Small Bridge Signs

For some time the bridges around the centre of Birmingham have had temporary signs stuck on them.  Mostly encapsulated paper ones but large enough to read and adequate for a sign that wasn’t to last long.

It’s important that bridges and other landmarks are clearly identified so that boaters can easily report problems and they are logged with the emergency services so they can quickly identify the scene of an incident.

On my last trip to Birmingham I was pleased to see the temporary signs had been replaced by permanent ones, but very disappointed at how small they were.

They are far too small to be read by a boater needing to report a problem, and impossible to see there’s a sign there from the opposite towpath.

Just look at the lower picture, it’s not the sign on the bridge (which is the makers plate) nor the white sign at each end for walkers but set back on the right hand pillar.

Posted on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 12:41        Comments (0)
Category(s): BCN

Forth & Clyde and Union Canals DVD is Released

Another pair of DVDs have just been released by Waterway Routes.

The Forth & Clyde and Union Canals DVDs have hit the streets in both Popular and Bowcam formats.  As with all our other pairs of DVDs they are also available combined in one box.

They cover the Scottish Lowland canals between Edinburgh and Glasgow and, as a bonus, the Popular version also includes a trip along the River Clyde aboard the paddle steamer Waverley.

You can see extracts from the DVDs on YouTube from the links on the right.

Highlights of these cruises include

• Rotating on the Famous Falkirk Wheel
• Descending the Staircase Locks at Falkirk
• Passing through the Dalmuir Drop Lock
• Lunch at McMonagles (watch the DVD to see why this is a unique experience)

You can see more about these DVDs on their own page and see our full range of DVDs here.

I’ve just had the comments back from the proof watchers on the Caldon Canal Canals DVDs so I can finalise those over the next week or so, to make sure they are all ready for Christmas.  The Caldon Canal was filmed before the breach on the Leek Branch this morning.

Posted on Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 22:42        Comments (0)
Category(s): Forth/Clyde Union , News

Past and Present

Andrew Denny, in his Granny Buttons Blog entitled Jumping Joe Darby, and who’ll be the new Baron De Coubertin of the waterways?  mentions an archive video from 1972 and asks where it was taken - hoping a blog reader can identify where.

It took a little detective work and careful watching of our BCN Bowcam DVD to identify the location but there are several clues in the video and I’ve visited the site today to confirm where it is.

The pictures show four extracts from the video paired with four pictures from today.  Some things have changed since 1972, while other are unchanged for hundreds of years.

The video is shot somewhere in the Black Country.  It shows a straight, wide canal with towpaths on both sides which narrows it down a little.  It shows a lattice sided footbridge with an almost flat base and not arched at all which narrows it down further, probably to the Tame Valley Canal.

I thought it was about 3/4 mile from Tame Valley Junction on the North bank between Jones Bridge and the former Railway Bridge.  The pairs of shots seem to match pretty well.

1. Shows the commentator - the bridge and building are still there but the trees have grown a bit over the years.

2.  The building is still in the background, although it’s had new cladding on the end in a different colour.

3.  Look at the reflection of the pylon and the corner of the building, matched in the two shots.

4.  The former railway bridge in the background is now painted pink and used by the trams and it has a footbridge added immediately in front, but it’s the same bridge.

Well, Andrew, have we identified the location well enough for you?  If you would like to stage a re-enactment then I’ll offer to come and film you getting wet.

Posted on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 22:44        Comments (2)
Category(s): BCN , Bloggers

Great for Christmas Presents and Holiday Ideas

Once we pass 25th October, with 2 months to go, I start to think about Christmas.  I think others start much earlier, and some are already planning their holiday for next year.

Have you spotted our advert on page 142 of the December Issue of Waterways World?  It will be in Canal Boat magazine too.

Our full range of DVDs are great for Christmas Presents and Holiday Ideas for anyone with an interest in canals and waterways.

Posted on Monday, November 9, 2009 at 15:35        Comments (0)
Category(s): News

Scottish Lowland Canals

In our last post I mentioned how busy we had been since our return from the Caldon Canal with editing the DVDs for the Caldon Canal, and one other.

I can now reveal the other DVDs will cover the Scottish Lowland Canals - the Forth & Clyde Canal, and the Union Canal.

These are connected by the famous Falkirk Wheel and include the unique Dalmuir Drop Lock.

These were filmed from a hire boat, rather than our own, but still include all the useful information to describe a trip along the canals, including a rotation in the Falkirk Wheel.

The photo galleries and route information pages are uploaded ready.  The DVDs will be available later this month, well in time for Christmas presents, so you can start dropping hints now.

And don’t forget to look at the rest of our great range.  They all make good presents and they are great for holiday planning too.

Posted on Friday, November 6, 2009 at 13:26        Comments (0)
Category(s): Forth/Clyde Union

Caldon Canal

We’ve been busy since our cruise along the Caldon Canal in September.  We were there to film for a pair of DVDs in the Waterway Routes Series and we’ve almost finished the editing of the Popular and Bowcam versions.

They went out to the proof watchers yesterday and they should be watching them carefully over the next week or so.  Then, a few minor tweaks they can be copied and should be available in around 2 or 3 weeks time.  We’ll let you know when.

They will be in plenty of time to order for Christmas presents, so you can start dropping hints to your friends and family about these, or any other DVDs in our range.

We’ve also been busy with another pair of DVDs which are also approaching completion but more about those next time.

We’ve uploaded the route information page for the Caldon Canal and the photo galleries so you can have a virtual cruise along the canal.

You can see Hazlehurst (or Hazelhurst) Junction and the aqueduct as we travel past Cheddleton and Consall Forge to reach Froghall and include the Leek Branch too.

Posted on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 09:39        Comments (0)
Category(s): Caldon