Tipton

 Today's Canals - Worcester and Birmingham, Birmingham Main Line, Dudley

We awoke to a very wet morning, but as we were on a mission we made a slightly earlier start than usual. We had heard about Mad O'Rourke's Pie Factory near to the Black Country Living Museum at Tipton and fancied them for our meal tonight.

It really was wet for the first couple if hours but at least half an hour was in the relatively dry Wast Hill Tunnel. Consequently there are no more photos for the first part of the day.

Around 11 we arrived at Selly Oak where we stopped on the visitor mooring so that Mike could make a short trip to Sainsbury for a top up. On the way he saw that work on the new junction to the Dudley Canal had started. This is the first phase of a long term restoration plan which may eventually link up with the Lapal Tunnel. The initial work is the result of collaboration with the developer of the adjacent site who make the contribution in return for planning permission.

Approaching Birmingham University we passed under the Steam Bridge, a bright shiny tube that crosses both the canal and the railway line. Although we have seen it many times before we have always wondered why it has this name. It seems that in 2014 the University invested in a new Combined Heat and Power plant in order to reduced its carbon footprint and save costs. This bridge carries the steam pipes from one part of the campus to the other. The outer material was chosen to last for 60 years without maintenance - because of the difficulty of doing so over a busy railway line.

When we came this way last autumn, the footbridge to the re-developed University rail station had just been lifted into place. The construction of the approach ramps is now underway - the signs still promise completion this year.

We had been used to seeing the University's experimental Hydrogen boat moored just after the station but this year it has disappeared - it long looked unused. It seems to have been replaced by another project based entirely on pedal power! (sorry we did not manage a better photo)

By midday we were passing through Worcester Bar and the centre of Birmingham.

The Arena has had various names since it was built, reflecting firstly its change from sporting to entertainment events and then evolving  sponsorship deals. It is now branded the Utilita Arena.

The Icknield Port Loop continues to be developed. This latest block, along with the rest of the site, seems to have limited architectural imagination. No doubt maximum housing density was a priority.

After passing under the ornate Engine Arm Viaduct, we passed a very busy water supply, transferring from the higher Wolverhampton Level down to the Main Line.

Shortly afterwards we stopped on one of the rare mooring places on the Main Line, alongside the Smethwick Pumping Station. The bank appears to have been recently planted with daffodils.

The former Chances Glass factory was built in 1824 and supplied glass for the Houses of Parliament, the faces of the Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben), the original Crystal Palace and lenses for over 2000 lighthouses. 

The main building is visible from the elevated M5 motorway. Sadly it now looks in a perilous state. There is a plan to regenerate the site but progress seems slow so we hope that it will get somewhere before the building collapses.

At Watery Lane Junction there was once a canal that connected to Toll End where many of the cast iron bridges on the BCN were made. Today, Caggy's Boatyard is the only remaining working facility in the city.

We continued to make good progress and just before half past three we arrived at the three Factory Locks, just as another boat was coming down the bottom lock, This meant that all the locks were in our favour.

The middle lock has what seems to be CaRT's currently favoured ,means of extending the life of a balance beam beyond its natural span. Hopefully it will be on the replacement list soon.

At the top we turned left towards Tipton and then down the first part of the Dudley Canal to Museum, where, after winding, we moored for the night.

Whilst Mike set about composing this blog, Christine and Andrew sorted out a collection of painting materials that had been put in one of the back deck lockers,rather hastily on Friday as they were otherwise occupying the cabin that Andrew would need from Sunday. Not only were they creating a strong smell (lack of tightening of the lid of a tin of thinner) but were inappropriately sharing the locker with potatoes and other bulky veg. Much went into the nearby skip and the rest found space (after a similar cull) in the other locker. We might now pass a Food Hygiene Inspection . . .

Later, Andrew went to Mad O'Rourkes but, as this blog has been completed before his return, we will have to keep you waiting for a Gourmet Report.

19.1 Miles - 3 Locks