Some more observations on Canal Boat Diaries

[Heartland]

The recent re broadcast of the program when Naughty Lass went down Delph Locks has another mistaken note

 

It was stated that the lock flight 2-7 was part of the original Dudley Canal, which was not the case, That improvement came with the making of Netherton Tunnel and the opening out of Brewins Tunnel as well as the Two Locks Line

 

When that happened the bulk of the old Dadford locks were bypassed and 9 locks became 8 with the top and bottom remaining in the place they were but with improvement

 

On passing the stable block no mention was made, which was a pity as this G R Jebb structure deserved mention

 

 

Edited September 23, 2024 by Heartland

[Derek R.]

I have watched numerous videos of late (YT) of folk 'cruising' the cut, with selfies galore, and historic detail in the minimum. Roof gardens vie for dominance with solar panels, or a hotchpotch of clutter. Boating practices such as were commonplace amongst those who once 'worked' boats - absent, to the point of switching off completely - which I did. As to Braunston parades - spare me!

 

One horror that was head and shoulders above many, was a young man cruising from the end of the present navigation on the Wendover arm, to Marsworth. He mentioned there was a pump house, but of its history? Nothing. On seeing a stream entering from the right - 'a stream entering here'. On Heygates Mill - 'A factory, 'Heygates' mill'. Of history, or Bushell's boatbuilding - nothing. Cruise accomplished at a fast tickover in the entirety, until Maffers junction loomed, when 'Better stop here'. This young man probably went to a college somewhere, or even university . . . or possibly not.

 

Another showed Mother steering with grown Son locking down the Aylesbury arm. Smart boat bedecked with potted plants, interesting comments, but of history? Nothing. It's been over thirty years since I went that way, had a mooring in the basin for a while and I was shocked by the new-build housing that has sprung up. How fast some things disappear. Birmingham and Sherborne wharf is another example. I won't be going back. But I have the books and many photographs.

 

Grumpy old man syndrom rules - OK! It seems the modern day boater seeks a new world afloat, but has little interest in history, or the working practices that made movement - 'efficient'.

 

I think 'Cruising the Cut' series has its adherents, but the only one I recall which had a semblance of real detail, was when he interviewed Jules Fuels on a coal run.

 

I got afloat at beyond the 'tail end' of the ever present remains of industry, decaying in the main, but had the good fortune to have met a handful of old boys and women who passed on tips and hints. It was nice while it lasted.

[IanD]

1 minute ago, Derek R. said:

I have watched numerous videos of late (YT) of folk 'cruising' the cut, with selfies galore, and historic detail in the minimum. Roof gardens vie for dominance with solar panels, or a hotchpotch of clutter. Boating practices such as were commonplace amongst those who once 'worked' boats - absent, to the point of switching off completely - which I did. As to Braunston parades - spare me!

 

One horror that was head and shoulders above many, was a young man cruising from the end of the present navigation on the Wendover arm, to Marsworth. He mentioned there was a pump house, but of its history? Nothing. On seeing a stream entering from the right - 'a stream entering here'. On Heygates Mill - 'A factory, 'Heygates' mill'. Of history, or Bushell's boatbuilding - nothing. Cruise accomplished at a fast tickover in the entirety, until Maffers junction loomed, when 'Better stop here'. This young man probably went to a college somewhere, or even university . . . or possibly not.

 

Another showed Mother steering with grown Son locking down the Aylesbury arm. Smart boat bedecked with potted plants, interesting comments, but of history? Nothing. It's been over thirty years since I went that way, had a mooring in the basin for a while and I was shocked by the new-build housing that has sprung up. How fast some things disappear. Birmingham and Sherborne wharf is another example. I won't be going back. But I have the books and many photographs.

 

Grumpy old man syndrom rules - OK! It seems the modern day boater seeks a new world afloat, but has little interest in history, or the working practices that made movement - 'efficient'.

 

I think 'Cruising the Cut' series has its adherents, but the only one I recall which had a semblance of real detail, was when he interviewed Jules Fuels on a coal run.

 

I got afloat at beyond the 'tail end' of the ever present remains of industry, decaying in the main, but had the good fortune to have met a handful of old boys and women who passed on tips and hints. It was nice while it lasted.

 

Unlike most of the others Robbie does go into the history of the canals and places he visits -- though some of his boating skills/practices are certainly not up to ODG standards... 😉 

[dogless]

I hadn't realised boating in the 2000s required one to be engrossed by history.

