NB Alton

Hi, we've passed you on the Macc this weekend. We have moored just by the little arm on the towpath side just before bridge 2 on the Ashton. The security guard from the adjacent building came & said hello & said he would keep an eye on the boat on the CCTV if we wished. There's a good proper pub the Jolly Angler just round the corner too ;-). Enjoy the Rochdale, it's a wonderful cut.

Anthracite is a naturally smokeless fuel

Just a very quick update. We spoke to CRT staff yesterday evening. It's now likely / hoped that this bridge will be operational again by the end of the week (operated by CRT staff on a timed basis). It is thought this will be a temporary restriction until a new bridge is installed. Cheers, Brian

Hampton boats?

Thanks Rich, I'm a bit jet lagged but not too bad. CRT say they have no evidence of who damaged the bridge, though they have been told about the lorries crossing the bridge & it's obvious who's doing this. As I see it, CRT are just taking their usual line of least resistance & closing the navigation, whilst they have a long slow think about what to do next! At the end of the day there's no rush for them as there is no financial loss to them as everyone still pays they're licence. CRT especially in the Manchester & Pennine area don't even seem to think they have customers. If this bridge was over a public road stuck in the raised position it would have been temporarily operated to back sure that road traffic was allowed. Canal traffic carries no such priority. I get you're subtle hint about the mooring, so at least I'm not the only one keen to get the lift bridge re-opened ;-). Cheers, Brian Heidi, don't worry this stoppage is on the Upper Peak Forest, between Marple & Whaley Bridge, so it doesn't effect the Cheshire Ring. Good Luck with the new boat ;-) Cheers, Brian

This stoppage has a significant impact on my business, so after just returning from holiday yesterday we've spent the day trying to get some sense out of CRT. Yesterday they told us that they were awaiting an engineers inspection. Today they say they can do nothing until they have a meeting on Monday. Right up to the waterways manager we are getting no satisfactory response to what the problem really is or how they plan to reopen the navigation on a temporary or permenant basis. There are many hundred of tonnes of hardcore & rubble now stored on the far side of the bridge brought ovet the 3t limit bridge by lorry. Also CRT's contractors have recently established a worksite on the far side of the bridge incuding large storage containers, site access cabins, skips etc all which must have been brought over the lift bridge by large crane lorries significantly in excess of 3t. (note there doesn't appear to be a height restriction on the bridge, only 3t weight & 8' 6" width restrictions). These manual hydraulically operated bridges occasionally fail & BW/ CRT usually then operate a booked passage, where 2 members of their staff attatch ropes/ chain to the bridge & operate the bridge by the original method of heaving on the chain to counterbalance the bridge. CRT say this is not possible as the bridge frame is damaged. After a long day of road deliveries today I've visited the bridge tonight. I can see no evidence of recent major damage to the structural frame of the bridge & I believe that the bridge would operate safely by the traditional manual counterbalance method ( the hydraulic pump had been disconected to stop boaters trying to operate it). Anyway I remain frustrated by CRT's slow response to resolving this problem & will endevour to deliver to my customers on the Peak Forest as soon as possible. Cheers, Brian

I believe a few old boat owning friends have headed up from Stone to the Caldon for a festive cruise / get together. I couldn't resist having a nosy in on CWDf even from down under. Cheers, Brian

Sorry I cannot help physically, but it sounds like a similar problem I had on Alton quite a few years back, where as others have said the rudder was jammed against the skeg. I tried for hours with crow bars, ropes, scissor jacks but to no avail. In the end a friend came out with a very compact but strong trolley jack that we used under the bottom of the swans neck / Z iron & this just popped it back up. To avoid it happening again we placed a loose piece over the rudder stock so the the rudder could not fall so far as to jam against the skeg (George's good idea). Hope that makes sense, Cheers, Brian

I'm sure there are a few statements in the article that some enthusiasts might want to debate or discuss further, such as was Raymond actually "the last wooden narrow boat built", or that " The boats built by Yarwoods and Harland & Woolf were all made of riveted steel, while the Walkers Brothers boats were wooden" doesn't mention composite construction boats. However I think it's an interesting, easy to read & understand introduction to old boat spotting. Yes, it's written by Alison Smedley, the previous owner of our big Northwich motor Shirley. I enjoyed reading your page on Sickle. Cheers, Brian

My friend Alison ( a self confessed old boat anorak) produced this :- https://www.waterways.org.uk/blog/historic_boat_spotting_guide . HTH, cheers, Brian

