How I Intend to Cheat the Railways (Warning - Not very PC)

There's an old Irish joke that goes: 
Paddy: "I've done it at last, I've cheated the Railways" 
Mick: "Well, how did you do that then, Paddy?"
Paddy:" I'm going to Dublin and I've bought a return ticket"
Mick: "But, Paddy, that's not cheating the railways"
Paddy: "Ah, to be sure so it is - I'm not coming back!
(Apologies to any Irish readers - in my defence I am Welsh myself)
Rail fares have got a lot more complicated since then, and a lot more expensive so taking advantage of the system and finding a cheaper fare is now a challenge for me for anything other than local journeys. I've been invited to help Bernard take his narrowboat "Sunshine" from Foxton to Banbury next week (with a call at the Crick Boat Show). Foxton is easily reached by bus from Market Harborough but Hereford to Market Harborough by train involves a roundabout route via Birmingham and Leicester with a change of train at each and as I'm not coming back from there I'd be buying a single (always the worst deal) at a cost of £35.


Market Harborough, however, is on the X7 bus route from Northampton and Hereford to Northampton, which involves only one change of train,  can be done on a West Midlands Day Ranger Ticket (yes, on the railways Northampton is in the west Midlands) for £16.80. Even better - next week London Midland Trains has a special offer allowing a return journey between all stations on their network for only a tenner! So, I'm buying a return to Northampton which, with a few quid for the bus will get me to Market Harborough for less than half the "official" price - although, of course, that is all it would cost on most European railway systems anyway.


Normal people just drive....

News from Norbury

An email has arrived from Norbury Wharf:
Hi Jim, Just to let you know that Mick serviced the water heater and the BSC has been completed. You will be pleased to hear that Starcross passed with flying colours, well done!......
That's great news and a total contrast to last time when, despite doing a lot of the remedial work ourselves we still ended up with a bill for over £500 to get her through the re-test.
It looks like our May Day weekend of preparation paid off and that all the valves, cables and fire extinguishers that we had to have replaced in 2006 are still considered acceptable four years later.
Although I would have been disappointed not to get through the test first time it still comes as a relief - and I don't have to worry about it for another four years.

Life on Mars - 1973 on the Rochdale Canal

The "Rochdale Arch" - entrance to Dale Street Basin - or "car park" as it had become by 1973

In 1973 the canal scene in Manchester was very different from the way it is today. Although there were still the last vestiges of commercial traffic on the Bridgewater Canal, the Ashton and Peak Forest were both unnavigable and most of the Rochdale had been abandoned twenty years previously. In theory, the nine locks that provided a link between the Bridgewater and Ashton Canals through central Manchester were open, but in practice it was all but impossible to take a boat through them. The Peak Forest Canal Society undertook some basic restoration work on the "nine" but it was with a view to providing a connection to the soon-to-be-reopened Ashton and Peak Forest Canals than with any thought of eventual re-opening of the cross-Pennine route.
Although living near Manchester at the time I had very little interest in these waterways - and to my eternal shame I only spent one weekend working on the "nine" with the PFCS.
I did, however, manage at least one walk along the Manchester section of the Rochdale Canal sometime in 1973.

This was the scene above Dukes Lock (No. 92 and the very end of the Rochdale Canal)

Despite the dereliction, one brave soul was attempting to operate a restaurant boat on the canal - although as a static attraction rather than a cruising restaurant. I seem to recall that the PFCS working party were treated to lunch here on the occasion I worked with them and very good it was too.

At the top of the "nine" is the junction with the Ashton Canal, then still unnavigable and looking very different from how it does today.

The abandoned section of the canal then passed through Ancoats, along a section which the City Council had partly filled in. It was intended as a shallow "linear water park", but in practice quickly became a linear rubbish dump as the local population continued their age-old habit of disposing of unwanted items in the canal despite it now being six inches rather than six feet deep.

The Council was obviously very proud of its work, although  Buggsey's artistry doesn't have quite the same appeal as the better-known Banksy!

The locks on this section were "cascaded" rather than filled-in, which at least made it a bit easier when the restoration work began.

This treatment continued all the way to the Manchester city boundary. This view, taken in Newton Heath, does, I suppose, give some idea of what was behind the thinking of the time, given that in 1973 nobody in their right mind would ever have thought that boats would ever again cross the Pennines via this route (note the "Selnec" bus in the background - in 1973 the orange and white livery was considered revolutionary!). But it was never going to work and within months the shallowed sections looked worse than ever. Part of the rationale behind the scheme was safety, although of course even six-inches of water can drown someone in the circumstances are right - or wrong!
In 1973 and for quite some time afterwards, I never thought I'd see both the Rochdale and the Huddersfield Narrow Canals open thoughout - and I certainly wouldn't have believed that thirty years later I'd have navigated both of them - in a very strenuous seven days on a hire boat from Sowerby Bridge.

