[Is Wigan worth a look?]

12 minutes ago, Pie Eater said:

I live in Wigan and am struggling to answer your questions.

 

As Nicknorman suggested moor in the pound with the dry dock and then walk through the Trencherfield Mill car park on to Wallgate and turn right towards the town.

 

The only place I can suggest you look at is Wigan Parish Church.

 

The Wigan Pier site is being redeveloped at the moment so I would just sail through slowly and have a look.

Thanks for your reply.  We're actually filming.  Does this mean Wigan Pier is covered in scaffold?   

[Is Wigan worth a look?]

Hi we're passing through Wigan later in the week travelling from the Leigh branch and heading towards Liverpool.   Is Wigan worth a look and where's best to moor up?  Can you moor up near Wigan Pier and if so is it safe?

 

Thanks! 

[Rain on 't Rochdale]

6 hours ago, Pluto said:

There were originally eight, as the 1913 map shows, with seven being sold in 1923.

who were the reservoirs sold off to?  did the regional water authorities buy them?

[Any issues passing through Newton Heath area on the Rochdale?]

Hi we're passing through later this week.   I've been told it's an area to watch out - by other boaters.  Scare stories or any truth in this? 

 

Thanks 

[Lock depths on The Rochdale?]

5 hours ago, Jim Riley said:

Curious what relevance the lock depths have for you and a TV programme? 

A lot of the stones in the older locks have stonemasons marks on them. 

Each of the locks featured in the programme will be named and it's rise will appear on screen.   Thought it'd be of interest to viewers. 

[Lock depths on The Rochdale?]

Just now, alan_fincher said:

We have just finally escaped from the Rochdale, and what was blindingly obvious was that many of the lock depths quoted in Nicholsons were wildly inaccurate.

To give an example of just how inaccurate Nicholson's lists Anthony Lock (77) as just 9' 7.5", whereas in reality it is the deepest on the canal, variously quoted elsewhere as 15' 1.5" or even 15' 4".

 

I could give other examples but Nicholson's is clearly not a reliable source for this particular canal.

Alan, I'm producing a new BBC4 series called Canal Boat Diaries.   Any idea where I get further information then on lock depths for the Rochdale?  Is canal plan ac accurate for other parts of the system - as I've been using this source.

[Lock depths on The Rochdale?]

oh thank you !   great tip.  will pick up a guide today. 

[Lock depths on The Rochdale?]

Can anyone help.  I usually use Canal Plan AC for things like this - however there's no stats for the fall of: 

 

Stubbing Upper Lock 

Todmorden Guillotine Lock 

Gauxholme Lowest Lock

 

Are the Rochdale lock depths listed anywhere?

Any help much appreciated. 

 

 

 

[Most photogenic stretches of The Rochdale?]

thanks everyone for all the tips.  really helpful.  if you're interested the rochdale will be epiosde 3 in the series.   the overall journey is from shardlow to liverpool via the t&m, caldon, macc, peak forest, huddersfield narrow & broad, c&h, rochdale, bridgewater and l&l. 

 

[Most photogenic stretches of The Rochdale?]

19 hours ago, Tumshie said:

Perhaps not quite what you're looking for but I love this site there is a massive amount of content, info, and pictures. Once you work out how the format works you can use it to help you plan where you want to go. I'm not suggesting you borrow the content for your tv program but that you use it for research. 

 

http://penninewaterways.co.uk/rochdale/index.htm

 

Good luck with your project. 

thanks - it's a really great website ! 

 

6 hours ago, Tim Lewis said:

Taken a while ago, 2002. I believe that the tree growth makes taking this photo problemetic now!

 

thanks for this shot it's a great tip ! 

[Most photogenic stretches of The Rochdale?]

I'm wanting to film with a drone from the best vantage points along the Rochdale.  It's a canal I've never cruised. 

 

Could you suggest the best bits with dramatic landscapes?  Lock or bridge numbers would be really helpful.   It's for a new BBC4 series called 'Narrowboat Diaries' which will be on later in the year. 

 

Many thanks ! 

[All 3 Pennine Crossing Closed again]

On 18/06/2019 at 20:00, Peter X said:

Please pardon my poor knowledge of the northern canals, not a part of the system I usually keep tabs on, but I'm contemplating attempting the HNC next week with Lingy. So is my understanding right here please?

 

(1) CRT are saying that this guillotine at lock 24 is fixed:

18/06/2019 19:39

Repairs have now been completed. The lock is available for normal operations

(2) There was also a tree down between locks 25 and 26 but that's fixed too:

18/06/2019 15:45

The fallen tree has now been removed and the navigation is open.

So the HNC has actually just reopened for navigation? For the next few minutes at least? Can our man on the spot larrysanders confirm this please, it's a Very Long Way from Croydon.

And Burnley's on the Leeds and Liverpool, so that was closed but is now open too?

But matty40s said the Rochdale's shut for a couple of weeks. I suppose two out of three ain't bad.

the tree has been removed and the guillotine lock is fixed.  been through it today 

[All 3 Pennine Crossing Closed again]

9 hours ago, Midnight said:

The Huddersfield is open again yipee!...

 

....Oh The Huddersfield is closed again - hmmmm!
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/15518-fallen-tree-between-lock-25e-and-26e?fbclid=IwAR2G2ii8Qz7DlPrXzJ20llLZ1uTDqGC5Bu-UC1t7yowJOQKEOgStVFFzyik

closed 24e is closed.  there's still a stoppage.  we're stuck there!

