Tag: BCN New Main Line

Faith Restored

We were so exhausted after our ditch crawl the day before, we weren’t sure we would be cruising today, but the sun was shining, the prop was clear and there was enough bacon left for more butties, so we gingerly inched forward out of our safe haven.

Leaving Bentley Park

Theres an interesting sculpture over the canal but I couldnt find any information about it. It’s a polished stainless steel triangular tube that arches over the canal and if you catch it at the right angle and sunlight, it reflects an image of whatever is underneath it. We couldnt see any functional use for it other than it being an interesting art instalation. Sadly the rest of the artwork nearby was more destructive and unappealing.

On our outward journey we had stopped to clear the prop 2 or 3 times, but today we reached the top of the Wolverhampton flight unhindered. Eric moored up to give the prop a final check before we set off down the 21.

Lock landing Wolverhampton top lock

The day was looking increasingly promising.

1 down 20 to go

Eric and I work well as a team, I set the lock and open the gates, then go immediately go and set the next lock. Eric cruises in and empties it, opens the gates and hauls the boat out and cruises straight into the next awaiting lock, whilst i go back and close the gates on the previous lock. It’s efficient and quick, i might do twice as much walking but we share the physically tiring workload.

Half way down

And with the warmth of the autumnal sunshine there were lot of people  out walking.

A good way to spend a sunday afternoon

Some offered to lend a hand and every now and then someone shows a real interest. They might think we are brightening their day, but it gives us such a boost to be able to share a bit of privilage. Occasionally we like to say thankyou with an invitation to step onto the back deck.

Two happy blokes

We almost flew down the flight, in just over 3 ½hours. The Wolverhampton flight is a pretty and very pleasant flight. We would happily do it again, and our love of cruising has been restored.

Almost there

When we got to the bottom we turned right and moored on the Staffs and Worcester, at Autherley junction. Where we were joined by fellow bloggers Mick and Pip on NB Oleana.

The Midlands March, onto Oldbury.

Having ground to a halt in the ice we decided that Dudley Port wasn’t too bad a place to moor, except that every time a train went past we lost TV signal. And what we saw floating past the boat wasn’t all that inspiring either, we counted at least a dozen used syringes in this one debris island.

Another reason not to fall in the canal

But at least the ice was melting and the titanic was still afloat, so we set off to complete the next two miles of our aborted trip to Oldbury.

Another reason not to fall in the canal

A work boat had broken enough ice for us to cruise without concern along the Birmingham Canal Navigation (BCN) New Main Line, past Dunkirk Stop Island and turning right onto the Gower branch.

Turning right at Brades Hall Junction

We reached Brades Locks, only to find the pond drained, fortunately the CRT team were already on site letting water down the staircase locks. Though unlike most of the team, I can’t say I was very impressed with these guys, as soon as there was enough water to traverse the pond, they left, leaving all the paddles raised, and me needing to set the locks. Perhaps I’ve been spoilt by too many helpful people, perhaps they had an urgent job to attend to, perhaps they were just cold and miserable. But not to worry, we were also cold but cheerful so got on with it.
We turned left onto the BCN Old Line for the last mile to Oldbury, where there are mooring bollards and a Sainsbury’s only 5 minutes walk. It doesn’t qualify as a pretty mooring but it’s adequate, And I liked the Bridge is called Whimsey Bridge.

Whimsey Bridge

And one of its claims to fame is that it’s where John Judge lived, and he wrote Its a long, long way to Tipperary.


Oldbury town is part of Dudley and Sandwell which has a railway station and a direct like up to the Lake District. So knowing that Eric could look after himself, I took advantage to hop on a train to spend a few days with Mum. We’re not sure why there is a peacock outside the station but he’s very impressive.

And when I stood on Platform 2 I could look back to the Turners Hill transmitters, that we had walked up to from the Bumble Hole.

after a few days counting the sheep, no Herdwick lambs till March or April I’m back on Firecrest

2 miles and 3 locks by boat, and about 250 miles by train