GWSR Lineside

  6 of us yesterday working north from Pecked Lane.   We cleared around the vehicle entrance and the fence around the footpath leading to the crossing. Working on the Malvern side we brushcut and cleared the fences of the houses that back onto the line. Initially we were passing the children’s nursey and checked in with them before starting work as the children were outside. Some of the children enjoyed seeing us working but it was nowhere near as exciting as the passing trains. We were able to return various balls, toys and hats, that had strayed from the nursery. We had one satisfied resident who said vegetation from the railway was just starting to come through her fence. She also took pity on us during the hot day by providing some bottles of squash, which was much appreciated.   Brian and I also visited a resident of the mobile home park, who had reported Japanese Knotweed coming into the garden from the railway. From what the lady advised it seems to be a reoccurren...

It was warm today, very warm. So grateful for a quick easy job to finish clearing brambles with the goods train out the way.  Great to see so many people at the railway and so many of the team in different roles. I didn't take too many pictures today.  Graham 

  4 of us today.   We tidied up the station area at Hayles Abbey Halt, so hopefully it will be admired by those attending the steam gala at the weekend. The bridge abutments have been sprayed with weed killer, so there is no issue with access should any inspection be required.   There were several areas of wild flowers, currently in bud, which we left to flower later in the year. We normally clear the Malvern bank in the autumn, to keep the bramble at bay and to encourage wild flower growth, so I suggest we add both sides to our job list.   We had a bit of time available at the end of the day and intended to tackle the overhanging branches in the vehicle compound at Winchcombe. However we couldn’t find the saw attachment for the Wolf Garten extending pole, so had to abort our plan. Can anyone shed light on where the saw is?   David M

This was a great day where the team of 4 concentrated on the Northern portal of Greet tunnel. This was a bigger job  than first anticipated.  It included brush cutting a 2 metre strip on the  Malvern side for approximately 150 metres. On the Cotswold side there  was a stand of Willow and hawthorn that was demolished and a lower arm on the nearest oak which was almost touching the ground . This itself was a big job which caused the team to use a fire to get rid of the cut material.   Also they burnt a quantity of previously cut material and tidied up the whole area .The view of the  opening of the  Northern portal has never looked better and no doubt it will be a focal point for a number of photographers with the additional nearby hut that is being built.   They could have restricted the work to the morning but decided it was worth spending the extra time and do a thorough job. Well done team Brummie Dave

Great work today by the team in warm conditions at Gotherington. Alex and I set worked from the distant signal in Dixton cutting back to Gotherington clearing any plants from underneath the signal wire. Dick cleared the dead broken branch from the last pine at Gotherington. Sally worked along the fence line by the path to the station clearing. Sally and Dick also cleared the weeds from the signal wires and point rodding from Gotherington station back to the signal box. Andy, Paul, Lawrence and I set about brushcutting both the Cotswold and Malvern sides of the line from Gotherington to Granna Lane Bridge. Assisted by Alex on fuel and look out duty. All the above was completed by 2pm when we packed up and headed home for a well earned cold drink. A video and a couple of photos. Graham         

 Four of us today, David, Charles, Kevin and Lawrence (briefly) with the first task to clear around the badger sett just south of Bridge 37 (between Manor Lane and the repair work. Lots of badger activity identified but it all seemed to be historic rather than active.  However, night cameras seem to have identified some activity in the area.  The site was fully cleared to the bottom of the bank and to either side where no other digging was noted.      Three of the team then moved on to Station Road bridge (38) via Pecked Lane to remove the saplings north of the bridge.

  Just 2 of us today.   Exceptional working with a team of two as there was a defect report to action and as we were working between Toddington Signal Box and Station it would have been easy to obtain help, had it been required.   The defect report was from the signalmen who could no longer see the down starting signal at the south end of platform 2. We dealt with the overhanging branches and saplings that were blocking their view and left with the signalmen happy.  We also cleared the strip from the end of platform 2 to the signal box. The arisings were used to create small lengths of dead hedge in gaps by the fence, which should be a deterrent to trespass that has occurred in this area.   David Mendham