TNC On Tour 2003 Page 3

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The Tuesday Night Club on Tour

Tour 2003

3 - Goole to Sheffield - Aire and Calder Navigation, New Junction Canal and Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigations.

Thursday 19th June 2003

Rather windy day with few rain showers. Left Goole moorings (non VM) at 08:15, before we were kicked off by the returning community boat. We passed a couple of returning tanker barges and what appeared to be the entire BW Aire and Calder Maintenance fleet, going to a "rally" at Rawcliffe Bridge!
We turned left down the New Junction Canal Junction at 09:35 and back along, destination Sheffield. We met nothing on the New Junction at all, passed Bramwith Junction at 11:20. There was no bridge keeper on the large Barnby Dunn Lift Bridge, so did it ourselves, creating a nice traffic jam.
There was a large pair of unladen barges coming out of Long Sandall Lock, so BW bod did it for us. Doncaster Visitor Moorings were all completely taken. A new road bridge over Donny Lock was having its concrete disguised by blue brick mosaic.
Arrival at Sprotborough Lock at 13:30, we found it set to red - ie Locky operation but not seen you, or working the other way. Well, after mooring up and finding the locky, we found out that he could not do the lock for us (NO option) until he had finished his grass cutting, at least this was soon over and we entered lock at 13:55. We were soon up in this deepish lock and went on the completely empty Visitor Moorings above. That night we went to the Boat Inn opposite.

Friday 20th June 2003

It was an earlyish morning start from Sprotborough at 07:35. Overcast, cold and very windy................a bit different from down south and what the WWW promised!
Neil started the steering followed by a large bash from Martin C. All locks were set to boater operation. Mexborough seemed somewhat more cheerful than we last found. The rather excessive steel fencing round Mexborough Top Lock has been softened by laurel hedging. The laid up barges at Waddington Lock seemed to have not been moved since our last visit. The dumb barge "Earnest" was noted! Kilnhurst Flood Lock was not set straight through, so had to work this. We can't imagine why, seeing as the level was the same.
Working barges were seen at Thryberg Steelworks. A pair were manoeuvring just as a BW stone pan was coming down. We all managed to pass at the same point! BW bod in Eastwood Lock did eventually take over control of lock and did top gate operation for us. Many private vessels are now in the Waddington's basin above, the "new" 1980's sheds have still not been let. There were barges just above on the last modernised wharf doing steel rod transportation. Just after this is the last lengthened winding point (being dredged at that moment), then the original 61ft S&S.Y.N. section up to Sheffield Basin starts.
Coming out of Rotherham Lock we caught a LONG piece of platted plastic round the prop, causing terminal engine stop failure. This took 15 mins of Stanley knife attacking before it came out. There was some confusion with the Tinsley Lockies about start of the pad locked locks and where the assisted passage up started. This is now just below Holmes Lock. We arrived here at 12:30, half an hour before our booked time, soon another NB we passed on Ickles Lock upper lock mooring arrived. Dave, chief Tinsley Locky said they were due at 10:00 and BW were a bit upset at there lack of communication.
Derek the "southern" Tinsley Locky (he has now been here 18 years, but still is classified as an outsider!) arrived at 13:00 and was ultra helpful getting us up in a couple of hours, having set the entire flight and doing most of
the work in a very laid back effortless way. When we said we would like to book the flight to come back the next day, he sounded almost disappointed we were not staying for longer and wondered if we would be back again soon.
We eventually arrived in the basin at 15:40, after we watered then moored up just beyond the closed basin managers office, with a CCTV camera pointing at us. That night we obviously going into town! We walked up onto the tram bridge over the bypass and stopped at the first place we found - the No1 Oriental Buffet - we missed the cheap timing by about 10 minutes - but still pretty good value - £8.50 for eat as much as you like. Very good quality for one of these types of Chinese restaurants and absolutely packed. Martin C somewhat over ate, but did not get the 3 quid surcharge for leaving a sizeable quantity of food!
After this we went on an aimless (and expensive compared with Manchester) tram ride to Meadowhall and back.

Aire and Calder Navigation.

Barnby Dunn Lift Bridge. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

The cooling towers are all that remain of Thorpe Marsh Power Station. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Long Sandall Lock. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Doncaster. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Doncaster Visitor Moorings - somewhat full! Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Doncaster Lock. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Looking back at Doncaster Lock. Beware the evil over hanging lock waiting area on the left. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Railway viaducts before the A1(M) viaduct. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

A1(M) viaduct. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Sprotborough Lock. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Sprotborough Visitor Moorings. The cruiser is permanent - we are the visitor! Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

The Boat Inn, Sprotborough. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Sprotborough Lock Cut to left and weir to right. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Rather pretty isn't it?.............shame there were no other boats sharing it with us! Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Conisbrough Railway Viaduct. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

