Happy Days!

Thursday, 05 August 2010 15:51

Recovering from yesterday - the good news!

Here is the positive side of yesterday's journey from Barnby Dun to Keadby on the Stainforth and Keadby Canal.

Leaving Barnby Dun behind as we exited Bramwith Lock

This is the lock with two chambers, as you can see from the photo below. Now we have been down to Keadby and seen some of the larger vessels there, I can see the need for the second chamber.

Thorne Lock was a little different. We had to queue, as there were three GRP cruisers from Ripon Boat Club already there. It took a while for them to work out how to open the swing bridge immediately before the top gates. John went down to help and ended up helping sort it out and penning them through. Then it was our turn.

I have never been so close to the top of top lock gates before!

We stopped at Thorne Boat Services for gas and diesel at 75 pence/litre (untaxed) £1.20 (taxed). It was more expensive at Blue Water Marina but as we passed the marina someone waved at us - it was almost as if they recognised us. We think they were from narrowboat Susie Too - if it was you, please let us know!

The one lift bridge was Wykewell Lift Bridge. Since it is electrically operated, I opened it. It feels very isolated, although it is on the edge of Thorne. The market town of Thorne was once dependant on the canal and nearby River Don for its water supply. The canal carried coal, iron and stone and linked with the river via a lock at Stainforth, further west on the canal.

The canal now travels through a very rural section, surrounded by farmland with the remains of strip farming visible. We could see a weather front approaching over the fields and canal. Sure enough we were soon cruising in the rain!

The railway runs parallel with the canal and at the swing bridges the railway level crossings have control boxes. This is Maud's swing bridge where the level crossing lady popped out to wave:

So we approached perhaps the most interesting section of the canal - Vazon swing bridge and the railway sliding bridge after it. Keadby Power Station was also very prominent ahead.

Once through the swing bridge, I hooted our horn (as instructed by Nicholson Guide) and the operator waved back. We had to wait for a train to cross the bridge and then the battery-operated bridge slowly opened. A series of photos probably shows it best!

The railway bridge is very low and on a skew to the canal. It slides away to the side of the canal and as we passed through I took these.

I cannot really do this amazing bridge justice but for a closer look, Pennine Waterways have more photos - clickety click  Also worth looking at are two other websites: Bob Dennis for photos of the level crossing box and controls - clickety click and moveable bridges for an explanation and history - clickety click

So we came to Keadby in the sunshine and moored up. It had been a long day.