Drainage work update 15th June

I took the opportunity today to see how the drainage work was going.  It is moving much closer to completion now.  Most of the temporary fencing on the west side of the main line has gone now allowing photo opportunities from some different vantage points.

Here a much neater looking settlement pond than two weeks ago. Smooth landscaped sides with some subsoil being spread around the perimeter on top of a membrane.  Despite earlier appearances, I think it is going to look quite good when it is finished.

A closer look reveals that the water level has been higher recently but not high enough to leave by the outfall.  It has either evaporated or seeped away.  There is some planting of what could be reeds that I guess are there to help with cleaning the run off.

 The removal of the temporary site fencing allows me to take a shot from the other end of the new pond looking towards the river.

 Here is the end of the open drainage channel where it enters the link to the new pond.  Presumably there is one coming in from the other direction.

 Looking the other way the channel follows the viaduct up to the higher ground.

 Looking back from the higher ground.  When it is raining heavily there must be a mini waterfall as the channel drops down to the lower level.

 This the start of the channel.  Sadly the low fencing has resulted in more graffiti.

 Again I am amazed at how quickly nature has reclaimed the bare ground.  Even the re-instated Bedford line embankment which was more or less bare chalk is greening over.

 It is particularly thick here with thistles.

 The higher triangle of land between the two embankments is still quite sparsely covered though.

 I took this shot because it demonstrate quite well how steep the initial gradient is on the first section of the viaduct.  In the centre between the trees you can just see the main line before Hitchin North Junction.  To the right you can see how much higher the viaduct is.

 A four car service approaches the junction.

 Then moves onto the flyover.

 Now reaching the far side about to move onto the embankment section.

Zooming in as it leaves the viaduct.  

On my way out of the Bury Mead Springs area, I took a grab shot of one of the recently refurbished class 365 units in its fairly neutral colour scheme.  This will make the re-branding easier when FCC loses the franchise to Govia in September.