The longest lock free journeys

While editing the BCN DVD recently I was trying to work out how long the Birmingham and Wolverhampton levels of the BCN were and how these compared to other long pounds.

Counting mileposts in the Nicholson’s guides revealed the following.

I think these are the longest distances (in miles) you can navigate without passing through a lock (or working stop lock) and without retracing part of your route.

42.8  Bridgewater Runcorn Basin via Waters Meeting and L&L Leigh Branch to Wigan bottom lock
41.2  Lancaster Canal Preston to Tewitfield
31.9  BCN Engine Arm Terminus via Horseley Fields Junction to Longwood Junction
31.4  Union Canal Edinburgh to top of Falkirk Staircase locks
29.2  Ashby Canal Limit of Navigation to Top of Atherstone Locks
28.8  Ashby Canal Limit of Navigation to Coventry Basin
28.0  Top of Tardebigge Locks via BCN Loops and Netherton Tunnel to Hawne Basin

Some of these distances are pretty close and we might need to have a recount for the first two places if we measure them again more carefully.  You can get a much longer journey on the tidal River Trent and the Yorkshire Rivers but they aren’t canals.

Have I missed any?  Or does someone have different measurements for the distances?

Posted on Monday, May 11, 2009 at 16:45        Comments (5)
Category(s): Ashby , BCN , Bridgewater , Coventry , Forth/Clyde Union , Lancaster , Leeds and Liverpool

Moira Lock on the Ashby Canal

The Ashby Canal is often described as a lock free cruise, From Marston Junction it’s 21 miles each way to the end of navigation with no locks in sight.

The canal was shortened by 6 or 7 miles many years ago after subsidence near the end. 

There are plans to reopen the closed sections, following a new route in places where the old alignment has been developed, and is no longer available.

Bath Yard Basin and the final 1¼ miles of the canal have already been restored although the basin is now at a lower level with boats lowered from the main canal level in a new lock at Moira.

This is a grand affair, being a broad lock on a narrow canal.  A former stop lock at Marston Junction ensures that only narrow boats can enter the Ashby Canal, so why a broad lock?  It can hardly be to handle large numbers of boats quickly as on the Grand Union Canal.

The broad lock will also use a lot of water and that’s probably why it has 3 sets of gates which allow shorter boats to just use part of the lock to reduce water loss when the passing through the lock.

When the canal is reopened it might be rather daunting for those expecting a lock free cruise to find a broad lock with 3 sets of gates near the end, especially if it’s half full and half empty when you arrive.  There’s a more in the photo gallery.

The is one of the few which ends in a sump pound, taking water from the main canal - and just the restored length for now which makes water usage critical.  A pump has been installed which lifts water back from the basin level to replace that used in lock operation and leakage.

It pumps back next to the overflow weir which gives the unusual sight of water appearing to be coming up the weir above the locks.  If the pump doesn’t stop soon it will start to go back over the weir in a novel recycling concept !

Posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 at 13:56        Comments (0)
Category(s): Ashby

Ashby Canal

We’re slowly heading back towards our home mooring in Birmingham after having some warranty work on our new boat at Fenny Compton, where it was built.

Heading north up the Oxford Canal, past Napton and Braunston junctions, then onto the Coventry Canal at Hawkesbury Junction.

I’ve never been on the Ashby Canal before so I finally succumbed to the urge to turn right at Marston Junction and headed up the Ashby Canal.

There are probably some splendid views but in the grey murky weather I’ve had on both the outward and return journeys I’ll just have to assume they are there.

Here’s the photos of the boat at the head of navigation.

There are plans to restore the remaining length, but that will have to wait for another visit.

Posted on Tuesday, October 2, 2007 at 20:37        Comments (0)
Category(s): Ashby