Canal, railway and rivers all learn to share

Tuesday, 03 November 2009 20:05

What can be seen from the first few miles on the Staffs and Worcs Canal?

The Staffs and Worcs runs in a river valley as does the railway line. Leaving Tixall Wide, the River Sow (a tributary of the River Trent, leaving it at Essex Bridge on the Trent and Mersey) and its valley is on the South of the canal. It is easy to miss its course, until it moves nearer after Tixall Lock.

Tixall Lock and Old Hill Bridge

As we went up the lock, an Estate Agent(?) arrived to measure up the uninhabited lock cottage. Maybe one day it will be restored to its former glory.

Tixall Lock Cottage

In all the years we have cruised this canal and spent time on Tixall Wide, it was the first time we had spotted the portal of Shugborough Railway Tunnel. It is quite an edifice and possibly wasted on train passengers.

During the 1840s, two lines were constructed through Shugborough Park. Thoughtfully, to minimise the damage to the landscape, a large cutting was built to accommodate the lines. Fences, trees, bridges and tunnel were all designed to hide the trains from view.

The North portal of the tunnel for the Trent Valley Railway was designed to look like a Norman Castle. The tunel is 777 yards long and opened in 1847.

Shugborough Tunnel, hidden away from all

Further along, the River Sow approaches the canal and at Tixall Bridge the road bridge across the river mirrors the canal aqueduct just around the corner.

Road Bridge over Sow

The railway line also now becomes "in your face" as it arrives alongside the canal after the Sow aqueduct

Sow aqueduct

Milford Bridge (105) is a good example of a Staffs and Worcs changeline bridge or, as I prefer to call it, a roving bridge. The slope up, over the bridge and down the other side was so that the horse could stay hitched as the towpath changed sides.

Milford Bridge

The railway stays with the canal, high up on a wall and embankment, overshadowing the canal in some places.

Rounding the corner at Baswich and by St Thomas Bridge (101) the River Sow continues east and north towards the Humber Estuary and the North Sea. The River Penk now accompanies the canal south towards its origin in Perton, South Staffordshire.

The railway crosses the canal after this and heads on to Stafford. We moored at Radford bridge (98) as we too wanted to visit Stafford - but by bus! It is a popular mooring spot and we joined about 5 other boats, before the bridge.

Staffs and Worcs Canal, Tixall to Radford Bridge - 1 hour 51 minutes, 3.92 miles, 1 lock