Very sad news indeed, my sincere condolences to Steve's, family, friends & colleagues. I first met him about 20 or so years ago, when he was just taking on the derelict yard at Glascote, I asked his advice about buying my first boat, including the possibility of buying a new shell, he gave me lots of ideas & a very good steer of what to look out for in a second hand boat, when I passed him at the IWA National later that year he congratulated me on my purchase & we had a good natter later in the pub. He was a top bloke & will be missed by many on the cut. Regards, Brian

Yes, Charles Mills at Classic Marine Diesels has a workshop at Poynton & has a good reputation, but he's often snowed under with work. Alternatively there's Mark Stevenson-wood Tel 07850 683210 who's based on a boat at Poynton & he's trustworthy & has a good reputation for servicing & repair of both modern & older engines. HTH Cheers, Brian

Yes, Shirley's cabin conversion was modified at either end to be similar to Flamingo's, I'm still not sure whether I prefer Woolwich's or Northwich's but as long as it's "Big" I don't really mind ;-). Cheers, Brian

Congratulations on your new old boat Alan & Cath :-), I've admired Flamingo for years, think she used to be moored on the Shroppie & always turned my head. I liked the way the conversion was "separated" from the back cabin & engine room. Looking forward to seeing Flamingo out & about next year. Cheers, Brian

Well once again we've had a busy month & trade is definitely picking up as autumn ends & winter draws on ;-). Just A quick update on Alton's latest schedule:- This weekend we're running from Oakgrove (Br 49 of the Macc), through to Whaley Bridge & Bugsworth, then back over Mon/Tues. Then Wed 26th to Fri 28th Nov we'll be delivering from Oakgrove (Br49 Macc) to Acton Bridge on the T&M via Congleton, Kidsgrove & Middlewich. Sat 29th Nov to Mon 1st Dec:- Acton Bridge to Ellesmere Port via Middlewich, Nantwich & Chester. Mon 1st to Thurs 4th Dec:- Ellesmere Port to Oakgrove ( Br49 Macc) via Chester, Barbridge, Middlewich, Kidsgrove & Congleton. Sat 6th Dec to Tues 9th Dec:- Oakgrove (Br49 Macc) to Whaley Br & Bugsworth & return. Please note the above schedule is our plan, but is subject to change due to weather, traffic, customer volumes, good pubs or other factors outside our control. During the winter months, at times we struggle to stock sufficient fuels to meet ad-hoc demand, so to ensure a delivery please pre-order with a text or call to us on 07791345004. Cheers, Brian & Ann Marie

Welcome to life on the cut, we've lived aboard for nearly 20 years & still cannot believe how lucky we are. Cheers, Brian

Yes, this sort of thing sounds a good idea, we meet quite a few boaters, that find out about our services via CWDF, so your continued support of all working coal / fuel boats is very much appreciated. Cheers, Brian

I've heard that the pub company has sold the pub to a company that owns & operates other sites with campsites & marina / moorings, so hopefully it will reopen in the spring. Cheers, Brian

I'd agree, that it might be worth double checking that 7'1" dimension & if the boat was built to that gauge. There are plenty of old full length working boats around at this width & they don't have many problems getting around other than at a few pinch points where locks have narrowed / subsided such Hurleston. Being a shorter boat, would also mean you would be more likely to get thru a pinch point also. Cheers, Brian

No, I'm sorry to say the Rochdale just hasn't got enough boats on it to support a coal boat. We deliver by road once a month to New Islington Marina or there's Shire Cruisers in Sowerby Bridge. It's a gorgeous cut once you get out of Manchester, have a good trip :-). Cheers, Brian

Dave sums it up well above. I've delivered to customers moored at Br 6 outside Aldi & they've been happy to tie-up there for 3 or 4 days. They said the locals were friendly & had no hassle, though on a couple of occasions I've had stones & bricks thrown at me from kids in the bushes between bridges 5 & 6. I've heard quite a few good reports of the beer in the Cheshire Ring pub at Br6. Another possibility is to moor up back out in the countryside around Br 9 & walk into Hyde. HTH, Brian

Hi Junior, It would be good to catch up with you, A mate of mine also owns a Lorenz Tug & I mentioned you to him. Yes we stock Excel, as for our location, we tend to tweet each day where we are & where we're headed, so hopefully you can track us as "Coalboat" (I know you follow us already ;-) ). Cheers, Brian