Drop Dead Drain & Storm Overflow, Manchester - July 2010.

Drop Dead Drain & Storm Overflow - Discovered by Concrete Jungle & Visted By Ojay.

I was honoured to go and take a look at this new system. We headed back to take a closer look after CJ had recced this place a week earlier and only got as far as the overflow chamber. (Access Being somewhat comedy, especially a case of 'Wheres the path' on the way out) :D

After an interesting squeeze through the Outfall there was a real smell of 'fresh' in the air.

http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/x.../F_Outfall.jpg

We then headed up a small section of RCP before entering a small inspection chamber.

http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/x...F_chamber1.jpg

Ahead the overflow turned to lovely Victorian RBP, the type we are all too familiar with now in Manc (1650mm for the geeks).

http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/x...ead/F_ppl2.jpg

Continuing approx 180 yards we arrived at the brick chamber with the 2 RCP drop shafts that CJ had previously spotted on his initial visit.

http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/x...0Dead/End1.jpg

Although there was the occasional whiff of 'fresh' the chamber was rather clean, not a CSO as such but more of a storm overflow tank, with the ability to act as diversion if required looking at the arrangement above and the fact there is a small sewage pumping station nearby.

Looking down

http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/x...king_Down2.jpg

There was a ladder at the other side of the chamber,

http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/x...F_Ladders1.jpg

so naturally I started to climb it with CJ straight behind me. As I stopped on the first section and shone my torch up it I could see that it was multi-layered

http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/x...Dead/F_ppl.jpg

Having climbed approx 110ft the chamber consisted of 9 concrete sections, with standing room restricted every 12ft

http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/x.../Top_shaft.jpg

Looking back down and to the right (which was actually my left) is a seperate shaft for what appeared to be for lowering down plant.

http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/x...d/Top_Down.jpg

As we reached the top section, there was a smaller shaft with a ladder upto a manhole,

http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/x...d/Manhole1.jpg

Around 20ft up appeared 2 slots, looking inside I could see the top of each of the RCP dropshafts and another hole into a chamber further along which still needs looking at........

http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/x...d/Top_slot.jpg


I forgot to bring my gloves for this one, and boy was i covered in f**k knows what by the time I got out.

Judging by the noise above, the amount of manholes and the smell, I would suspect that there is probably a series of combined sewer drop shafts and vortices amongst other goodies waiting to be discovered.

Thanks for looking ;)