Jump to content

wrexham lass

Member
  • Posts

    18
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by wrexham lass

  1. The London & North Western Railway Company owned the Birmingham Canal Navigations, and the Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company. The industries in the Black Country tended to be set up by the Canals. It was easier for the Railway Companies to build interchange basins, like in the photo, and use canal boats to collect cargoes, for transhipment to the railways in these interchanges. 🙂
  2. Some history, compiled for a research project... Ffrwd is a small village or hamlet North West of Wrexham, near Cefn-y-bedd. The area was very industrial, with coal mines, brick works, iron works and quarries. A canal (The Ellesmere Canal) was planned to run from a place on the River Mersey near Whitby, to near Shrewsbury on the River Severn. This canal would pass through Chester, pass very near to Wrexham (at Poolmouth), and pass by the industrial areas around Ruabon on its way south. A branch was to run from Poolmouth to a large reservoir at Coed Talon, via a flight of locks at Ffrwd. This canal was not built as planned, largely due to the inflation in the economy after the Napolionic wars causing construction costs to increase substantially. What was built is now known as the Llangollen Canal, and part of the Shropshire Union Canal. (The place near Whitby is now known as Ellesmere Port.) A part of the branch was also built at Ffrwd, and remains can be found, despite part of the canal being built over by a railway, which is now also derelict and lifted. (The Great Central Railway Westminster Colliery Branch, which also served Ffrwd Ironworks.) This is a bit like a guided trip, but you need to move on the Google Map to follow it... Summerhill, Wales https://maps.app.goo.gl/jjx2Zg6jJPocCNwv7 The Image in the link is the end nearest Gwersyllt. There was approximately 2 1/3 Miles of canal actually built. There used to be a bridge over the canal at this point, the canal continuing behind the "camera" to a wharf on the outskirts of Gwersyllt. Most of this is now built over, but there is a road that seems to follow the canal line in part. In front of the "Camera", the canal continues to Sydallt, where it is at the bottom of the gardens in Tan Yr Allt, before just about disappearing under houses in Bronallt. (You can follow the canal "from the air" on the map.) The WM & CQ branch climbed up from the railway at Sydallt, though it too seems to have been built over. (Railway Terrace.) I would say that the WM & CQ Ffrwd Branch was alongside the road Bronallt. The field boundary hedge and trees follows the canal and railway's line as it swings around the hill. The railway here cut through the canal, as the canal turned sharper than the railway. The railway ended up on the "outside" of the canal bend. The canal remains re-appear and curve around to go into the trees, where the railway comes on top of the canal. A cutting and road overbridge have gone on a branch off the WM & C Q railway to Ffos Y Go colliery. The remains of the abutment walls can be found alongside the road. (At a "dog leg" in the Sydallt to Ffrwd road.) The railway remains on top of the canal through to the site of an aqueduct by the Ffrwd Coaching Inn remains. There are the remains of the abutments of girder bridges here, where the WM & C Q railway went over the GWR Ffrwd Ironworks branch, and the road. A house labelled as "the Cottage" is the Level Crossing Keepers House where the GWR Branch crossed the road. A new house is opposite. The gate is on the GWR line, and the abutments of the WM & CQ bridge over the GWR can be seen beyond. The canal emerges from the side of the railway embankment on the other side of the bridge (aqueduct) and runs to the remains of the Yord Canal Basin. This was the end of the canal as built. The canal would have continued, via a flight of locks, to a Reservoir at Coed Talon. This was the planned end of the canal. The “other” end would have run to Poolmouth, outside Wrexham, where it would join the main line of the canal, running from the River Dee at Chester (opposite the present lock from the Chester Canal) climbing roughly on the line now occupied by the Railway, and continuing on via Ruabon to the Trefor end of the Pontcysllte Aqueduct. I have found these sites interesting, they cover the history of the canal scheme that the Canal at Ffrwd would have been part of... http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Ellesmere_Canal http://plaskynastoncanalgroup.org/canals/ Narrow boat magazine article ... https://narrowboatmagazine.com/converted/43895/ffrwd_folly
  3. RE: Motorbikes on Towpaths.... It does seem that the number of Motorbikes will only increase everywhere. People are getting used to motorbikes on the towpath, and possibly think it is 'allowed'! There is no signage at Towpath Entry Points to inform potentilal riders that motor vehicles (Except Authorised Grass Mainteneance Vehicles, etc.) are prohinited. The so called 'drug run' between Chester and Ellesmere Port, well known for high speed motorbikes, most with two riders (mostllywithout helmets) mostly without any numberplates, has seen reports an increase of fully 'legal' number plates and helmeted riders using the Towpath. It seems that this route is becoming a popular Motorbike path with 'normal' motorbike riders, yet alone a cylcle path. The same thing is happening, it seems, on the whole of the 'surfaced' Towpath of the Shropshire Union. Not quite so many bikes on teh rougher parts of the Towpath though.... It is amazing that, with CRT 'loving' new signs, there is no signage wahtsoever at an awful lot of Towpath Acess Points! RE: CRT New Signage... The Canal Boating Times has a new sign at Chester on the cover....all Chester signs seem to have been replaced! The Boat Museum (Sorry, the NWM or whatever it is being called now...) has new signage too! The Captain has come up with something! The Cyclist & Ramblers Trust new Blue Logo, the same blue as used on Cycleway signs! Also....they are only replacing signs that need replacing.... Any sign with the old logo is out of date, and therfore needs replacing!!! For me, they have missed out a circle....unless it represents a Uni-cycle????
