This years BCN clean up will see us return to an area not visited for many years, based at Ocker Hill on the Walsall Canal the teams of Volunteers will clean the lower Walsall, Tame Valley Canals and Ryders Green Locks. Day Volunteers can sign on at Ocker Hill Depot from 10am, or at the Malthouse Stables in Tipton at …
BCNS Marathon Challenge 2015
Great Marathon Challenge – Thanks to Roy Kenn and John Carrington for organising it. Water levels a bit low, which made it more of a challenge! C&RT are looking at why, and will try to avoid the same happening next year. A message from John Carrington “I have just had a meeting with Roy and initially we would like to …
Gas Street Basin stoppage ended.
As of last night, (11 March) the coffer dams were removed, and it is possible to get on to the Worcester and Birmingham from the BCN.
Smethwick Pump House – open days in 2015.
The Galton Valley Canal Museum will again be open on the second Saturday of the month from March to October this year, from 10:00 to 15:00. These dates are:- 14th March 11th April 9th May 13th June 11th July 8th August 12th September 10th October The Museum will also be open alongside the BCNS Bonfire Rally. Learn more about it …
Worcester Bar aqueduct leakage
Having put the coffer dams in, C&RT set about pumping out the water. Come Sunday morning and the fish rescue started. There was an amazing number of film crews and photographers about (including me). The weather was definitely damp. I think the guys in the canal were probably the driest people there! …
Gas Street Basin stoppage (continued)
Midnight last night (19/20 Feb), it was clear that the pump was not coping with the leakage in through the emergency stop gates. I was told that the plan was to stanch off the section from Worcester Bar almost to Salvage Turn. This morning, the work started on the coffer dam. Though those guys are in decent dry suits, rather them than me. …
Emergency stoppage at Gas Street – continued
Having moved the boats that wished to go out of the Worcester & Birmingham side of the basin, the next thing was to shut the emergency gates, in preparation for pumping out the cut. The tug came up from Granville Street bridge, and closing the emergency gate would only take a moment. Snag – though the gate in the Worcester …
Emergency stoppage at Gas Street
The buzz went round this afternoon that the Worcester Bar was being shut as an emergency measure, because of a leak in to the disused rail tunnel that used to carry the LMS line from what is now Five Ways station to the old goods yard. Network Rail (who apparently own this aqueduct) were working on the tunnel, and when …
Work Party clearing at Titford Pools
The team worked seriously hard to clear some of the fallen trees blocking the entrance to Titford Pools. Looking at the amount of cut wood, they kept themselves warm, despite the cold (though dry) day.
Bonfire Rally
I think the Bonfire Rally went really well. Barry Johnson has organised them for the last 23 years – so he has decided to take a break. Thank you Barry. A job really well done. The good news is that the rallies will continue – Paddy Grice, (who is a key player in the Black Country Boating Festival, as well as …