Drains

Hmm, drains, can our topics of conversation sink much lower?
This picture (from the Martlesham entry) prompted the thread. The majority of airfields I've visited feature one of these covers every xxx yards down the runway edge.
Thornaby had full length metal drains running down all three runways - very expensive. The ORB stated that it was one of the first airfields to get hard runways as the site was usually waterlogged. The full length drains became apparent when I learned to drive on the site a few years after closure. Some enterprising scrappies had removed all the cast iron drain covers except for a very small number at the runway intersections. Turning from one runway onto another could only be done at specific places. It added to the stress of learning to drive.

Years later I noticed the full length metal drains at Silloth. So guys any other airfields which featured this extravagant luxury?

Graham

[attachment=0:20s6xdit]Drain Outlet.JPG[/attachment:20s6xdit]

Came accross this one ot Clifton Airfield, thought it was unusual with the curved design of the walls.

Just for Carnaby...

Stoney Cross has this drain running diagonally from NW/SW and has the long AM drain covers and also Carew Cheriton all down the runway.



All the ones I have seen are date 1939?

Although slightly off the main theme of this thread, I thought I would share this - from our latest Airfield Focus - that shows the 833rd Engineer (Aviation) Battalion digging french drains alongside one of the runways at Raydon in 1943.

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Shepherds grove has some like Martlesham along the perimeter track, and Biggin Hill has some full length drains on one section, The OFMC Mustang found its way into part of it where there was a cover or two missing at an airshow there in 85/86.