  4. There was a partial collapse of the Towpath side of the cutting some time ago, to the Northgate Locks side of the Northgate Bridges. This was fixed, and the Towpath re-opened.... Then the 'cliff' between King Charles Tower and Northgate Bridge was declared 'unsafe', and the Towpath closed again. After some time, 'the authorities' decided that only the land between the Towpath itsels and the foot of the 'cliffs' required fencing off.... So, 'corrugated steel' fencing was erected, amd the Towpath re-opened again..... The steel fencing was replaced by wooden post-and-rail fencing..... Then the 'cliff' between King Charles Tower and Northgate Bridge was declared 'unsafe, (After some abseiling investiagtions it seems...) again...., and the Towpath closed again. It was still closed off last Monday 9th July.... The 'diversionary route' from Cow Lane Bridge (Frodsham Street) to Northgate Locks. Go up the path from the Towpath through the recently cleared 'King Charles Tower Gardens' to the wooden steps (propped up with scaffolding last time I was there!) and onto the City Walls. Turn right towards the King Charles Tower, and follow the walls walkway to The Nothgate. The City Walls walkway has been closed for some years now, between The Northgate and Mogan's Mount (For Northgate Locks). The diversionary route for the diversionary route is:- Go down the steps from the City Walls walkway to Northgate Street. Carefully cross Northgate Street and pass between the concrete blocks and scaffolding holding up the City Walls and the 'Liverpool Arms' PH. (Watertower Street). Follow Water Tower Street to just before the Inner Ring Road (St. Martins Way). Here are steps up onto the City Walls. (Morgan's Mount.) By the steps there is an arch in the City Walls. Pass through the arch, and either follow the 'cobbled' ramp, or turn left and pass the 'gun' artwork, and follow the steps downwards, to Northgate Locks. Diversion Ends.
  5. The Towpath is closed off at the moment from King Charles Tower to just before Northgate Locks. This includes some of the 'under the wall' moorings....
  6. Has anyone else thought that CRT is missing a point? Here it is..... Charities quote the size of their 'friends' organisation as 'leverage' in seeking funding, etc. So the National Trust has X amount of Members, or Friends, so they must be doing something right....etc. BW CRT has a 'friends' organisation, which charges a membership fee (or so it seems)..... So these 'friends' get a newsletter / magazine I hear..... But boaters only get an on-line thing, which is OK if you have the computer, internet, power, etc....but cannot be read at leasure or lent / given to boater's friends to read, etc.... Why not make all licence paying boaters 'friends' as they do pay a membershi fee (plus mooring fees, etc!).... Then they would get the newsletter/ magazine as well, and the number of 'friends' would be increased somewhat, inproving the stattus of the 'friends' for funding leverage... OR am I barking up the wrong tree??
  7. With thanks to the late Lawrence Hogg, for the link on another thread on here!
  8. Talking about old-time BW liveries.... The Lifebelt British Transport Waterways Logo (British Transport Commission) was a round logo! Bring Back The Lifebelt!
