Jump to content

What are these canal features?

jetzi

By jetzi
in General Boating

 Share

Featured Posts

BEngo Veteran II

BEngoDonate to Canal World

Posted
Posted
9 hours ago, ivan&alice said:

On the Birmingham new main line there are a number of these islands that leave a narrow channel on either side. My best guess is that they are the remains of bridges.

 

These are why the BCN  New Main Line is sometimes called the Island Line.

N

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Athy Veteran II

AthyDonate to Canal World

Posted
Posted

Something has just occurred to me. How did the company officials get to their toll booth for their day's work? Were there swing bridges, or did they keep a plank on the bank? I hope they didn't have to jump across.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
WotEver Veteran II

WotEverDonate to Canal World

Posted
Posted
2 minutes ago, Athy said:

Something has just occurred to me. How did the company officials get to their toll booth for their day's work? Were there swing bridges, or did they keep a plank on the bank? I hope they didn't have to jump across.

Good point :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
magnetman Veteran II

magnetman

Posted
Posted (edited)

Pole vaulting ?

 

 

There is one of those islands on the Paddington Arm. First time I saw it I thought it was a large boat coming towards me so I waited for it as it was taking the deep water channel...

 

2712306_02d99cbe.jpg

 

 

Was this a toll island as well? I thought it was a structural part of the aqueduct. 

 

 

As for getting to them presumably staff were dropped off by boat for their shift. 

Edited by magnetman
  • Greenie 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
David Mack Veteran II

David MackDonate to Canal World

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Athy said:

Something has just occurred to me. How did the company officials get to their toll booth for their day's work? Were there swing bridges, or did they keep a plank on the bank? I hope they didn't have to jump across.

 

A small plank swing bridge. It is visible in some of the old photos.

  • Greenie 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
john6767 Veteran II

john6767

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Athy said:

Something has just occurred to me. How did the company officials get to their toll booth for their day's work? Were there swing bridges, or did they keep a plank on the bank? I hope they didn't have to jump across.

Plank I believe, you can see it in this picture

 

 

21E7EB6D-637D-4B14-84F2-CE7456577387.jpeg

  • Greenie 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
David Mack Veteran II

David MackDonate to Canal World

Posted
Posted
47 minutes ago, magnetman said:

 

There is one of those islands on the Paddington Arm. First time I saw it I thought it was a large boat coming towards me so I waited for it as it was taking the deep water channel...

 

2712306_02d99cbe.jpg

 

 

Was this a toll island as well? I thought it was a structural part of the aqueduct. 

 

That's the North Circular Road Aqueduct. It was replaced a few years ago as part of the North Circular widening. It is now actually two aqueducts side by side.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Tacet Rising Star

Tacet

Posted
Posted
49 minutes ago, magnetman said:

Pole vaulting ?

 

 

There is one of those islands on the Paddington Arm. First time I saw it I thought it was a large boat coming towards me so I waited for it as it was taking the deep water channel...

 

2712306_02d99cbe.jpg

 

 

Was this a toll island as well? I thought it was a structural part of the aqueduct. 

 

 

As for getting to them presumably staff were dropped off by boat for their shift. 

It is not a toll island.  I am reasonably sure that when the north circular road was widened, the aqueduct was reconstructed in two channels, such that one channel remained open for most of the time.  There may have been a period when it was closed to boat traffic, but the contractor had to crane boats around.

 

It was a marked success of waterways campaigning at the public inquiry that the Paddinton branch was not closed for the best part of a year - which was the highways preferred option.

 

  • Greenie 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
ditchcrawler Veteran II

ditchcrawlerDonate to Canal World

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, Athy said:

Something has just occurred to me. How did the company officials get to their toll booth for their day's work? Were there swing bridges, or did they keep a plank on the bank? I hope they didn't have to jump across.

Lift bridge ie, plank, They didn't need three handrails and a toe board in those days

Link to comment
Share on other sites
magnetman Veteran II

magnetman

Posted
Posted
54 minutes ago, Dav and Pen said:

Love the design of the brickwork and the fancy chimney pot. Even for utility building our ancestors took trouble unlike today’s tin sheds everywhere.

They probably realised that being surrounded by good looking functional objects makes life better and is likely to result in higher morale and productivity. 

 

 

 

 

  • Greenie 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
magpie patrick Veteran II

magpie patrickDonate to Canal World

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, BEngo said:

These are why the BCN  New Main Line is sometimes called the Island Line.

N

Whilst I like the idea of that, I think the term Island Line predates the BCN new main line, there was a suggestion to link what was then a branch down Spon Lane Locks to a Branch at Tipton Green (now closed and infilled) to save boats going a long way round - that is the first reference I've seen to "The Island Line", presumably in some way related to creating or being perceived to cross an island

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mike Todd Veteran

Mike ToddDonate to Canal World

Posted
Posted (edited)
6 hours ago, Athy said:

Something has just occurred to me. How did the company officials get to their toll booth for their day's work? Were there swing bridges, or did they keep a plank on the bank? I hope they didn't have to jump across.

A short while back  prob on another thread I cannot recall a photo with a plank in place.

 

I see it has now been re posted 

Edited by Mike Todd
  • Greenie 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • 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.