Back along from Lancaster - retracing our canal route by train

Monday, 01 June 2009 19:51

We are still here! However we took a train journey at the weekend back down to Oxfordshire for a couple of days. As usual it was a canal spotting trip! The canal route below is a combination of the out and return journeys!

The Lancaster Canal runs near the M6 and we spotted this and the University from the train - the canal was hidden in Deep Cutting and then appeared alongside the railway line.

We crossed the River Ribble (not the bit we went on) at Preston and at Wigan we were very near the Leeds and Liverpool. I caught a quick glimpse of the south portal of Preston Brook Tunnel, I think!

Preston Brook Tunnel

Then we were over the River Weaver on the Dutton Viaduct

Our favourite mooring on the Weaver is not visible from the train, but we gave a wave to No Problem who is exploring the Weaver now! The second crossing of the Weaver is near Hunt's lock and the distinctive blue bridge there.

We were sppeding under this railway bridge!

The next canal we saw is the Staffs and Worcs, Acton Trussell in the near distance, Penkridge Church by the station,  the Chemical Works and more M6!

After changing at Wolverhampton - the flight is near the station, on the way to Birmingham New Street is Tipton on the BCN and other bits of the Main Line.

John took this on one of his journeys south as he passed through Wolverhampton station.

The FMC warehouse at Wolverhamptom flashes by!

Coventry and Leamington Spa are the next stops - we thought of our friends on Petroc as we crossed the Grand Union there! So we finally arrived at the Oxford Canal and familiar sights of Fenny Compton - over the tunnel, and Banbury Lock.

BW length manager helps at Banbury Lock after the Big Freeze in January

I am sure that those of you who do more train travel than we do on this route will know of other places to spot the canals!

We had a really good weekend and as we returned we could not help remarking on "England's green and pleasant land" and that we were so fortunate to live in this countryside, appreciating it at a much slower pace than through a train or car window. Canal travel is by far the best way to see this country and we feel very privileged to be able to do it.

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