Tacet Posted September 22, 2022 Report Share Posted September 22, 2022 Standedge- because it's the longest, deepest and highest Blisworth - because I had an interesting trip into it when it was under repair in the 1980s Netherton - because it's bore is impressive Of all the conventional canal tunnels, I think Froghall is the tightest. We couldn't make it through on the first visit so had to return laden with coal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grassman Posted September 22, 2022 Report Share Posted September 22, 2022 15 hours ago, Philip said: Also are there any tunnels people particularly don't like going through? All of them! In 42 years of boating most of the system I've never got used to them and find them boring, monotonous and sometimes scary. I realise from the comments on here that I seem to be in the minority but hey-ho each to their own. Thankfully I'm too long for Huddersfield so will never have to do the Standedge, and I cannot see the point of risking damage to my boat going through Froghall Tunnel just to reach a couple of hundred yards further on. I've done the Gosty though but that was because I needed a pump out and diesel and had heard how nice and friendly it is in Hawne Basin. I presume one of the attractions is the challenge and also you 'completists' who have to get to the very limit of navigations. I can kind of understand that even though it's not for me. I remember on the Chesterfield Canal I turned at the winding hole but another boater 'needed' to carry on the 1/4 mile further on and touch the bricked up tunnel entrance with his front fender before reversing back to the WH through all the weed and debris, a task that took him ages. He was happy to do it though so each to their own 🙂. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewan123 Posted September 22, 2022 Report Share Posted September 22, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, DaveP said: Islington - when mooring either side, because of the steady traffic, all the different and lovely engine sounds echoing for many minutes before the boats emerge (the most fabulous being Indus & Pictor bearing coal in the winter)... I didn't hang around there long enough to hear a nice boat going through... I'd love to hear Clover's Bollinder in there though. Edited September 22, 2022 by Ewan123 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malp Posted September 22, 2022 Report Share Posted September 22, 2022 13 hours ago, Jen-in-Wellies said: Yeah, I meant Gorsty Hill 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanderer Vagabond Posted September 22, 2022 Report Share Posted September 22, 2022 4 minutes ago, malp said: No Dracula? you must have been on your way back then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tacet Posted September 22, 2022 Report Share Posted September 22, 2022 47 minutes ago, Grassman said: All of them! In 42 years of boating most of the system I've never got used to them and find them boring, monotonous and sometimes scary. I realise from the comments on here that I seem to be in the minority but hey-ho each to their own. Thankfully I'm too long for Huddersfield so will never have to do the Standedge, and I cannot see the point of risking damage to my boat going through Froghall Tunnel just to reach a couple of hundred yards further on. 🙂 True enough. But if you over analyse it, there is little point to any of it. Whenever someone needs to move a boat any distance, the usual advice is that it will be cheaper, simpler and quicker to do it by road. It always seems a shame, to me, to not undertake a decent cruise. Often it will be easier to go by other means, with or without a boat, but I like boating! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heartland Posted September 22, 2022 Report Share Posted September 22, 2022 Then them are those you cannot goo through (1) Old Harecastle and the side branches to the mines (2) Buttlerley Tunnel (3) Lapal Tunnel (4) Norwood But some people had explored these hidden places all the same As to the roofs missing at Armitage that was through mining subsidence. Brewins tunnel was opened out as part of James Walkers improvement of the the canal And, there are also the horse tunnels that passed under canal and roads on different parts of the network Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mack Posted September 22, 2022 Report Share Posted September 22, 2022 11 minutes ago, Heartland said: And, there are also the horse tunnels that passed under canal and roads on different parts of the network And one at Shrewley that parallels the canal tunnel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Pegg Posted September 22, 2022 Report Share Posted September 22, 2022 1. Dudley - by far and away the most interesting and challenging 2. Wast Hill - because it is like a portal between two different worlds 3. Gosty Hill I've never been through Standedge (canal) tunnel but I am familiar with the location and the adjoining railway tunnels. My favourites though would probably be on railways so as an alternative list since the thread title doesn't refer to canals how about: 1. Mersey (and it's surrounding and connected railway tunnels which have many fascinating features) 2. Severn 3. Kilsby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Harold Posted September 22, 2022 Report Share Posted September 22, 2022 18 hours ago, IanD said: 1. Standedge 2. Standedge 3. Standedge -- been through three times... 🙂 Masochist!! Been through once on a freezing cold day.The further in it got colder and colder, and when I was absolutely perished an icy deluge came down from the springs above.I also had one of my nav lights knocked off. I am not going through Standedge again! 😰 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanD Posted September 22, 2022 Report Share Posted September 22, 2022 7 minutes ago, Mad Harold said: Masochist!! Been through once on a freezing cold day.The further in it got colder and colder, and when I was absolutely perished an icy deluge came down from the springs above.I also had one of my nav lights knocked off. I am not going through Standedge again! 