Day
7: Cruising the Old Main Line or Coming Home?!
1 tunnel, 3 locks and 9 miles
1 tunnel, 3 locks and 9 miles
Today
we headed into B'ham – this time via the Old Main Line, the
Brindley 1772 contour canal on the 473ft level.
And
what a delight! We took photos amany, so here are a number for
interest.
These are Network Rail men – assessing the safety of the bridge
New housing development
This workman is clearing grass around the white signage – for a
petrol pipe under the towpath?!
A new basin – never used!
Crossing Tividale Aqueduct – looking down on Netherton Tunnel (our
way home?)
Florence moored at Valencia Wharf
All that is left of Valencia Wharf – where our boat hull
originally was built 36 years ago!
Our
route then takes us under the M5 concrete viaduct, towering over the
old canal.
What
a contrast in centuries – as the cars and lorries zoomed overhead
at 70mph, our canal boat, basically a 1950's mode of transport ticked
along at 3mph.
1772 and 1972 – two centuries of transport!
The top of Smethwick Locks (3) – down to the New Main Line (new as
in 1838!)
Modern civil engineering
This cyclist crosses the bridge at Smethwick Junction – hey –
enjoy the blog!
End
of Part One! To be continued …
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