Graham_Robinson

Historical Map series No.2 Canals of Birmingham and the Black Country.............covers the lot all on one map.

Could you tell me which boat that is please? I've heard you know about stuff like this Real Jaffa cakes for the right answer.

Ach zo it was only a matter of time. Hitler has been to Pooley Hall then Braunston now he's apparently on his way to Birmingham. For you, you 2.1336M schweinehunds das krieg ist zu ende. Star is up for sale I'm buying a Spitfire.

Have you the cap to go with the badge? I think you'll look very fetching wearing that ensemble on the back of the Otley

I think you'll find that it's not only historic craft that are getting stuck. there have been instances of private and hire boats struggling through and some getting stuck. There is some serious subsidence occuring here which has accelerated alarmingly in the last couple of years. I've been working close by here for a few years now and I can assure you you don't need a laser or tape measure to see the how the lock is slowly collapsing into the sunset........ Hopefully this Winters stoppage will arrest this damage otherwise you'll be struggling to get a canoe up the flight.

I once spent an interesting 3 hours or more searching through the 'stuff' in the hold before I finally found a pair of matching brass escutcheons. Wonder what happened to it? Maybe it's part of the joblot.

LMS Hire boats? SY Cygnet and Teal Mmmmmmhhhhh Ssssstttttteeeeeaaaaammmmmm..............................................

There were 4 Middlewich boats for sale in Venetian Marina earlier this year including 'Willow' which I and friends hired 4x in the 90's. My parents hired from The Tardebigge Boat Co. in the 60's. Tardebigge top lock being my first introduction to locks on the cut. Nothing like jumping in at the deep end. They also hired boats from Wheaton Aston, I think that would be Anglo Welsh but I stand to be corrected. Our hiring boat days finished off with a two week epic on an Ernie Thomas boat. I still remember to this day conversations with himself the biggest majority unprintable in todays PC world.............or other stores for that matter.? I've got a box full of prints, negatives and slides which I keep threatening to convert to digital file.....................one day....................

Steaming right off track again.....metaphorically that is.... Non can beat the mighty LMS................ Watching a Scots express drifting down the hill through Lancaster or thundering through Carnforth is a sight I'll never forget.

Thanks Dave. I have to agree, of course I would. Those open square eyed things are chewing up tapered lock spindles up and down the system. That's from C&RT engineers not me but anyone with half an eye can see the damage being done. So if you want the best, forget the rest. We are investigating the possibilities of placing a steel insert into the handle on the next batch of Duntons to be cast for those poor souls who inadvertantly drop theirs into the cut. Or we can cast the whole windlass in steel if enough people were interested in purchasing. Oh hang on that'll include me then!!! After dropping mine in and later recovering, I began the search for the producer of Dunton windlass and eventually found him. Here they are then

This is what you need ?

Talk about crawling!!! So this is how you get ahead of me in the queue.☹️

Hudson, high end????? Really????

A sad tale indeed. Perhaps when a Mr. S. Priest returns from The Hawthorns ( in a bad mood one suspects as the Baggies only managed a draw against bottom club Ipswich?) he can enlighten, us, them, me when Water Rambler will recommence rambling

How many pasties did you have on New Years eve pray tell??