 

Some of us have an interest, but many do not.

 

Many are happy to enjoy the moment, cruising and enjoying the system, with little curiosity or interest in why the canals are even there.

 

Rog

[Derek R.]

32 minutes ago, IanD said:

 

Unlike most of the others Robbie does go into the history of the canals and places he visits -- though some of his boating skills/practices are certainly not up to ODG standards... 😉 

'Robbie' - is that the Cruising the Cut fellow?

18 minutes ago, dogless said:

I hadn't realised boating in the 2000s required one to be engrossed by history.

 

Some of us have an interest, but many do not.

 

Many are happy to enjoy the moment, cruising and enjoying the system, with little curiosity or interest in why the canals are even there.

 

Rog

The clue is in the "History & Heritage" title.

[IanD]

10 minutes ago, Derek R. said:

'Robbie' - is that the Cruising the Cut fellow?

The clue is in the "History & Heritage" title.

No, his is the TV series "Canal Boat Diaries", as in the thread subject. One of the few boaters to give a "warts and all" description of life on the canals, not the all-too-common rose-tinted-glasses one -- also has a calm presentation style, not a shouty "OMG!!!" one... 😉 

 

He's also still in the fairly old and battered (and presumably cheap) old-style boat he's had for many years, not trying to use influencer money to upgrade to a shiny-smoked-glass-windows one, and the programmes show some of the difficulties and maintenance work needed as a result. Definitely worth a watch -- even if there are occasionally some technical inaccuracies, and the editing sometimes makes for strange sequences like leaping miraculously from one place to another... 🙂 

Edited September 24, 2024 by IanD

[Derek R.]

6 minutes ago, IanD said:

No, his is the TV series "Canal Boat Diaries", as in the thread subject. One of the few boaters to give a "warts and all" description of life on the canals, not the all-too-common rose-tinted-glasses one -- also has a calm presentation style, not a shouty "OMG!!!" one... 😉 

Aah! I have not seen that series. I'll have a search. We do not receive live broadcast television (from choice). I took the 'Diaries' to be a generalisation of things ont'net.

[IanD]

Just now, Derek R. said:

Aah! I have not seen that series. I'll have a search. We do not receive live broadcast television (from choice). I took the 'Diaries' to be a generalisation of things ont'net.

You can find some of them on BBC iPlayer, if you use that -- for example...

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m000bks0/canal-boat-diaries

[Derek R.]

Just now, IanD said:

You can find some of them on BBC iPlayer, if you use that -- for example...

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m000bks0/canal-boat-diaries

Oh! I've found him. The Wendover arm guy. BBCiplayer requires a TV licence. Pass.

[BCN Challenge]

Dyed in the wool canal enthusiasts aren’t really the target market of vloggers.

 

I also understand why they may be very cautious about dipping a toe into history in public.

 

A group such as this forum may have a little moan about the lack of history in such productions, but that’s nothing compared to the likely response should one of them try and not be accurate with their facts.

[Tony Brooks]

13 minutes ago, Derek R. said:

Oh! I've found him. The Wendover arm guy. BBCiplayer requires a TV licence. Pass.

 

Try on the catchup service for the U channels (was UK TV I think).

[IanD]

10 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

Try on the catchup service for the U channels (was UK TV I think).

 

https://u.co.uk/shows/canal-boat-diaries/watch-online

[dogless]

2 hours ago, Derek R. said:

'Robbie' - is that the Cruising the Cut fellow?

The clue is in the "History & Heritage" title.

Your comments related to boaters on You Tube not relating history.

 

I was attempting to explain why.

 

Rog

[Bee]

There certainly is a lot of old tosh on the telly about boats, canals, living on them, moving them  etc . but I would think its really hard to strike a balance between an interesting and entertaining programme and a knowlegable and educating one. The world of canals has more experts per mile than the average Saturday morning collection of trainspotters at the Severn Valley Railway and  not many of us are going to want to compare e.g. boiler pressures and tractive efforts between Staniers locos and Churchwards then start a hairsplitting argument about the subject.  I like the Robbie Cummins progs as he has the sort of boat that most of us have had to struggle with at one time and he manages to live with it without becoming alcoholic or suicidal. I wish he'd get himself a girlfriend or a dog though - dogs are easiest Robbie if you read this.