In Praise of.....Wednesfield

I was pleased to see that my post "Where's My Boat?" generated a flurry of interest, although it didn't take long before the mystery location was revealed  - as Wednesfield, on the Wyrley and Essington Canal.


I like Wednesfield, although I have to say that on the few occasions I have boated along the Wyrley I didn't realise I'd been there, so successfully does the town turn its back on the canal. The bus journey out from Wolverhampton isn't particularly inspiring either: two and a bit miles of high-rise flats, retail sheds, fast roads and general post-industrial tat, so it comes as a bit of a surprise when suddenly the bus turns off the by-pass and enters a perfectly-formed - although not particularly pretty - small town centre.

The history of the town goes back many years and like most Black Country towns it specialised in one particular trade - in this case the making of traps - anything from "mouse" to "man"! Major redevelopment took place in the 1960s although unlike in many places this has left Wednesfield with a relatively pleasant - and thriving - town centre with a refreshing absence of boarded-up shops, "pound" stores and charity shops. There are even food stores, despite the presence of an out-of-town Sainsbury's and the whole effect is completed by a large street market  - although this was not trading on the occasion of my Saturday evening visit.
The multi-cultural nature of the modern-day Black Country is shown by the Sikh temple (often mistaken for a mosque) that dominates the eastern approach to the town, situated opposite its Western equivalent place of worship - the aforementioned supermarket! The High Street even has a couple of good real-ale pubs such as the Pyle Cock (Banks's) and the superb 1920s "Vine Inn" (free house) and there's even a "Wetherspoons" for those that like that sort of thing. Sadly though, "The Boat" sells only keg beer. Throw in a safe-looking visitor mooring on the Wyrley and I think I can recommend Wednesfield as a stopping-off point on a tour of the Northern Reaches of the BCN - something that all boaters should do at least once!

Where are they now? - No.1

Readers of a certain age will remember "Dick Barton - Special Agent" - hero of a 1950s radio show and many younger ones, including myself, will have heard of him. For some reason Dick Barton lives on and his theme tune, "The Devil's Gallop" still conjures up visions of dramatic chases and last minute rescues. The show can now be heard again from time to time on Radio 7, but what's Dick himself up to these days?
Well, he's maybe getting on a bit and in search of a quieter life - but I wouldn't have expected him to be running a chip shop in Swansea!

Mobilised in Tettenhall

I haven't seen a "Mobil" petrol station for ages, not surprisingly since the company merged with BP in the 1990s and the brand was quickly dropped. It's just one of those little things you take for granted which then quietly disappear from your life when you're not looking. 
I'd forgotten all about it until I got this reminder on the Staffs & Worcester at Tettenhall:

It makes me wonder what else I've forgotten about!

Where's my Boat?

"The Boat" or "Boat Inn" is, unsurprisingly, a very common name for canalside pubs. Some have very distinctive architecture, such as the one at Gnosall on the Shropshire Union:

Perhaps the best-known example is on the Grand Union at Stoke Bruerne:

But some are less well-known and I came across one of these earlier this year

Situated opposite the church in the centre of a small Midlands town it backs onto a long, lock-free section of narrow canal. Mooring at the rear would be difficult but there are some visitor moorings at the next bridge. Locals will know it well, but I wonder how many blog readers know where it is?
Answers please in the "comments" below!

Not Paying Attention at Wightwick Lock

Long-weekend Day 3: Compton to Stretton

Compton visitor moorings

Today was a much better day for weather, warm and sunny and ideal for polishing the brasses, which i did for an hour or so before setting off from Compton to wind at Wightwick and begin the return run to Norbury. The Staffs & Worcester is one of the earlier canals and it shows - particularly in the style of the diminutive bridges at the lock-tails, which add enormously to the charm of this waterway.

I was surprised on arrival at Wightwick lock to see the top gate paddle up and the lock full. I was busy speculating on whether it had been drawn for me by the boat in front who had realised I was single-handed or whether it had just been forgotten by the uphill boat I'd just passed. Perhaps it was becuase my mind was thus occupied that I managed to misjudge the distance between the bank and the bow when stepping back on to Starcross to adjust the cratch cover. Its a manoeuvre I've completed hundreds, if not thousands, of times before but I still managed to end up with one leg in the cut and a very wet foot! Still, it could have been worse and just goes to show how careful one has to be at all times, particularly when single-handed.
After all this excitement it was not until I'd got through the lock and well on my way south that I realsied I'd intended to turn at the winding hole above the lock.
There was no alternative but to carry on to Dimmingsdale lock to wind, which eventually added about three hours to the journey!

