GWR header image


 
Appeal banner

Collapse Update 28-12-10


article by: Darren Fairley
posted on: 30 December 2010
updated on: 09 February 2011

This is just south of Far Stanley and this is not a stream but a section where the buried clay pipe drain has become ineffective.  Both north and south sections of the Far Stanley drain are being replaced. (Darren Fairley)
This is just south of Far Stanley and this is not a stream but a section where the buried clay pipe drain has become ineffective. Both north and south sections of the Far Stanley drain are being replaced. (Darren Fairley)   Click to view larger version

As with Gotherington this Cotswold side embankment is higher than the Malvern side so it is important to clear this water away more efficiently to prevent pressure building up and pushing out the opposite side of the embankment. (Darren Fairley)
As with Gotherington this Cotswold side embankment is higher than the Malvern side so it is important to clear this water away more efficiently to prevent pressure building up and pushing out the opposite side of the embankment. (Darren Fairley)   Click to view larger version

North of Far Stanley the drainage contractor has already started.  At the high end of the drain the drop in levels down to the culvert in the distance (where the tree line comes in from the field) can be appreciated, but because the drain has stopped working, water has been ponding up at this higher level. (Darren Fairley)
North of Far Stanley the drainage contractor has already started. At the high end of the drain the drop in levels down to the culvert in the distance (where the tree line comes in from the field) can be appreciated, but because the drain has stopped working, water has been ponding up at this higher level. (Darren Fairley)   Click to view larger version

The cold snap before the onslaught of snow did not hamper efforts by our contractor to complete the backfill and compaction of Area 2.  Thankfully the worst of the weather hit during the wind down for the Christmas break.

The accompanying photographs give a very brief update on not the collapse site one of the sites where addition work is going on to protect the Railway.  This specific site is Far Stanley just south of Gretton Village.  It is another case of where we have high embankment with extra pressure on the Cotswold side and where the original drainage has become tired and levels have settled and changed.

We have existing culverts in place which still work well and it is a matter of improving the drainage to them.

There will be more, and I will update on these as progress is made.







8 comments for “Collapse Update 28-12-10”

  1. Gravatar of davidswinforddavidswinford
    Posted 30 December 2010 at 17:17:46

    Just wondered if anyone has any idea when the line is possibly going to be open fully ? Realise it is a difficult one to answer but is there a target date please ?? Many Thanks

  2. Gravatar of Darren FairleyDarren Fairley
    Posted 30 December 2010 at 18:03:38

    David,

    The target date is June 4th. Most Magazines are just starting to pick up on it.

    It will be great to have the line fully open to Cheltenham again and with the Laverton Extension as well.....12 miles of Cotswolds Splendour.

  3. Gravatar of Ben J HardingBen J Harding
    Posted 30 December 2010 at 22:40:36

    Any idea of how long the line is closed for? i would love to make a visit in the new year, when the repairs are complete . . .

  4. Gravatar of kenny felsteadkenny felstead
    Posted 01 January 2011 at 23:37:32

    i was at your christmas cracker gala on thursday and in the afternoon both trains were stopped at toddington and listening to some volenteers around the station they were saying there was some movement of ballast at chicken curve, is this correct? i thought something was up earlier in the day as the driver and fireman of the 8f were peering down at the track as she crawled round there on the way to toddington.

  5. Gravatar of Darren FairleyDarren Fairley
    Posted 02 January 2011 at 11:18:47

    Chicken Curve was going to be part of the next update, we have a speed restriction over it and have doen for some time. It is another area where historically there has always been problems – it’s the section that closed the railway prematurely in BR days. Its been a difficult area pretty much since the railway was built.

    I hope to provide an item on Chicken Curve soon and the planned work to come.

    In short the embankment has slowly dropped (completely different situation to Gotherington) over time and more ballast and material has been added to compensate. During the winter maintenance shut down period we will be taking the track off reinforcing and levelling the bottom ballast bed and relocating the track further towards the centre of the formation.

  6. Gravatar of Andrew HartleyAndrew Hartley
    Posted 16 January 2011 at 20:22:30

    Does anyone know how much has been raised so far with the landslip appeal fund?

  7. Gravatar of Andre RobertsAndre Roberts
    Posted 16 January 2011 at 21:23:04

    I know there's been well over £70,000 (+ an extra £200,000 from a group of people there) donated by volunteers and a further £200,000 by the public.

  8. Gravatar of Howard ParkerHoward Parker
    Posted 17 January 2011 at 09:24:11

    Can we not see if the army can help with all the work we need to do to save/improve our infrastructure? There is that huge logistics base close to us in Ashchurch and army engineers have helped several railways in the past with bridges and other works. just a thought.


Comment on this item