Wolverhampton Locks

[jddevel]

Would like some advice please. We`re going to be travelling from Aldersley Junction down the Old Main Line through the Wolverhampton Locks en-route  to the North Staffs in the next couple of weeks-there are no closures- Not sure we want to attempt them all in one day or even be able to so where does one suggest we could break the journey please?

[Rob-M]

A bit confusing as Aldersley junction is at the bottom of the Wolverhampton 21. There are moorings at the top of the 21 and between the two junctions at the bottom.

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

Yes, cant understand if you going up or down?

either way they are doable in a day. 

Cant remember 4 or 5 hours?

Nice easy locks. 

[magpie patrick]

3 hours single handed for Wolverhampton 21

I think the OP may have confused their start point as they say they are on their way TO the North Staffs, presumably the Staffordshire and Worcestershire between Autherley and Great Haywood? 

[ditchcrawler]

I did once stop somewhere in the flight when I ran out of day light in my early boating days but can't remember where, not something I would plan to do.

[Peter X]

The bottom five locks of the Wolverhampton 21 are quite spread out but not the rest, so you could do those five then stop overnight if your crew don't have the energy to do all 21 in one go.

Last time we did that the pound drained overnight and I cooked breakfast one pan at a time because the galley had a 10 degree list.

There are some moorings available just beyond the top of the flight, handy for Wolverhampton town centre.

[Captain Pegg]

As stated above there are longer pounds lower down but I also agree with the sentiment that it's not a place I would plan to stop. Three hours should see you to the top (if indeed you are going up). The locks are straightforward but have a ready supply of anti-vandal keys. I think every paddle on every lock needs one and it gets a bit tedious.

JP

[ditchcrawler]

2 minutes ago, Captain Pegg said:

As stated above there are longer pounds lower down but I also agree with the sentiment that it's not a place I would plan to stop. Three hours should see you to the top (if indeed you are going up). The locks are straightforward but have a ready supply of anti-vandal keys. I think every paddle on every lock needs one and it gets a bit tedious.

JP

But last time we did it everything worked,not hard work just a lot of it.

[Captain Pegg]

1 minute ago, ditchcrawler said:

But last time we did it everything worked,not hard work just a lot of it.

Indeed. It's a narrow canal in the Midlands, what else would you expect?

[Cheshire cat]

You need a handcuff key for all the paddles. That slows things down substantially

[Boatingbiker]

When we travel the Wolverhampton flight we aim to moor on the Bentley Canal arm, it's only 30 mins from Horseley Fields Junc near the top lock and in our opinion better mooring than at HFJ, which we found noisy (mainly Police cars leaving their Station throughout the night. There is also  a Sainsbury's and other retail outlets if needed and  

[jddevel]

Sorry made a major error. Should have typed NORTH STRATFORD canal. Don`t know what came over me sorry. However the subject of "anti- vandal" orhand-cuff keys. keys have been raised. Being  new to all this and not having ever having had to use them on paddles before. Am I to assume these are the same keys as used at water points please? If not where can I obtain them please?

[Detling]

No they are a piece of steel rod with a square hole in one end and a t piece handle at the other  they are inserted into a tube on the lock gear and a quarter turn releases the stop bar mechanism, to reset (lock) it you just push the stop bar until it clicks.     they look like this

[Rob-M]

Not the water point key, it is like a T bar with a square hole in the end. The hire company, Napton Narrowboats, at Autherley junction sell them if you are coming along the Shroppie or Staffs and Worcs.

[john6767]

If you don’t have an anti-vandal key then make certain you get more than one, they are easily dropped into a lock!

Edited November 28, 2017 by john6767

[Sea Dog]

The handcuff key will cost you about a fiver. Get two - sods law means you drop the first one half way through a flight of locks with locked paddles ahead and behind!

[ditchcrawler]

Available on ebay posted to your home

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ANTI-VANDAL-KEY-BRITISH-WATERWAYS-CRT-LOCK-KEY-X-2-COLOUR-BLACK-ANODISED/302458589869?epid=2159747163&hash=item466befd2ad:g:KrQAAOSwOVpXdj-u 

[jddevel]

44 minutes ago, Detling said:

No they are a piece of steel rod with a square hole in one end and a t piece handle at the other  they are inserted into a tube on the lock gear and a quarter turn releases the stop bar mechanism, to reset (lock) it you just push the stop bar until it clicks.     they look like this

Thanks for that. Have got one of those although as I mentioned have yet to use it. Will get another-sound advice.

[ditchcrawler]

Right so where are you starting and where are you going and when would you like to stop?

 

[magpie patrick]

1 hour ago, jddevel said:

Sorry made a major error. Should have typed NORTH STRATFORD canal. Don`t know what came over me sorry. However the subject of "anti- vandal" orhand-cuff keys. keys have been raised. Being  new to all this and not having ever having had to use them on paddles before. Am I to assume these are the same keys as used at water points please? If not where can I obtain them please?

Makes sense that you don't want to do Autherley to the North Stratford on one day. Not sure where to suggest for a stop other than central Birmingham though. 

[john6767]

1 minute ago, magpie patrick said:

Makes sense that you don't want to do Autherley to the North Stratford on one day. Not sure where to suggest for a stop other than central Birmingham though. 

Quite, centre of Birmingham is an obvious stop if you want to do it in the minimum time.  From centre of Birmingham an easy 6 hours will get you to Hockley Heath.

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

Stop at Wolverhampton

then Tipton 

then Brum

then head south. 

 

[ditchcrawler]

I like stopping at Tipton near The Fountain pub. also stopped at Bournville but the trains run till late and start early 

[nicknorman]

Yes Tipton is the obvious place to stop, or adjacent at the BCLM. We have done Autherley to Central Brum in a day but it’s a fairly long one and if you are slow through locks (single handed, not really that accustomed to it) I don’t think it’s feasible and especially not at this time of year in daylight.

[haza]

a  month ago myself and mister done the 21 in about 3 hours 40 ...mind you it was one of those rare times when every thing went the way we wanted it to go ...and as most boaters now that is a rare day indeed lol .i would say about 45 mins after lock one ...nice mooring at bentley bridge