LINESIDE DRAINAGE
Our Railway acts as a giant barrier, preventing rainfall on the Cotswold Hills getting to the Rivers Avon and Severn. Therefore, this Department has the very important role of looking after all the track drainage and culverts in order to ensure the stability of our track bed and to prevent landslips. The work varies throughout the year and includes things like building work, vegetation clearance, pipe laying, ditch clearance and CCTV surveys. It can be as strenuous as you want it to be and currently takes place on a Thursday. However, there are occasions when this changes due to operational or task requirements. The usual meeting place is Winchcombe Yard at 8.30am and finishing time is rarely later than 4.30pm. We also work in most weathers – only if extremely wet or cold is work cancelled.
The Lineside Drainage Department also frequently undertakes civil engineering tasks on a wide variety of the Railway’s infrastructure, which involves working closely with the Permanent Way, Bridges and Lineside Clearance teams and with the Railway’s infrastructure and civil engineering contractors. The Team is also replacing all the mileposts along the line with authentic GWR-style posts.
The Lineside Drainage Team work under the direction of the Infrastructure Department (together with the Bridges Team) for normal day-to-day activities and individuals are expected to volunteer for at least one duty per month.
LINESIDE DRAINAGE UNIFORM AND SAFETY
All Lineside Drainage volunteers need to complete Personal Track Safety training provided and need to understand the Health & Safety regime under which we work. Where necessary, training will, of course, be provided on the use of equipment.
Volunteers need to provide themselves with stout protective footwear, strong gloves, workwear trousers, an orange High Visibility waterproof jacket/coat and an orange High Visibility waistcoat for warm weather work. The Railway will supply all other PPE, including a hard hat wit ear defenders and eye protection.
FITNESS
There is no specific level of fitness required, but you will be on your feet for most of the day. The work of the Department will take you anywhere along the Railway and will involve a lot of walking. Much of the work may involve digging, shovelling, sawing and raking. You will also need to be able to carry equipment and be able to load/unload vehicles.
However, regular breaks are taken during the day! Please be aware though, that working on remote stretches of line can mean that facilities are often non-existent, so you will have to be self-sufficient and will need to bring your own food and drink with you for the day.
CURRENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
We are keen to expand the Team and so are happy to accept new recruits, especially those with management or practical experience of civil engineering or building. Also, bricklayers and volunteers with vehicle and plant maintenance skill would be most welcome. Prospective volunteers will also be invited to attend a ‘taster’ day.
