Updates - July 2012 (2)

 
Narrowboat on the Trent
 
Maps on Page 30, and Back Cover - High Marnham Power Station
 
Boaters on the tidal Trent gain confidence with the sight of prominent landmarks confirming their position.  One such landmark was removed at the weekend with the demolition of the towers at High Marnham Power Station.
 
Therefore, references to the Power Station should be removed from the maps on the pages shown above.
 
The charts produced by The Boating Association should also be amended.  On the old-style it is Chart 2.  On the new-style photographic it is on Page 4.

And to prove it...http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-18847674

Updates - July 2012

 
South Pennine Ring - Part 1
 

New Manchester moorings on the Rochdale Canal

 

Map 8.  Islington Marina at Ancoats is now open for business. A side arm has been constructed off the Rochdale Canal opposite Redhill Street between locks 81 and 82.

The new Marina presently offers visitor moorings free of charge for up to two weeks and is ideally located for exploring the City Centre. It is equipped with a deluxe sanitary station complete with showers, washing machines and pump out equipment. Long term moorings can be arranged by phoning 0161 839 2999.

Looking back to the Rochdale Canal which runs left to right in front of the former warehouses. The new sanitary station is on the left and visitor moorings on the right.

Eventually new development will surround the waterspace.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Looking across to the long-term moorings, the waterspace is very attractively laid out.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Since reopening of the Rochdale Canal, passage of the long flight of nineteen locks above Piccadilly has been supervised and boaters have to book to pass through locks 65 – 83 which have been kept locked as an anti-vandalism measure. As the new marina lies above lock 82, Brownsfield Lock 83 and Ancoats Lane Lock 82 are no longer locked so the marina can be reached at any time from Ducie Street Junction.

"Manchester" and "Rochdale" Locks
Map 8. For boaters booking the passage British Waterways formerly named locks 65-83 the “Manchester 19 Locks” - amusingly they have re-branded locks 65-81 the “Rochdale 18 Locks”, even though there are only seventeen of them!

Images of - South Pennine Ring - Part 2

In 2010 whilst researching the second part of Richlow's two South Pennine Ring guides, John & Barbara cruised their boat nb Madeley Wood from Sowerby Bridge to Ashton  -  along the Huddersfield Broad and Narrow canals.

They also walked the entire route, including over Standedge Tunnel (twice!).

These photographs reflect their experiences, and may perhaps encourage others to boat across the Pennines.

At Salterhebble, on the Calder & Hebble Navigation.  Note the unique handspike-operated gate paddles (or "cloughs" as they are know locally).

The start of the Huddersfield Broad Canal at Cooper Bridge.  nb Thief of Time is leaving the River Calder and entering lock no.1.






 The unique Locomotive Bridge on the Huddersfield Broad Canal, in Huddersfield.  The deck remains horizontal and is lifted on wire ropes.
When we first started boating here, we used to wind a handle and hope the road traffic would stop.  Now there are road-barriers and the bridge lifts electrically at the push of a button.
For some reason British Waterways have recently put up bridge-name signs calling this Quay Street Bridge  -  but we think it will always be known as Locomotive Bridge.







One of Shire Cruisers hire boats entering Lock 1E, the first lock on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal.  The locks on the Huddersfield side of the Pennines are numbered with an "E" suffix, those on the Ashton side with a "W".

Lock 3E and Sellers Tunnel

Now you see them  -

now you don't!

As part of the Millennium restoration of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, a new tunnel was constructed beneath the Sellers factory, and a new Lock 3E was installed at the upstream end.  Now in 2012 the factory has been relocated and the site is being redeveloped.  As a result, the tunnel has been abandoned, with the canal rebuilt at ground level.  A third Lock 3E has been built close to the original one, which boats sail straight through near Chapel Hill.  The towpath is now open through this section.

Leaving Huddersfield behind, the scenery becomes more rural on the approach to Lock 12E.

The landscape is spectacular in the upper Colne valley between Slaithwaite and Marsden.  Boating is hard work with the locks close together, has seen here at Lock 27E.

The Colne valley bottom was lined with stone-built water-powered mills and their dams.  Many still remain  -  this one is at Sparth below Lock 32E.

Marsden Locks blend beautifully into the landscape.

  

Standedge Tunnel is the highlight of navigating the Huddersfield Narrow Canal.  Tunnel passages have to be booked in advance.  We had to wear safety equipment to boat through the three and a quarter mile tunnel, and we were accompanied by a pilot.  The tunnel is full of interest but our cat was terrified by the echoes, especially those of trains passing in the adjacent railway tunnel.

On a walking visit over the tunnel top we accompanied a group from the Horse Boating Society, with their horse Bonnie.  The rough nature of the high Pennine hills can be seen, and also some of the tunnel ventilation shafts.

Moored outside Brownsfield Visitor Centre, where the impressive Saddleworth viaduct spanning across Lock 23W.

As a result of the restoration of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, Greenfield has become a popular tourist venue.  There are pleasant, convenient moorings from which to visit the museum, small shops, cafes and pubs, in this thriving little town.

The "other" tunnel on the Huddersfield Narrow  -  the short Scout Tunnel between locks 12W and 11W  -  cut through a rocky bluff in the valley side.  It is unlined and has a towpath, giving walkes an opportunity to see the naked Pennine rock.

 Stalybridge.  Where else can you moor up in a town centre like this!  Good moorings to explore this Lancashire mill-town.

There are some excellent small shops including this gem.

Where else but in Lancashire?











We hope these images may encourage more visitors to the Huddersfield canals  -  Broad and Narrow.