Dimmingsdale lock

Ironically, last time I was at Dimmingsdale my visiting steerer missed the winding hole there and we had to carry on down the Bratch and back up and were very late back!
After this I had an uneventful trip back as far as Stretton, where I tied up just across the aqueduct.

Stretton aqueduct from the towpath........

 This is the view that most boaters have of the structure, but from the road it is even more impressive, marking the spot where Thomas Telford's superb canal crosses his other masterpiece - the Holyhead coach road, built for the Irish Mail Coaches and nowadays known as the A5.

...and from the road

Closer inspection of the plaque on the trough wall reveals the name of the canal as the "Birmingham and Liverpool"

I've always thought that the original name of what later became the Shropshire Union Main Line was the "Birmingham & Liverpool Junction" but perhaps that wouldn't fit in the available space or no one told the signwriter!  Whatever its called, I followed the canal back to Norbury in the morning.

My First Long Weekend Day 2

Brewood to Compton

Not a good morning weather-wise - cold, grey and damp, but I decided to make a start and go on for a while before breakfast. I often do this, a cooked breakfast in particular tastes much nicer and goes down better after an hour or so in the fresh air. Accordingly, I stopped at the rural visitor moorings near Bridge 8, about 45 minutes south of Brewood and enjoyed bacon, eggs and Staffordshire Oatcakes - one of the few remaining regional foods still found solely within its own region.

Just as I was setting off who should come past but Adam on Debdale and I followed him down to Autherley Junction and through the stop lock onto the Staffs and Worcester.

 Autherley Junction was as congested as ever, with the hire fleet of  Napton Narrowboats straddling tyhe channel and lock approach so that the only way through was to come right up to the bottom gate and jump off at the bow to work the lock.
I was assisted through by the steerer of "Cetus" a cut-down and converted Star Class GUCC butty that is based at Brewood and often seen around the lower reaches of the Shroppie. Cetus followed me down to Compton, where Debdale was tied up for a lunch stop.

Limekiln Chandlers moorings (right) at Compton with "Cetus" tied up

 I tied up a little further on and called it a day as far as boating was concerned, setting off later to indulge my other hobby of bus-riding on a mini-tour of the Black Country.

My First Long Weekend - Day 1

Day One: Norbury Junction to Brewood
I now work a four-day week arranged so that I have alternate Mondays and Fridays off  so that every other weekend is a "long" one. Last weekend was the first opportunity to take advantage of this and extend my weekend's boating range a little with a trip down to Compton on the Staffs & Worcester.
After a very efficient train and bus journey from home I arrived at Newport (Shropshire) for an early lunch and a visit to the market for some food shopping before completing the journey to Norbury on the folding bike - a very useful asset for getting to and from a place with virtually no public transport.
First job was to go across to the water point and fill up, whilst emptying the toilet cassette. After that it was off along Shelmore embankment. I've had better days weather-wise on the cut, but it was good to be on the move again.
At Wheaton Aston I spotted Debdale on the visitor moorings. Debdale is currently based at Norbury Wharf and is ofetn seen o ut and about, although I must remember that as a shared-ownership boat it isn't necessarily blogger Adam that's on board.  Today, however, it was and we had time for a brief chat as I passed through. I almost stopped for the evening but I had my heart set on getting to Brewood, where the pubs and beer are better, although in the event I was so tired after staying up half the night before to watch the election results (Tories gained Hereford South - boo, hiss!) that I opted for an early night.

Norbury Says No!

