Whaley Bridge and the Toddbrook dam

[whole diary]

[Robin Summerhill]

As you have probably heard in the media, there are serious concerns that the Toddbrook Dam above the town of Whaley Bridge will fail after the recent heavy rains up there.

Whilst the media are currently reporting that the whole town is being evacuated, on the Radio 4 PM programme (1700-1800 this evening) they interviewed former MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) Edwina Curry who actually lives in Whaley Bridge.

She said that reports of the town's total evacuation are incorrect, and its only 400 or so households in the lowest lying Parts (which does include the centre of the place by the way).

What this has got to do with railways is that Whaley Bridge is on the line between Buxton and Stockport, and RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) is suggesting that the last train to get to Buxton today was the 1324 ex-Manchester Piccadilly (Whaley Bridge dep 1408), and the last train to go the other way was the 1402 ex-Buxton (WBR dep 1418). The 1434 ex-Buxton only appears to have got as far as Furness Vale, which is on the other side of Whaley Bridge. Nothing else has run through Whaley Bridge since then.

Does anyone know if all this is precautionary or is the line blocked?

[bradshaw]

National Rail Enquiries has this to say:

Flooding between Hazel Grove and Buxton means that trains are currently suspended between these stations.
We don't have a firm estimate of how long this incident will last; however, the emergency services are advising that the line could remain closed until Sunday 4 August.

[broadgage]

Some reports suggest that smaller scale flooding is occurring WITHOUT the dam failing.
To reduce the risk of the dam failing, the water level is being reduced firstly by opening the usual outlet and secondly by use of high volume fire service pumps.
This water flows into the small river that was presumably the original watercourse before the dam was built.
This excess flow is causing some flooding, perhaps this is affecting the railway ?

[brompton rail]

To bring this up to date. Sheffield to Manchester line is also closed. This line is high up on the opposite side of the valley, but there are fears a catastrophic failure of the dam could underscore viaducts and bridges in the New Mills area. In addition it seems the Peak Forest Canal ( the reservoir is for the canal ) beyond New Mills could overflow in a disaster and damage the direct New Mills to Hazel Grove line. Today, Saturday, Trans Pennine Express are running an hourly service from Sheffield via (Swindon - NO!!) Swinton , Wakefield Kirkgate and Huddersfield to Manchester taking about 100 minutes as opposed to 50 minutes for direct route. Monday MAY see the Hope Valley reopen. Climate change eh!

No Hope Valley stoppers are operating from Sheffield even though a service to Hope might be possible. Northern’s stoppers are crewed from Manchester. However there is an hourly bus service on the parallel road, and train tickets have been interchangeable with bus tickets for years. Dealer -ugh? Edale isn’t served however, and their road is unsuitable for regular buses.

!Sorry for the typo corrections!
Update - Tuesday seems more likely for reopening of Hope Valley line now.

[grahame]

... Today, Saturday, Trans Pennine Express are running an hourly service from Sheffield via Swindon, Wakefield Kirkgate and Huddersfield to Manchester ...

Love it.   That will perhaps be Swinton?

[eightf48544]

Possibly the Peak Forest canal that has flooded. as it's the reservoir for the Peak Forest Canal from Whaley Bridge to Aston which also feeds the Macclesfield from a  junction at Marple.  Interestingly enough the water ends up either  in the Mersey or Trent.

[brompton rail]

I reckon that was autocorrect! Autocorrect must be Wiltshire based rather than Yorkshire based!

[rower40]

As Terry Pratchett's Wee Free Men might have said:

Whaley Whaley Whaley

[TonyK]

No Hope Valley...

Not prophetic, surely?

Things remain critical, but with the shoring up going well, pumping showing a serious drop in the water level, and the diversion of a number of streams that feed the dam, it is beginning to look as though disaster has been averted. But - what on earth to do about the dam for the longer term?

[stuving]

Things remain critical, but with the shoring up going well, pumping showing a serious drop in the water level, and the diversion of a number of streams that feed the dam, it is beginning to look as though disaster has been averted. But - what on earth to do about the dam for the longer term?

One of the standard things, presumably. If it is kept (and I'm sure it is useful) it will need a new emergency spillway, not necessarily at the same place or of the same design. It the clay core is damaged or suspect, it may need grouting. But no doubt those responsible for it already know a lot about its insides, and may well already have a plan.

[TonyK]

Clay core, covered with earth and a concrete top. Not many living people will have built one of those. But I agree - fixing it seems to be the only real choice.

[stuving]

Clay core, covered with earth and a concrete top. Not many living people will have built one of those. But I agree - fixing it seems to be the only real choice.

No, but most reservoirs in this country have (earth) embankment dams. A lot of people own, look after, poke about inside, and repair them. Not all of which can be done with a full one, of course.

[martyjon]

Clay core, covered with earth and a concrete top. Not many living people will have built one of those. But I agree - fixing it seems to be the only real choice.

No, but most reservoirs in this country have (earth) embankment dams. A lot of people own, look after, poke about inside, and repair them. Not all of which can be done with a full one, of course.

Wot about a thread :-

The A38 and the Barrow Tanks.

If one of the three gave way the A38 to the airport would be submerged, the village of Barrow Gurney swamped and the Long Ashton Park and Ride flooded to a depth of a metre.

It always intrigued me as a kid when we passed them that those men sat on the top of those 20 foot high embankments fishing had water lapping at their feet.

[TonyK]

No, but most reservoirs in this country have (earth) embankment dams. A lot of people own, look after, poke about inside, and repair them. Not all of which can be done with a full one, of course.

Nice to know we still have the skills, then. Also nice to see that the predicted heavy rain fell on someone else a few miles away, and that the efforts of the emergency workers with the pumps are paying off.

It seems that the Canal and River Trust is the body responsible for the upkeep of the dam. This will be a drain on their resources (groan!) but I'm sure help will be forthcoming.

[rogerw]

Reservoir is a feeder for the nearby canal