Flooding at Melksham, 24th December 2013

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Overnight flooding has left the line submerged at the station platform, with around 3 inches of water over the rail head. Perhaps a steam engine would have got through (or 150 927, which someone joked with me the other day is made of fibre glass and can be turned over to become a boat in these conditions!) but realistically the service is unlikely to be back to normal until after the Christmas break.  And - realistically - it's sensible for First to concentrate on dealing with the blocked main lines before giving too much attention to the less major services. However, I went out and took a few pictures, and tried to help explain to four customers waiting for the 10:03 to Swindon that it would not be turning up, even though the information board told us "on time" until about 10:10 (at which point it disappeared by magic).   I'm pretty sure that all 4 will try the train again another day; good, as we're very much looking to build up custom.   It would be a real help, psychologically, if the departure board had at least shown the train as cancelled in good time, or at least "delayed" or "awaiting news" after it was supposed to have left Westbury.

Anyway - pictures

[Chris from Nailsea]

Overnight flooding has left the line submerged at the station platform, with around 3 inches of water over the rail head.

Gosh - thanks for posting those pictures, grahame! 

Just as an aside: I'm also concerned for the thriving community of rabbits who are (or possibly were) a charming feature of Melksham station ... 

[grahame]

Just as an aside: I'm also concerned for the thriving community of rabbits who are (or possibly were) a charming feature of Melksham station ... 

Cottontail was hopping across the railway tracks just out of the flooded area at around 10 a.m. this morning 

[Chris from Nailsea]

Ah, good: I'm glad the little furry people seem to have survived that inundation. 

Returning to matters more rail-related: I was interested to see that the rails do seem to dip a bit, in the middle of what used to be the whole platform length at Melksham, as shown by the depth of the water at various points in picture 3.  Is that intentional, or merely the cumulative effect of trains resting there and gradually compacting the ballast?

[grahame]

I was interested to see that the rails do seem to dip a bit, in the middle of what used to be the whole platform length at Melksham, as shown by the depth of the water at various points in picture 3.  Is that intentional, or merely the cumulative effect of trains resting there and gradually compacting the ballast?

The area is certainly very close to the lowest point (statement of the obvious!), where the line comes down from the Chippenham direction to cross a stream / minor tributary of the River Avon; it then curves to the right and rises over a higher flank of land to avoid the majority of the flood plane by the river as it meanders down to Staverton, with the railway going more direct via Broughton Gifford and Holt.   I'm told by some local residents I met (no, not Mr and Mrs Rabbit!) that the stream has recently been cleared out and yet they have never seen it so bad ...

But it clearly has been bad in the past.   From the archive, courtesy of the Melksham Historical Association who's permission we have to use their images in the quest for an improved train service (oops - do I now need to seek renewed permission ... no, we can improve things further like improving runnabiity on days like today!):

[Chris from Nailsea]

Wow!  Thanks again, grahame, for that picture.  Do you / they have any suggested date for that particular flooding incident?

[grahame]

Wow!  Thanks again, grahame, for that picture.  Do you / they have any suggested date for that particular flooding incident?

I don't have an exact date I'm afraid ... I would suggest it was between 1930 and the outbreak of the second world war.

[Network SouthEast]

Perhaps a steam engine would have got through

On a lighter note, it is unlikely a steam engine would have got through. Flooding would have likely caused track circuit issues. If/when the line is fitted with axle counters then steam trains would have the same issues as other trains, because the Rule Book does not allow trains to run where the water is above the rail head, without permission of the Network Rail Operations Controller, and even then permission can only be granted if they can be sure that the water has not, or is not likely to, dislodge the ballast - and even then trains can only move at 5mph! So a steam train would have not been much use.