The Shrewsbury and Newport Canals Trust aims to reopen the Newport branch of the Shropshire Union Canal abandoned in 1944 and link it through to Shrewsbury. Some work was actually done in the 1960s when restoration appeared possible, but for some reason it was never completed and the task is now immeasurably more difficult.
One foreseeable problem is the loss of water from the main line of the Shroppie that would be caused by re-opening the flight of seventeen locks that lead down to Newport. This loss could be overcome by modern-day techniques such as back-pumping but the Trust has instead come up with the idea of an inclined plane.
Ever since the success of the Falkirk Wheel, restoration groups seem to have felt the need for "iconic" structures to act as figureheads for their campaigns. Personally I'd prefer to navigate through 17 locks (open all hours, no charge payable) to an inclined plane (operation restricted, advance booking, fee payable?) and it seems I'm not alone.
The Trust was due to publicise its plans at the Norbury Canal Festival, but local boaters were leafleted beforehand, from an unknown source (which I think is actually illegal), drumming up opposition and inviting us to sign a petition during the Festival. Its not so much the plane that's the focus of dissent, more the associated access road, car parking, traffic and the "200 boat marinas" that are part of the scheme. I'd have liked to have found out more, but whenever I wandered past the Trust's stall it was unstaffed and there was no sign of anyone collecting signatures for the "antis".
I'm all for re-opening the branch and wish the Trust well, but I think the Inclined Plane is a mistake. Norbury Junction is a beautiful, quiet and peaceful place (except perhaps on a Sunday afternoon when crowds gather outside the Junction Inn after a good lunch). The Plane, the road, the car park and the marinas would destroy this. Its in my back yard  -and I don't want it! 

A Pirate Calls

For some time I've been wanting to replace the 12v filament bulbs aboard Starcross with less power-hungry and more modern LEDs. My initial experiments proved disappointing in terms of light output and the first ones I tried have long since been disposed of .

About half of the lighting on the boat is in the form of "bus bulbs" (and yes, I am old enough to remember when they were actually fitted to buses). They give out a pleasant, yellowish, light but consume lots of power in doing so. Its taken a while, but recently, LED's to a bus bulb design have become available and I've been trying them out. Firstly, I tried one of these, an 18 SMD LED fitted with 50mm square LEDs from Puffer Parts

They give off a surprising amount of light - as much as a filament bulb - and the light quality is almost as "warm". The exposed diodes, however, can be a little harsh if not diffused by the lamp shade and, more importantly when switched on they interfere with the reception on my analogue radio to such an extent that it becomes unlistenable to. So when I heard that Baddie the Pirate not only sold bus bulb style LEDs from her boat and via her website but was planning to visit Norbury Junction last Saturday I got in touch and she (Baddie is a very friendly she-pirate) agreed to bring some samples round to show me.
Baddie's bus bulb replacements are a different design with 33 "small" LEDs and look like this

The glass domes, particularly the pearl version, make them look like "proper" bulbs and the light quality they give out is, if anything, warmer than my filaments, with a rather pinkish tinge to it. I was pleased to see that they caused no interference to the radio at all, but a trial after dark showed that they did not emit enough light for Starcross' main living area. The one I bought has therefore been transferred to the bedroom, where it is quite adequate (and the pink glow somewhat romantic!) but I won't be buying any more.
LED technology continues to improve in leaps and bounds and I'm sure it won't be long before someone comes up with a design for a bus bulb replacement that combines the best features of both these bulbs to produce a high-output, warm, interference-free replacement for the trusty bus bulb.

A Working Weekend

With the Boat Safety Certificate examination due in the summer and mindful of what it cost to get Starcross through it last time, last weekend was designated a "working weekend" on the boat. In 2006 we made no attempt to prepare for the exam and paid the price, literally, with a list of failures as long as your arm. This time we hope to do better.
At the same time we thought we'd tackle some of the long-standing "domestic" jobs on the boat that we never otherwise seem to get round to. So, between last Friday evening and Monday afternoon, we:
Checked the ventilation, fire extinguishers and battery terminals.(all failed last time)
Painted the floor of the gas locker (a "fail" in 2006)
Emptied the gas locker of all the superfluous bits of kit that have accumulated there since 2006 (another fail)
Checked and cleaned the gas burners on the hob, grill and oven (and another)
Scraped the rust off the solid-fuel stove and repainted it with stove paint.
Removed and replaced half the tiles in the kitchen and cleaned and re-grouted the rest.
Stripped off the old wallpaper in the bathroom and put up some new.
Removed the bathroom tiles and replaced them and, finally
Washed and polished both sides of the boat and polished the brasses!


When I say "we" I mean Hilary - who is the practical one aboard Starcross! My role is confined to fetching and carrying and basic jobs like cleaning and making the tea.

Hilary at work re-tiling the kitchen

Despite three days of constant activity there were still a few jobs left undone, such as cleaning the pilot light on the water heater (turned out to be too difficult to get at due to inadequate tools and a hopeless diagram in the manual) and re-carpeting the saloon (although we did get as far as buying the carpet tiles). The weather wasn't particularly good and I'm planing to go off for a few days boating next weekend, so we didn't mind spending a bank holiday weekend working on the boat and we now have the knowledge that we've done something towards getting us through the BSC exam when the time comes.