😰 You know the old saw "There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing" ? 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPR Posted September 22, 2022 Report Share Posted September 22, 2022 1 hour ago, Heartland said: Then them are those you cannot goo through (1) Old Harecastle and the side branches to the mines (2) Buttlerley Tunnel (3) Lapal Tunnel (4) Norwood But some people had explored these hidden places all the same As to the roofs missing at Armitage that was through mining subsidence. Brewins tunnel was opened out as part of James Walkers improvement of the the canal And, there are also the horse tunnels that passed under canal and roads on different parts of the network Crimson Hill Tunnel Chard Canal 1 hour ago, Heartland said: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Posted September 22, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2022 Was Netherton built with a railway in mind or have there been plans since to convert it to rail? The engineering and blue brick looks very typical of railway tunnels built in the late 19th century. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athy Posted September 22, 2022 Report Share Posted September 22, 2022 3 hours ago, MPR said: Crimson Hill Tunnel Chard Canal Never heard of it, but it's worth including just for the name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mack Posted September 22, 2022 Report Share Posted September 22, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, Philip said: Was Netherton built with a railway in mind or have there been plans since to convert it to rail? The engineering and blue brick looks very typical of railway tunnels built in the late 19th century. No. It was just built in the railway era (opened 1858). Same as the Tame Valley, Rushall and Birmingham & Warwick Junction Canals. And improving the canal network to help compete with the railways was probably part of the reasoning behind their construction. Edited September 22, 2022 by David Mack 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted September 22, 2022 Report Share Posted September 22, 2022 6 hours ago, Heartland said: As to the roofs missing at Armitage that was through mining subsidence. Brewins tunnel was opened out as part of James Walkers improvement of the the canal CRT still think its a tunnel, have you seen the sign Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight Posted September 22, 2022 Report Share Posted September 22, 2022 7 hours ago, Mad Harold said: I also had one of my nav lights knocked off. I am not going through Standedge again! 😰 That's cos Standedge isn't a tunnel it's a cave! Fred Carter used to suggest nav lights should be removed or the tunnel removes them for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanD Posted September 23, 2022 Report Share Posted September 23, 2022 14 hours ago, Midnight said: That's cos Standedge isn't a tunnel it's a cave! Fred Carter used to suggest nav lights should be removed or the tunnel removes them for you. I used to enjoy caving... 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Posted September 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2022 Those who have been through Standedge; does it have ventilation shafts directly above? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWM Posted September 23, 2022 Report Share Posted September 23, 2022 Braunston, Crick and Shrewley (gnarly and you can see both ends!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudds Lad Posted September 23, 2022 Report Share Posted September 23, 2022 20 minutes ago, Philip said: Those who have been through Standedge; does it have ventilation shafts directly above? yes, here’s two at Pule Hill above Marsden 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pluto Posted September 24, 2022 Report Share Posted September 24, 2022 For non-navigable ones, there are two at Rain Hall which provided access to the limestone quarry. This was taken in 1981 of the one nearest the main canal. The other entrance is now virtually covered and in the middle of a field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Todd Posted September 24, 2022 Report Share Posted September 24, 2022 My unfavourite is Barnton as, unlike Preston Brook and Saltersford, there is no restriction on entry times. Most boaters seem to think that it is definitely OK to enter if you can see a boat ahead in the same direction, regardless of how many boats have entered without allowing one in from the other end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted September 24, 2022 Report Share Posted September 24, 2022 18 minutes ago, Mike Todd said: My unfavourite is Barnton as, unlike Preston Brook and Saltersford, there is no restriction on entry times. Most boaters seem to think that it is definitely OK to enter if you can see a boat ahead in the same direction, regardless of how many boats have entered without allowing one in from the other end. Surly that happens with all one way tunnels, Chirk, Whitehouse, Gosty Hill and all the rest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken X Posted September 24, 2022 Report Share Posted September 24, 2022 For us 3. Wast Hills, plenty of room and contrasting ends. 2. Harecastle, still remember the first time, we entered, feeling confident then the doors closed, the fans fired up and we vanished in fog. Oh pooh where are the sides😳 Soon cleared though. 1. Shrewley. Reason being we hired a couple of Club Line boats in around '82. These had centre roof portions which slid back. It was stinky hot and I had the roof open and several girls in bikinis on the roof (I know, wouldn't do it now). We slid into the tunnel all happy then the screaming started. I didn't realise quite how wet it was. The water was pouring in. Spent some time at the far end drying out. Still fun though. 😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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