[IanD]

10 minutes ago, Bee said:

There certainly is a lot of old tosh on the telly about boats, canals, living on them, moving them  etc . but I would think its really hard to strike a balance between an interesting and entertaining programme and a knowlegable and educating one. The world of canals has more experts per mile than the average Saturday morning collection of trainspotters at the Severn Valley Railway and  not many of us are going to want to compare e.g. boiler pressures and tractive efforts between Staniers locos and Churchwards then start a hairsplitting argument about the subject.  I like the Robbie Cummins progs as he has the sort of boat that most of us have had to struggle with at one time and he manages to live with it without becoming alcoholic or suicidal. I wish he'd get himself a girlfriend or a dog though - dogs are easiest Robbie if you read this.

 

It is, but I think Robbie does a better job than most -- he comes up with some genuinely interesting facts about the canals and places he visits, and is obviously interested in the history -- if not to quite the same (obsessive?) extent as some canal nerds... 😉 

 

He did have a girlfriend for a couple of years and was debating about whether to continue living on the canals or move landside with her, but they're not together any more.

 

P.S. Never mind boiler pressure and tractive effort, how about a properly nerdy argument about the relative merits of different valve gears (Stephenson, Walschaerts, Caprotti...) and how varying lead and lap trade off low-speed lugging power and high-speed freeness of running... 😉 

Edited September 24, 2024 by IanD

[Lady M]

Compared with some of the other canal related programmes on TV, we thought Robbie made very few mistakes with his historical fact nuggets of info.  

[Tony Brooks]

Just now, Lady M said:

Compared with some of the other canal related programmes on TV, we thought Robbie made very few mistakes with his historical fact nuggets of info.  

 

Agreed, a nice relaxing watch and far fewer continuity mistakes in editing that (say) the Tim West series. I noticed in one shot in Leamington Spa he seemed to be going the opposite way to the direction in the program.

[1st ade]

1 hour ago, IanD said:

 

P.S. Never mind boiler pressure and tractive effort, how about a properly nerdy argument about the relative merits of different valve gears (Stephenson, Walschaerts, Caprotti...) and how varying lead and lap trade off low-speed lugging power and high-speed freeness of running... 😉

🙂 

[ditchcrawler]

5 hours ago, IanD said:

 

Unlike most of the others Robbie does go into the history of the canals and places he visits -- though some of his boating skills/practices are certainly not up to ODG standards... 😉 

I like the aerial photography in it, it shows the canals and rivers in another aspect 

[davidg]

3 hours ago, IanD said:

P.S. Never mind boiler pressure and tractive effort, how about a properly nerdy argument about the relative merits of different valve gears (Stephenson, Walschaerts, Caprotti...) and how varying lead and lap trade off low-speed lugging power and high-speed freeness of running... 😉 

 

Any true devotee of the Premier Line knows that Joy is the only way to go.

 

If only for the name.😁

[Derek R.]

6 hours ago, IanD said:

 

https://u.co.uk/shows/canal-boat-diaries/watch-online

Thanks, but my ad-blocker gets in the way it seems.

[IanD]

27 minutes ago, Derek R. said:

Thanks, but my ad-blocker gets in the way it seems.

Then disable it just for that site... 😉

[pearley]

9 hours ago, Derek R. said:

Oh! I've found him. The Wendover arm guy. BBCiplayer requires a TV licence. Pass.

It only requires you to say you have a licence. They don't actually check.

[LadyG]

13 hours ago, Derek R. said:

Oh! I've found him. The Wendover arm guy. BBCiplayer requires a TV licence. Pass.

You object to paying for a TV licence? Carrying parsimony too far imho.

I must admit that currently i don't have the trust in BBC news that I once had, but the media play an importsnt role, keeping world news rollng 24/7.

BBC have a worldwide network of correspondents that would be hard to replicate. It costs a lot to run.

I dont have to pay for my licence of course, but then I rarely watch it, however I think its essential to have access

Edited September 24, 2024 by LadyG

[CourtAboveTheCut]

It’s really hard to keep retention up in videos with too much history, i agree it’s important but I’m a nerd, I love learning, not everyone does. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Robbie and it’s clear he has a passion for the history and future of the network. He does so much for the publicity of the system and I personally love his content both canal boat diaries and his YouTube