S.T.D Drain (Re-visited)
I first poked my nose in here in 2010, but my battery died around two thirds of the way so I never managed any snaps of the upper sections
It's always been on my mind to make a return trip to capture those bits, however it's just the relentless stooping that always seemed to put me off!
The majority of it is under 5ft, with a good 200m+ or so where the CMP has been reduced to 4ft and less due to silt and build up of debris under foot
Described by the main man himself as a "Corrugated stoop-fest"
Getting to the outfall is a mission in itself, revealing an unassuming 5ft CMP which is hidden behind a mix of masonry/concrete
Once inside it's around 500m through barely a 5ft CMP, which after a couple of turns reduces to 4ft further upstream, pardon my language but it's a real C**T!
There are a couple of manhole shafts along the d/s section, the first one being a good 200m before I was rewarded with a back stretch
Around 100m further up there is a damaged shaft, it's covered with rotting timbers and water continually drips down
The next section of CMP is by far the worst, around 200m reduced to 4ft due to debris making it a real effort all round
(No way the camera was coming out here based on a recent experience)..
Eventually another inspection chamber presents itself, I was that cold and wet by this stage standing up was the last thing on my mind
Obviously no use in a GTFO situation or for inspection really as beyond the step irons, the ladders to the manhole above appear to have been pikey'd
Once again back to CMP this time with a noticable invert, eventually giving way to a larger RBP again restricted by debris making it no easier traversing really
The main feature of this particular drain is a large brick junction, here another watercourse joins via a 4ft RBP and the original continues on through a 6ft RBP
Having previously st00ped a good way up the 4ft pipe I carried on up the 6ft RBP, it's here I took my last pic in 2010 before the battery died
It goes on a good 50m before another junction where 2 smaller side pipes enter, it's full of oxidising deposits here
Further upstream the RBP changes to a larger (and older) masonry coursed section before abruptly a "U" shaped section with later concrete additions
This quickly gives way to a back breaking 4ft concrete box section approx 150m in length
Before reaching the upstream limit
Ladders head up a 30ft brick shaft to a manhole and the original culvert continues through a 3ft RCP on the right and another watercourse of unknown origin enters via a 3ft RCP on the LHS
It was good to finally return here, however equally as good to get out and stand up straight again
This one is most definitely hard work, but I guess worth it for some of the cool features that reside within
