BCN Bi-Centenary 1969

 You may wonder why, after months of absence from the canal "blog-sphere" I am writing about an event over 50 years ago. 

Well firstly I will try and explain my absence. After Edward Winter's untimely passing I felt I just couldn't get back to reporting on my mixture of canal and river journeys, old waterway's books and memorabilia. My heart just wasn't in it and to some extent I always though of Edward as being "My Reader" - I would write with him in mind. 

Also my world of science, I am an editor of an international engineering science journal, just got busier and busier with researchers busy writing manuscripts during the Covid restrictions. I therefore set aside Albert's Blog "until the spirit moved me".

Well a couple of weeks ago my next door neighbour who knows my passion for canals donated some books and pamphlets that had been his fathers - mostly about the Llangollen Canal. He was de-cluttering prior decoration. As part of the handy package I obtained came a wonderful pamphlet for the 1969 IWA National Rally that was held on the Birmingham Canal Navigations to mark their 200th anniversary. The 53-page pamphlet is fascinating and the copy pristine. It has great articles that would not be out of place in Narrow Boat. In particular, the article on BCN history by J.L. Langford is really good. 

But why did that particularly move me to post about this now. Well the next image is the big clue!

   Yes, HRH Prince Philip who was patron of so many organisations was also Patron to the 1969 Rally of Boats in Birmingham. His interests in boats and sailing was well-known but I hadn't realised that he had a connection with the canals. At this time "Mr Birmingham" - Frank Price was Chairman of British Waterways and I just wonder if he was the one who persuaded the Duke of Edinburgh to oblige. The IWA were always trying to be well connected and I am sure they were pleased with the patronage. I can just imagine Peter Scott or John Betjeman asking him. However, I can't find a record of Philip actually visiting the rally.  It was also a critical time for canals and the birth of leisure boating. Encouraging public interest in what were seen by some as dirty and dangerous waterways was vital for their survival. 

As always with these booklets from bygone ages the adverts are revealing.

Braunston Marina full of GRP Cruisers

Early Steel narrowboats - note the prices

We will be out boating soon and Albert has had an updated galley. I will have to get back to more regular posting and perhaps even finish reporting on last year's cruising.

 

Major's Green, Solihull

On Thursday October 9th we returned to Albert at Sherborne Wharf and our friends Anne & Edward Winter joined us for a short trip south. In the afternoon we headed out of central Birmingham along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal.  The weather was autumnal but dry. Edward steered for most of the afternoon and found the journey alongside Birmingham University and Cadbury's particularly interesting. Passing the university the Ross Barlow hydrogen powered boat was on the move. It was travelling very slowly, if that was intentional or because of because of some technical issue we probably won't know, but it took ages to clear a bridge hole. Hopefully it wasn't intending to go far.

Unique slow-down mechanism near Bournville

We turned off the Worcester & Birmingham at Kings Norton and headed down the Stratford Canal. It was getting dark as we approached The Drawbridge at Shirley and the evening "rush-hour" was in full swing. I waited to operate the electrical bridge to try and upset as few car drivers as possible but the road is obviously a rat-run and the queues rapidly built-up. Edward took Albert through the bridge without much delay but driver frustration had obviously built-up and as the road barriers each side of the bridge lifted two cars (an Audi and a Mercedes) "went for it" and faced each other across the bridge. The Audi backed down, but not after some confrontation. It then faced another Mercedes and an even more aggressive stand-off ensued. By this time we had nearly left the scene. As we looked back into the distance they appeared to have sorted themselves out and traffic was flowing freely.

We stopped just around the corner at a nice quite spot between Major's Green and Dickens Heath.

Sherborne Wharf, Birmingham (football hero and bouncing bombs)

On Tuesday October 7th we woke to heavy rain and it continued all morning. I made the mistake of forgetting that to get to Birmingham via Netherton Tunnel there was one lock to negotiate at Parkhead before we branch off along the Dudley No. 2 Canal.

Heavily-laden Tench moored at Withymoor Island and flying the Black Country Flag

We left the modern area around the Waterfront at Merry Hill and once more travelled along the "post-industrial" landscape of the Black Country. When we arrived at Parkhead, not only did I discover the lock that I had forgotten about, but in coming to a halt just outside the lock we picked up a mass of tangled electrical cable around the propeller. A lengthy trip down the weed hatch with a pair of wire cutters ensued. Luckily the water was not too cold but it was raining. After about 3/4 hour the prop was free, we negotiated the lock and turned onto the Dudley No. 2 Canal. The bridge above the lock was appropriately named the Dudley and Lye Waste Bridge.

