we found more wild hops on the up side by culvert 14B, whilst there is an extensive patch of wild mint around milepost 10. Growing in the centre of the vacant tracked at a number of places were some plants with small white start shaped flowers. Without our horticultural expert, our best attempt at identification is a variety of of Solanum (or nightshade). But is it black (nigrum) or red (villosum) or divine (nigrescens)?

Black, red, or divine nightshade - or something else?