The newest canal

Monday, 26 July 2010 20:44

New Junction Canal is wide and straight

It could be boring, but we were on and off Epiphany to do bridges and lock. It's five and a half miles cuts through countryside with little habitation within reach. Built in 1905, at a cost of £300,000, it is the newest commercial canal on the system.

Our first encounter went without a hitch - sorry, that was a bad pun! We crossed the River Went on an aqueduct.

Our first "obstacle" was Sykehouse Road Lift Bridge. I went to open it - as two narrowboats approached from the other side.

Cheekily, they came thorough first, once the bridge was open enough, so we and the cruiser behind us had to wait.

Then it was Kirk Lane Swing Bridge, followed by Sykehouse Lock. This lock has a swing bridge over it which has to be opened before working the lock. John and Ray did Kirk Lane and then walked on to the lock. I was in charge of Epiphany - the first time for what seems ages!

The large barge Sobriety (last encountered at Naburn Locks) was in the lock ahead of us. Once they were clear, John took over - and I eventually arrived in the lock.

Another lift bridge was next - Kirkhouse Green  - and by this time I was training Ray how to use the electric controls.

We could see our destination ahead - in fact, we could see it from the Went Aqueduct. The "pots" of Barnby Dun are no longer in use - Thorpe Marsh Power Station was closed in the mid 1990s.

Top Lane Lift Bridge and Low Lane Swing Bridge are followed by an impressive aqueduct with guillotine gates. This carries the New Junction Canal over the River Don and the gates are to prevent the flooding River Don overflowing into the canal, thus flooding the land either side.

We passed the junction with the South Yorkshire Navigations - to Keadby and thence to the River Trent - a trip for us in a few weeks time. So now we were on our third navigation of the day! This is the Don Navigation, part of the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

We moored at Barnby Dun, just before the lift bridge, and after a cuppa we wandered into the village to the post office, finding the excellent farm shop on the way. 

Southfield Junction, New Junction Canal to Barnby Dun, River Dun Navigation

2 hr 19 mins, 6.36 miles, 1 lock