  9. Hi all.... The Canal Boating Times has a new sign at Chester on the cover....all Chester signs seem to have been replaced! The Boat Museum (Sorry, the NWM or whatever it is being called now...) has new signage too! The Captain has come up with something! The Cyclist & Ramblers Trust new Blue Logo, the same blue as used on Cycleway signs! Also....they are only replacing signs that need replacing.... Any sign with the old logo is out of date, and therfore needs replacing!!! For me, they have missed out a circle....unless it represents a Uni-cycle????
  10. Well..... My limited knowlege of power generation would suggest a "real" generator is one without an add on inverter....this being an Inverter-Generator.... One with the output box integral with the engine/ Alternator assembly? Anyway..... in the end a generator is a generator I suppose?
  11. Well thank you for all the informative replies. Looks like the Captain will have to think of something else... He did like the look of the "build in" water cooled diesel generators.... But they need as much installation as the main engine! Not so surprising, when you realise that these generators ARE another engine.... Also, they are not "real" generators, as they, like the Travel Power, are a low voltage generator with a remote mounted box of electrickery (An Inverter basically!). All far to much hassle to fit.
  12. Hi all.... The captain has got me on a serach for something again... He is sure that there is available an alternator that is a direct replacement for the normal battery charging alternator that comes with the engine....but this is one that can generate 240 Volt power, and can also be used as a standard battery charging alternator. As the Vetus engine has only one alternator, the idea is to do a swap for this amazing gizmo.... If we can find one that is. Any ideas? Thanks
  13. Wow.... That would take some filler! We have been home for a while (Shore leave!). Back on the boat for the weekend.... As usual, the rain has come back as well! Oh well!
  14. G'day there... Thanks for the information. Yes, tropical rain even makes Welsh rain seem like a dry day in comparison! The other problem with a cover....wind. The wetaher kind that is! The Captain is of the opinion that wind is the most destructive natiral force....
  15. Welll...I do get to steer sometimes. Tea & Sympathy does work quite well....but normally we don't move in the wet, so the Captain stays dry most of the time! (Except if he has to take the Ship's Dog out for a walk....if I don't do it! A cover would also keep the rain out of the cabin when the doors are open.....which would help in Hot and Wet Weather! But it seems that getting a cover made isn't that easy! All the Best, Wrexham Lass
  16. I can only agree... Some people look at the weather first thing in the morning, and say, "We won't go out today"....they never seem to think "what if it changes"! Then within an hour, the weather changes.....perfectly good now to do whatever needed doing....but will they contact you and see if it is still OK to come out? No! The Captain is not keen on re-training.....he is just about House Trained now.....like the Ship's Dog! WL...
  17. Hi, Interesting weather information! Wet Wales...well, a green and pleasant land don't get green without the precipitation! One of my favourite phrases from the Weather Reports From Coastal Stations on the Shipping Forecast is, "Precipitation within sight"....or "we can see its raining over there!". There was also, a while ago, on the South Coast, London Falmet Main (I think it was called). Weather reports from Airports on the radio. There were a couple of ststions I seem to remember, so the whole UK was covered. You could hear what the weather was, and wind direction, North to South, and work out pretty well what weather was coming South! What we could do with, I suppose, is a cover over the back deck, so the Captain can steer in the rain? High barometric pressure usually means "good" weather, but just how high can it go? If "normal" atmosperic presure is 15PSI (well it is actually 15 point something PSI...) which is, in new fangled Metric, 1 Bar....how high can it go? Also, how low? Anyhow, the boat has moved.....to Chester, and back to where we started from! Wednesday turned out nice.... But at least the water tank is now full again, and the food stores have been replenished. The cabin has been cleaned out again....now we can have the doors all open, so the mopped floors can dry out. Washing done, and drying well in the warm breeze. Even the ship's dog is happier, lazing on the warm deck! (Woof!) All is well with the world? Well, it would be.....but the Captain is hatching a plan! He likes bigger boats! All the best, Wrexham Lass....
  18. Hi all.... I have finally had a little time and battery power to do something on here... Here near Chester the weather lately has been confusing a bit! How is it that the sun is out, the sky is clear for miles (well, except for the vapour trails of aircraft!) and shade is very welcome for days on end, then the day you want to move the boat the heavens let go! So....you look at the grey sky, and the Captain says "this is in for the day, we won't go out today...". Then the rain stops, the sun breaks through, and the rest of the day is OK, with the evening even better.... But, the Captain has made up his mind! So no movement today! All the best.... Wrexham Lass
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.