Approaching Bumble Hole with Cobb Engine Chimney

Junction with the Boshboil and Netherton Branches and the Dudley No.2 main line to Hawne Basin

The Dudley No. 2 has great views across the valley towards Brierley Hill and is really quite rural in places with the former industrial sites now long since covered in vegetation and a number of nature reserves. The interpretation boards placed along the canal by the Dudley Canal Trust were fascinating. I was particularly taken by the board describing the foundry that cast the enormous casings for the Barnes-Wallace bouncing bombs that destroyed the  Möhne and Edersee Dams  dams in Germany during World War II. At the time those working in the foundry would have had no idea of the function of the cylinders they were casting. There was also a plaque under Primrose Bridge commemorating Jeff Astle, the England and West Bromwich centre forward who scored the goal that won the 1968 FA Cup. As a Baggies fan who saw Jeff play several times I was quite excited to discover it.

Entering the Southern Portal of Netherton Tunnel

(Note the two towpaths and you can just see the far end)

All morning we only passed one boat on the move. By the time we got to Netherton the weather had brightened up. The passage through the tunnel was rapid with no boats in sight. We turned onto the Birmingham Main Line and headed for central Birmingham. 

Bromford Junction - Old Main Line to the left

Under the M5 with a large electronic advertising panel

The magnificent Galton Valley bridges 

A hire boat from Stone on the Main Line towards Wolverhampton

The wonderful neo-Gothic architecture of  Engine Arm Aqueduct

In late afternoon we reached the Oozells Street Loop and moored up at Sherborne Wharf. Because we had appointments at home, we moored up Albert for a couple of days and late afternoon we headed home on the train. The plan was to return and continue our homeward journey.

Stourbridge

We don't often try selfies - here is our attempt from the lock side at Swindon - Staffordshire. Emily, our daughter, lived for some time at the Wiltshire town of the same name - well that's our excuse for the picture.

A selfie!

On Sunday October 5th we left Compton and made our way towards Stourton Junction and the start of the "Back of the Map" - the Stourbridge Canal. The weather was bright and really pleasant. 

Going down Bratch Locks

It was quiet on the canal and the volunteer lock keeper at the Bratch was very helpful. We only had to wait for one  boat to come up the flight.

As we approached Stourton, Janet & Mike Kinnings called us and suggested they help up first four locks on the Stourbridge Canal - the start of the BCN. We gratefully accepted and moored up in the countryside after a long day.

Brewood

Thick ice on the BCN Old Main Line at Tipton

Last night was cold and ice had formed on the section running down to the Dudley Tunnel. We left around 9:15 and broke up the pretty patterns on the ice. Sections where the sun and wind hadn't managed to disturb the surface were icy but others were clear. It was also in icy sections that rubbish collected.

Ice sheets and flotsam and jetsam

 

Approaching Coseley Tunnel

 

Coseley tunnel had been closed on Thursday because of a fallen tree. We saw evidence of the tree but there was also lots of debris in the water. As we got closer to Wolverhampton we found ourselves following the path cut through the ice of another boat. The boat must have gone down the flight in front of us because all locks at the top of the flight were set against us.

 

Wolverhampton Top Lock

 

BCN Marker

Top Lock Cottages Wolverhampton Flight

 

We made steady progress down the flight but we had to take it steady because the lock gates were a bit icy. We passed a couple of boats coming up the flight when we were about halfway down, so for a while the locks were set for us.

Lock 8, Wolverhampton Flight

A well-worn casting

 

About halfway down the flight a working boat (NB Halsall) with an enthusiastic crew caught us up. After that we got into a rhythm with their crew coming forward to give us a hand with closing the gates. Leaving Lock 12 we found the pound was low and Albert ran aground. We had to let down another lockful to get into the next lock. This was a bit strange because all the way down the flight there was plenty of water going over the bywashes.

 



 

Magnificent railway viaduct arch - built on the skew

 

Wolverhampton Railway Viaduct







 

We finally got down the bottom of the flight at 3:15, just less that four hours after entering the Top Lock.  Hardly a record but we were unlikely to get down quickly.



 



Wolverhampton Bottom Lock, Aldersley Junction

 

Aldersley Junction, Staffordshire & Worcester Canal

 

On the Staffs & Worcester we passed Oxley Marine. Moored up was Felis Catus III. This boat still bears the name of Mike and Wendy Stevens. Mike ran one of the early major waterways web sites and was a great waterways enthusiast. Mike sadly died aboard the boat in October 2007.