[Nearest working pump out on the Huddersfield Narrow?]

thanks for this.  

[Nearest working pump out on the Huddersfield Narrow?]

The pump out at Slaithwaite is out of order.  I'm heading towards Huddersfield - where's the next facilities and is it working?

 

Many thanks.   

 

 

 

[Beware- Untrained volunteers on T&M wide locks]

On 05/05/2019 at 17:09, Victor Vectis said:

I had a similar problem on the same trip that I mentioned before, it might have been at Weston Lock but I don't remember exactly.

 

I was moving a friends boat. I'd tied the boat up below the lock, put the centre line around a bollard, and went up and started to empty the lock. The surge of water pulled the boat forward and snapped the centre line. I saw what was happening and dashed back to the lock landing in time to jump onto the back (perhaps cruiser sterns have their uses after all!)

Putting the engine into 'hard astern' wasn't enough stop the boat smacking into the bridge abutment below the lock.

 

THinking about it I reckon it was probably Aston Lock.

Yes - most likely Aston Lock as the same thing happened to me some years back.  I was single handed and didn't see what was going on to my boat as the line of sight is blocked by a bridge.   I'm very cautious going through Aston, Weston, Swarkestone and Stenson.     

 

On 05/05/2019 at 17:09, Victor Vectis said:

I had a similar problem on the same trip that I mentioned before, it might have been at Weston Lock but I don't remember exactly.

 

I was moving a friends boat. I'd tied the boat up below the lock, put the centre line around a bollard, and went up and started to empty the lock. The surge of water pulled the boat forward and snapped the centre line. I saw what was happening and dashed back to the lock landing in time to jump onto the back (perhaps cruiser sterns have their uses after all!)

Putting the engine into 'hard astern' wasn't enough stop the boat smacking into the bridge abutment below the lock.

 

THinking about it I reckon it was probably Aston Lock.

 

[Anyone been through Froghall Tunnel... looks tight!?]

5 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:

Probably because it didn't need to be any higher, No leisure boats then with 6' 6" inside headroom 

still seems very tight even for working narrowboats compared to other tunnels. 

[Anyone been through Froghall Tunnel... looks tight!?]

any idea on why this tunnel was built so low?   have water levels gone up slightly since it was built or was it always like this?

[Anyone been through Froghall Tunnel... looks tight!?]

12 minutes ago, StephenA said:

My brother took Mintball through the tunnel - we don't actually have a huge tumblehome but got through with a few inches to spare.

 

wow that looks tight

24 minutes ago, TheBiscuits said:

It's all about the profile.  The more tumblehome you have the better your chances of getting through.

 

Gauge at the last lock: 4" drag across the junk on the roof.

 

 

Gauge at the tunnel entrance:  Dragged on the solar panel, but I went in very slowly and still bashed the panel!

 

 

The tunnel itself : round 2 after removing the solar panel ...

 

 

Note that we have a small cabin with lots of tumblehome.  You can just make out my head in the tunnel pic, but usually the cabin roof is about waist high on me!

 

It is very low, but easier than Standedge as it is only very short.  I recommend trying it carefully if you are anywhere near fitting, as so few boats go through it.  There is a lovely mooring and a service block in the basin at the top of the Uttoxeter canal, but if you can't fit it is only a short walk round the hill on a good path to the cafe and basin.

 

thanks for the pics - great to see.  i thought it was strange when i got to froghall wharf and it was empty - in such a lovely place.  

[Anyone been through Froghall Tunnel... looks tight!?]

22 minutes ago, Rob-M said:

Yes there is a winding hole between the last lock and the tunnel, not sure it is full length though. We are 57ft but I can't remember if it was tight winding.

that's fine ours is only 42.  i think the main issue will be the solar panels.  thanks for the reply   

[Anyone been through Froghall Tunnel... looks tight!?]

5 minutes ago, matty40s said:

Its tight, there is a template hanging down on the other side that you can measure your roof profile with, don't risk it, it gets lower to the basin end.

can you remember if there is a winding spot near the tunnel if you decide against?  

[Anyone been through Froghall Tunnel... looks tight!?]

We're planning on going up the Caldon to Froghall Wharf this summer.   So I had a look round the wharf today and it was empty - no boaters in sight!    I see the tunnel is 5ft by 5ft max so it's going to be tight - therefore has anyone been through with their boat and had any issues?

[Best weather app or website?]

4 hours ago, Lily Rose said:

I use the BBC, the Met Office, Metcheck and Accuweather.

 

It's all driving me nuts. It's not so much that I haven't been able to figure which one is the least inaccurate, more that they all disagree so much. Today, for example, one tells I should stay where I'm moored this morning and set off after lunch when the chance of rain is much lower. Another tells me the complete opposite!

 

Perhaps I should pick the one that looks prettiest (quite like the Met Office app and website) and dump all the others.

 

Or just look up at the sky and guess the future.

 

I did use one a while back that provided a summary of (the main?) forecasters and an average of them all but I can't remember what it was called. Limited detail though IIRC, though detail is less than helpful without accuracy. I'll try Googling and see if I can find it.

 

today and yesterday the BBC app was spot on with it's timings with predicted rain in my area.   the met office app was way off.  

[Best weather app or website?]

Thanks for all the comments.. really helpful stuff!  

[Best weather app or website?]

What weather app or website do you find most reliable?   Be interested to know.