1999 Rochdale Walk Manchester

During the 1999 maiden voyage in "Earnest" we stopped in Castlefields. Neil walked to Middleton junction. (and back again as he forgot to take some money for the return train trip!) Mini DV digital video was shot, only changes were recorded to Miles Platting as this was recorded in 1997. These images were grabbed off Neil's Panasonic DX-110 digital camcorder using a Miro DC-300 video editing card. At the end of said session the Panasonic camcorder died (flash and burning smell). fortunately it was just under a year old and has gone back to makers to be fixed or replaced. Amazingly it was repaired within a week and was back for Christmas, the fault being an exploding capacitor in the power supply section.

Ancoats Lane Lock No82 restored spring 1999.	Ancoats, Dawn St. footbridge, this section now dredged 5 - 6 feet.	Ancoats, concrete capping to canal removed and shallowed section returned to full navigable depth.

The new junction between shallowed section and restored section just above NW Union Street Bridge.	Grimshaw Lane Bridge. cascaded Lock No75 in distance.	Newton Heath Lock No74, still shallowed. Cascaded Lock No73 under bridge in distance.

Ten Acres Lane Bridge, Newton Heath.	Looking back at Ten Acres Lane Bridge from Lock No73.	Newton Heath, cascaded Lock No71.

Newton Heath cascaded Lock No71.	Newton Heath, still shallowed. Lock No70 believed lost in narrowing and gentle cascading	Newton Heath, Old Church St. Bridge in distance.
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Re-built Old Church St. Bridge, Newton Heath. Cascaded Lock No69 just the other side.	Looking back at cascaded Lock No69 above Old Church St. Bridge, evidence of open market to left can be seen in the still shallowed canal!	Telephoto shot looking back at Droylsden Road Bridge and Old Church St. Bridge.

Restored Tannersfield Lower Lock No68 below Poplar St. Bridge. Canal no longer shallowed.	Restored Lock No68. Note marks on wing walls from past cascading.	Restored Tannersfield Lower Lock No68, All racks removed to stop tampering. Poplar St. Bridge in distance.

Dropped Poplar St. Bridge.	Restored Tannersfield Middle Lock No67, just above Poplar St. Bridge.	Looking back at Poplar St. Bridge.

Restored Tannersfield Middle Lock No67.	Ridgefield St. Bridge.	Ridgefield St. Bridge and restored Tannersfield Upper Lock No66.

Restored Tannersfield Upper Lock No66.	Site of recently removed Haweswater Aqueduct crossing. Now laid beneath canal.	"Pifco" Mill and dropped Ashton Road West Bridge.

Tow path to left, Failsworth Shopping Centre in front, built on line of canal. Mainly consists of "Food Giant" supermarket.	Canal disappears in culvert under supermarket and car park.	Back of supermarket, line of canal believed to be in depression to right.

Canal now appears just before refurbished and opened up A620 Oldham Road Bridge.	Restored Oldham Road Bridge, it was piped through this, to just upstream.	1980's restored Failsworth Lock No65, just above Oldham Road Bridge. Bridge in front of lock believed to be George St. Bridge. Failsworth Railway Bridge in background.

Restored Failsworth Lock No65. Failsworth Railway bridge in background.	Restored Failsworth Lock No65, an example of what happens if not used afterwards. Gates have dried out and strap removed by vandals on L/H gate.	Footbridge near football pitch. Canal no longer shallowed. (well not intentionally!)

Looking back from football pitch footbridge.	New bridge for re-sited Hollingwood Avenue, A6104.	Looking back at new A6104 bridge.

Looking up at M66 / 60 "tunnel".	Looking back from top of M66 / 60 Bridge.	First navigators? through M66 / 60 "tunnel", opt for paddling rather than legging.

Looking up from M66 / 60.	Looking back from new A663 Broadway Bridge.	Looking up through A663 Bridge.

Looking back to A663 Bridge from temporary construction bund , yet to be removed.	Looking up from A663 bridge.	Site of demolished Chadderton Power Station to left. One of the removed dropped bridges to the power station can be seem marked by lighter bit of towpath.

New Oldham Broadway Bridge to new Oldham Broadway Business Park.	Looking up to Middleton Junction.	Dropped Foxdenton Lane Swing Bridge at Middleton Junction.

Off line basin to east, this was the branch that never got to Oldham.	Lock No64, just above Foxdenton Lane Swing Bridge.	Lock No64, semi restored, upper gates were intact, holding water and believed to be original
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Lock No64.	Replaced footbridge above Middleton Junction.