 

NB Felis Catus III

Bridge Protection, Shropshire Union

 

We joined the Shropshire Union at Autherley Junction. Napton Narrowboats are now operating from the stop lock base. There were  plenty of their boats moored up but according to one of their staff moving boats, eight will be hired out over Easter. Given the weather, and the early Easter, I suppose that is not bad.

 

We moored up on the visitor moorings just before Bridge 8 near Brewood. In the distance we could see snow on Cannock Chase although there was thankfully no snow on the towpath. It is going to be cold tonight so we expect there will be some ice on the cut in the morning. 

 



 

 

 

 

 



 



 

 

 



Dudley, Black Country Museum

 

We are on the move again after our pause for the snow & ice. We returned to Albert last night after a train journey. The boat was cold! We just had to get the heating going as soon as possible. There was much less snow than when we left on Monday but there were still slippery spots all across Birmingham.

Icicles under St Vincent Street Bridge

We picked up coal and gas from the wharf and said farewell to Charlie from Felonious Mongoose, and made our way along the mainline towards Wolverhampton. There was plenty of ice on the canal but thankfully it was thin and we could break it easily. There were also spectacular icicles under some bridges. One large icicle even fell into the canal in front of Albert as we passed under Spon Lane Bridge.

Rubbish Clearance Barge - Birmingham Mainline

 

Looking back towards Engine Arm Aqueduct

 

Galton Pumphouse

Looking back towards Galton Tunnel and Bridge

Complex of bridges and aqueducts - Stewart aqueduct and M5

 

Looking towards Dudley Port Junction

At Factory Locks there was some sheet ice but it wasn't very thick. However, the bottom lock was full of rubbish including a dead badger. True to form we picked up some of the rubbish around the propeller and I had to go down the weed hatch. Clearing the propeller under normal circumstances is far from pleasant but this was icy cold! Double gloves helped a bit.



A rubbish filled Factory Lock Tipton

After leaving Factory Locks we diverted toward the Black Country Museum and moored up a their visitor moorings. The sun had begun to shine (briefly) and we were able to spruce up the boat - Maggie polished the brass and I washed the roof which was filthy after the snow had melted.

 

Dudley Canal Trust Boat entering Dudley Tunnel

Moored up at the Black Country Museum



Sunshine- looks like spring until you see the snow!

 

 

 



Waiting for a Thaw

Snowman from an enterprising restaurant

We are not fair weather boaters, and don't mind some difficult weather during our boating, but the unseasonal weather has made it very tricky. On Sunday the snow flurries in Birmingham lessened but on Monday there was still plenty of ice and snow around making life quite difficult. We had thought that if it was not snowing we would move along the Birmingham Main Line towards Dudley. It soon became clear that although this was perfectly possible to proceed, getting on and off Albert, and operating locks in particular, would be hazardous. With this in mind we decided that we would take a couple of days away from Albert and hope that a thaw might set in.

Some brave daffodils in Birmingham City Centre

Immediately we had decided to leave the boat the snow on Albert's roof started melting and we wondered if we had made the right choice; maybe we could proceed earlier than we thought. This was somewhat reinforced by our walk to the station to take a train home - it was much easier moving around the city centre than on Sunday. However, a shaded windy underpass near New Street confirmed our original view that it will take some days for a thaw to really set in. We had great difficulty getting down a slope and other pedestrians were actually sliding down the slope as if on a ice rink and predicting "someone will break their back".

We thought the technical difficulty of  appearing in a production of Wolverhampton 21 on ice was too challenging and we doubted if we would gain any marks for artistic impression!

Albert's roof is under there somewhere!

We will return to Birmingham shortly and hope we can move on.

Still in the Snow at Birmingham

The snow on Sunday morning was even deeper and light flurries continued to fall most of the day. It was clear that travelling down the Birmingham Main Line was not an option, at least for the day, so we stayed put at Sherborne.

Albert well covered with snow and ice

Even more snow

Waterway Routes (moored alongside) well covered with snow

Hot air from the mushroom vents melting snow

 

We stayed on board in the morning but ventured out into the snow and ice in the afternoon. We visited the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery to look at the Pre Raphaelites, an exhibition on the development of Birmingham, and the famous Staffordshire Hoard. We had very nice tea and cakes in the splendid Edwardian Tea Rooms.  

 

Tomorrow we hope to move on to Dudley as long as conditions don't deteriorate. The forecast is for continuing cold weather but snow doesn't look imminent. We are certainly getting through our coal and gas.