Day
20: Moored at Windmill End Junction, Netherton
10 miles in all, with 1 Big Tunnel
A
cold day and windy too, we delayed our start until midday.
Around
the Oozell Street Loop and a tricky exit (with a rope) back onto the
Main Line, this time towards Gas Street.
Sherborne St. Wharf
Approaching the exit
Looking backwards!
Through Brindley Place, where the trip boat pulled out just in front
of us!
Broad Street Tunnel, really a wide road!
We
went slowly through the Warwickshire Bar. The 'strange but true'
history here is that when the Worcester and Birmingham Canal was
started in 1792, the Birmingham Canal Navigation would not allow a
connection, so goods had to be laboriously manhandled across the
physical barrier between boats either side.
In
1815 an Act allowed the creation of a stop lock and the bar was
breached. The Worcester and Birmingham raised their water level by
six inches to minimise water loss and today the two pairs of lock
gates have been removed. There were separate toll offices either side
of the bar for the two canal companies. The bar still exists, with
boats moored to both sides of it.
The Warwickshire Bar – see the rather fine Cafe (which does real ale as well!)
Looking back – see the two Community Officers, they and the police
have a high profile around here
We
turned at the Mailboxes and reversed to the service point for fresh
water and to do the toilet for the week.
Then
the return trip, back through the centre of Birmingham – until next
June 2014, for more opera!!
The
New Main Line has several toll islands that would have had toll
offices on them
Emerging from Galton Tunnel
The dead straight 'new' line, as part of Telford's improvements
around 1830
There is considerable dereliction away from the city centre
Under the Old Line at Tividale Aqueduct, looking at the Tunnel Entrance
Netherton
Tunnel was opened in 1858 being the last canal tunnel to be built.
Constructed to relieve the congestion of the single, non tow path,
Dudley Tunnel, it was extremely modern for its day being wide enough
for two narrowboats to pass with a tow path on each side. Initially
lit by gas for 24hr working this was changed to electricity.
At
3027 yards long (almost 1 and 3/4 miles), it is the 4th
longest in use today. 9 men died building it with 18 seriously
injured. 17 shafts were dug along its length for excavation of which
7 were kept as ventilation shafts – dripping wet down the brick
linings.
There is light at the end of the tunnel?!
Looking back at the brick lining and the tow path, with railing
A wet ventilation shaft
One tow path is now gated off
Our overnight mooring at Bumble Hole – with the engine house
chimney in view
Cobb's Engine House – built in 1831, it housed a stationary
Newcomen steam pump used to pump water firstly from Windmill End
Colliery and later other mines in the area, discharging into the
canal. So it also helped to keep the water levels up.
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