A different lift bridge on the BCN

Monday, 01 February 2010 12:50

I have a name for a certain type of lift bridge -

There is one here at the Black Country Museum on the Dudley No.1 Canal. I call it a "Carolyn Bridge". Why? Well here is another one we have encountered this year.

Grimshaw Lift Bridge on the Rochdale Canal

It is our friend Carolyn who is standing on the bridge. That is why a vertical lift bridge is a "Carolyn Bridge"!

This one only needed a BW key and a finger to operate and as you see it lifts using hydraulics.

Hydraulics and control box

The one that "guards" the Castle Fields Boat Yard is a bit different. We were fortunate to see it being operated the other day; the photos are taken from Browns Bridge over the entrance to the Boat Yard.

The lift bridge used to be across the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway transhipment basins at Lloyds Proving House near Factory Junction at Tipton (BCN). This Proving House was opened in 1865 after Lloyds Register ruled that all anchors and chains should be tested at public machines.

Cowburn and Cowpar Historic Working Narrowboat Swallow was leaving the yard.

Firstly the wooden bar has to be dragged back out of the way

Then it takes two men to wind the attached winch

The bridge is lifted by counterweights and I think I heard one of the men say they are five ton weight. They certainly had to work very hard to open the bridge.

Swallow was waiting

Swallow and the lift bridge

Once the bridge was up Swallow appeared and turned - with a bit of reverse and forwards throttle - onto the canal and off!

The bridge weights and pulleys taken from the other side