Tipton, Black Country Museum

Today's Canal - Birmingham Main Line, Old Line, Dudley 

forecast, today was continuously wet. For most of the time it was light rain but also rather chilly. Nevertheless, with no locks for some distance, we set off just before 10 with Mike wrapped up as well as he could.

As we arrived at the first entrance to the Soho Loop, where we could see progress on the latest phase in the development of the previously derelict land enclosed by the loop. The work started several years ago on the part furthest from the Main Line.

Most of the development so far has been low rise but this latest block is rather higher. Let's hope that the folk who moved into their homes in the previous section do not mind losing their view of the canal.

Most of the New Main Line was provided with a towpath on either side, adding to the speeding up of traffic along this once busy section. Boats being towed by horse in opposite directions could avoid having to disconnect one of their ropes in order to pass each other. Once side throughout was upgraded to a cycleway some time ago but we now started to see the results of a  very recent project which has given the opposite side the same treatment.

However, it comes to an abrupt end at Smethwick Junction, after which it is very overgrown and not always easily passable, even on foot. No doubt one of the issues is that Galton Tunnel only has the towpath through it on one side. It looks as if the opposite side was supposed to connect over the tunnel portal but we would not want to try it!

The towpath alongside the site of the former Chances Glass Factory is closed, we believe because of fears about the stability of the nearest walls. although we could not read the detail at a distance the state of the notices seems to suggest that this is not a quick fix.

The New Main Line once had a very large number of side arms and short branches. This one connected to a couple of brickworks, including Hamblet's Blue Bricks. Their products were frequently used in the repair of lock copings on the Worcester and Birmingham.

One bridge that we have not really noticed before is just to the north of Dudley Port station. This connected to a branch long enough to have its own name: Dixons Branch. About a mile long, kit principally served Horseley Colliery and other works that developed alongside. Horseley Ironworks is frequently visible as the manufacturer name on many of the single span cast iron footbridges in this part of the canal network.

We arrived at the three Tipton Factory Locks which raise the canal from the Birmingham Level to the higher Wolverhampton Level. There are three connections all having three locks.

When Mike walked up to open the gate he discovered that that the pound between the bottom and middle locks was very empty. So, he continued on up to empty the next lock to send some water down but this was not enough so had to then run down from the top level.

Eventually there was enough water to allow the boat to transit between the locks and so Mike then had to return to the top to stop the water running down. As he walked back to the middle lock he began to hear a strange sound - sounded like geese - but quickly it was a shout for help - Christine had slipped on the wet whilst attempting to step off the boat and had fallen in the lock. Mike brought the Rescue Ladder from the boat roof and placed it in position at the stern. Fortunately at this `point a couple of women arrived -they had hear the cry for help and came to see what they could do. Even better, lone of them was very strong indeed and together with Mike was able to assist Christine climb up the ladder and onto the boat! Water soaking into clothes adds a lot of weight and it is never easy to get out of a canal! Luckily no lasting harm was done and Christine quickly went inside to change and to warm herself up.

This left Mike to complete the last lock on his own and then to cruise around the corner to Tipton. We had already agreed that we would look for an overnight mooring close to the Black Country Museum and Dudley Tunnel, after using the usual services. Unfortunately all the spaces inside the museum area were already occupied so Mike immediately turned the boat at the end and came back alongside the service block.

After completing the emptying and filling we moved just a short distance to one of the spaces we had seen on the way in. As he moored up. Mike could see in the now clear water that we had narrowly missed a sunken shopping trolley lying only a metre away from the back of the boat. Mike could now have his lunch - even if it was now three o'clock!

9.2 Miles - 3 Locks