If so, the Richlow guide South Pennine Ring - Part 2 is available post free from www.richlow.co.uk

Updates - June 2012

 
South Pennine Ring  -  Part 2
 
Map 16, page 28, Huddersfield Narrow Canal
 
Seller's Tunnel (23), Huddersfield (See Navigation Notes, Towpath Notes and Text).
 
On our visit on June 1st, workmen were still completing works to the navigation and towpath. A new lock 3E has been constructed just upstream of Chapel Hill Bridge - this is the third in the history of the canal! Seller’s Tunnel has effectively been abolished and the canal raised to ground level upstream of the new lock. The towpath is now continuous between Chapel Hill Bridge and Longroyd Bridge (25), so walkers now only need to divert between Chapel Hill Bridge and Queen Street Bridge (22).

Important note for boaters - there is still no pedestrian access along the towpath to Lock 2E, so boat crews must be picked up and travel on the boat between locks 3E and 1E.

Looking upstream from Chapel Hill Bridge.  Just behind the photographer are steps leading up from a landing for boat crews.  Beyond the new Lock 3E is a 200ft passing place and the new narrow canal channel which replaces Seller’s Tunnel.  Construction work continues on the new development on the right.

Images of - South Yorkshire Waterways

 
South Yorkshire Waterways guide - available from http://www.richlow.co.uk/ 

 
The Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation (SSYN) which includes the Don Navigation, and the New Junction, Stainforth & Keadby and Sheffield & Tinsley canals.
 
These waterways probably have the widest variety of navigational features, and the same can be said of the surroundings  -  including flat rural fenland and a climb to a city centre.
 
As a result the following pictures only give a taste of the SSYN, but hopefully they will encourage boaters to visit these surprisingly remote waterways.
 
They were taken in 2011 during Richlow's research for our South Yorkshire Waterways guide.  Richlow guides  -  Written by People Who Go There!
   

These are wide waterways, no need to look for winding holes.
 
On the right is Humber super-sloop Spider T on her Keadby home mooring.  She took part in the Diamond Jubilee Pageant on the Thames in 2012.

 

Commercial traffic uses the New Junction Canal and the Don Navigation (here at Mexborough) so they are even wider.

There are many types of bridges  -  this one on the Stainforth & Keadby Canal is operated by the railway signalman.

Whereas, this one on the New Junction Canal is power-operated by boaters.











Some locks are manually operated - others look as if they are but this one at Thorne is also power-operated.

Other locks are somewhat larger, and are obviously beyond balance-beam pushing!





And this is how the large modern locks and moveable bridges are operated.  Insert a BW (C&RT) key and press the buttons.  It's a controlled operation, with lock paddles gradually opening to prevent turbulence.

 

Lock-side posts have white bands which rise and fall to indicate the position of the paddles.  Here one shows the paddles have started to rise - at this stage they will be opening very slowly.






  





The SSYN has canals  -  as here at Thorne which is the major boating supplies centre.

 




It also includes the River Don  -  here between Rotherham and Sheffield, with a weir clearly marked.

 







And it has a canal over a river  -  the New Junction Canal crossing the tidal River Don.

Yes, there is commercial traffic  -  that's why boaters have the luxury of power-operated bridges and locks.

This is Humber Pride, but the Goole-Rotherham run is usually done by her sister Humber Princess.  Once or twice a week.

 




Humber Princess at Aldwarke, showing why the locks are the size they are.

The Richlow guide has tips and information about sharing the SSYN with girls like this.

Humber Princess has a retracting wheel-house for this bridge at Aldwarke.

Beyond the head of commercial navigation, the stretch between Rotherham and Sheffield is more pleasant than may be imagined.

Tinsley Locks, on the climb up to the summit level of the Sheffield & Tinsley Canal

On the Sheffield & Tinsley Canal  -  overhead one of Sheffield's modern trams, which provide a good way to explore the city and its suburbs.

The Richlow guide includes information on Sheffield's events and entertainments, and public transport to visit the surrounding Peak District.

The final mile to Victoria Quays is typical of the approach to a city centre  -  but most of the industry has moved away from the canal.








Richlow's flag-ship Madeley Wood in Sheffield basin (Victoria Quays).  A pleasant and surprisingly quiet location.





We hope these pictures may tempt you to visit this part of the national waterways network.

Doncaster Regatta

South Yorkshire Waterways
 
Page 24.  Navigation Notes. Final Paragraph.  General Information about Doncaster Rowing Club's Regatta
 
Takes place annually on the Saturday of the late May Bank Holiday (on the 26th in 2012)
 
Two buoyed lanes in the River Don.  The 600 metre course stretches 300 metres either side of the clubhouse (map 8).  Boats race downstream.  09.30 to 18.00, with a lunch-break.  About 70 races - starts are every 5 minutes. The club's website http://www.doncaster-rowing-club.org/ states that "River traffic will be stopped during races but will be allowed to pass between races."
 

Updates - May 2012 (3rd)

 
South Pennine Ring - Part 1
 
Page 6. Bookings and Operating Hours - Rochdale Canal
 
All bookings (Tuel Lane Lock, Summit Passage, Manchester Locks) are taken via the C&RT Manchester & Pennine Waterway office, see p41.
   
Page 7.  Tuel Lane Lock Operating Hours  -  Summer 2012
 
The lock is always operated by a lock-keeper.  Duty hours are Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday 8.30am until 5.00pm.  No booking required, just turn up.
On Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday there is no lock-keeper on duty.  Passage on these days is possible between 8.30am and 3.00pm but must be booked giving 48hrs notice.  Contact details as above, on p41.