The site of Conisbrough Lock, demolished during the 1980's modernisation. The old course of the river was to the left of the lock. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Railway bridge at Conisbrough. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Moorings for the Earth Centre, Conisbrough. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Mexborough Low Lock. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Looking back at Mexborough Low Lock. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Moorings for new pub / Travel Inn. Mexborough. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Mexborough. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Mexborough Top Lock. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Mexborough. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Station Road Bridge. Mexborough. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

"Double Bridge" Mexborough. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Looking back at "Double Bridge" Mexborough. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Waddington Lock. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Waddington's - boats moored in the old Dearne and Dove Canal Arm, the fist lock of which is now a dry dock. Waddington Lock. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Waddington's - The laid up barge "Earnest". It has just celebrated it's 65th birthday and was built with a Lister 21 Hp engine. This was removed when she was left on the canal, but now has a new Daiwoo 70 Hp engine. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

MV Earnest. Now home to Liz Musk and moored on the Ouse in York.

Waddington's - Swinton. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Swinton. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Swinton - Kilnhurst Cut. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Kilnhurst Flood Locks - disused one to the right. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Thrybergh Steel Mills. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Thrybergh Steel Mills - barge loading gantry. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Aldwarke Lock. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Loading wharf below Sir Frank Price (Eastwood) Lock. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Sir Frank Price (Eastwood) Lock. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Sir Frank Price (Eastwood) Lock. The wharf sheds from the 1980's modernisation have never been let. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

The wharf above Eastwood Lock was the last bit included in the modernisation program. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

BW dredging the final lengthened winding point above Rawmarsh Road Bridge. Rotherham. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

The buoys mark the silted sides of the cut through Rotherham. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Approaching Rotherham Lock, the new court building is beside it. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Rotherham Lock. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Looking back at Rotherham Lock Cut, to left and the River Don Weir to right. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

On the River Don in Rotherham. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Ickles Lock. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Holmes Lock. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

We have been joined by NB Rozamond. Holmes Lock. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Holmes Lock. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Leaving Jordan's Lock. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

The big weir above Jordan's Lock. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

The River Don above Jordan's Lock. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Tinsley Bottom Lock, start of the Tinsley Canal section of the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation into Sheffield.

Looking back at Tinsley Bottom Lock, Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Tinsley Bottom Lock, Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Tinsley Second Lock, Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Tinsley Third Lock, Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Looking back from Tinsley Third Lock, Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Tinsley Third Lock, Tinsley Flight. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Tinsley Third Lock and Wharf Lane Bridge, Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Tinsley M1 Viaduct, Tinsley Canal, Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

The Tinsley Pump House, where ALL the water is back pumped up the top of the flight from the River Don below. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Fourth Lock, Tinsley Flight. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Fourth Lock and Sheffield Road Bridge, Tinsley Flight. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Fifth Lock, rebuilt in the 1950's after this railway bridge was put in. Tinsley Flight. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Fifth Lock. Tinsley Flight. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Looking up at the Sixth and Seventh Tinsley Locks. Tinsley Flight. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Eighth Lock. Tinsley Flight. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Ninth Lock. Tinsley Flight. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Tenth Lock. Tinsley Flight. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Derek Ballinger chats with the crew of NB Rozamond.

Looking back at Ninth Lock. Sanitary Station, permanent moorings and lockies houses to right. Tinsley Flight. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Top Lock, Tinsley Flight. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Remains of old lift bridge, just beyond the top lock. Tinsley Canal. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Greenland Road Bridge No 12. Tinsley Canal. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Pothouse Bridge No 11. Tinsley Canal. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Brown Bayley Footbridge No 10 A beside the Sheffield Arena. Tinsley Canal. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

The little used moorings beside the Don Valley Stadium. Tinsley Canal. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Tinsley Canal. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Cutting at Attercliffe. Looking up at new footbridge, tram bridge and Pinfold Bridge No 7. Tinsley Canal. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Cutting at Attercliffe. Looking back at tram bridge, new footbridge and Shirland Lane Bridge No 9. Tinsley Canal. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Looking back at Pinfold Bridge No 7. Tinsley Canal. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Coming into Sheffield. Looking back, Pinfold Bridge No 7 in the distance. Tinsley Canal. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Bacon Lane Bridge No 6. Tinsley Canal. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Tinsley Canal. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Looking back at Bernard Road Bridge No 5. Tinsley Canal. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Tinsley Canal. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Midland Railway Bridge No 4, Cadman Bridge No 2 beyond. Tinsley Canal. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Final railway bridge and boatyard that was ejected from Sheffield Basin when it was re-developed. Tinsley Canal. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Entrance into Sheffield Basin. Tinsley Canal. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

The new swing bridge - Sheffield Basin. Tinsley Canal. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Swing bridge controls are in the centre pillar!

Earnest filling with water. Sheffield Basin. Tinsley Canal. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

The Straddle Warehouse - Sheffield Basin. Tinsley Canal. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

The Hilton Hotel - Sheffield Basin. Tinsley Canal. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Grain Warehouse and Terminal Warehouse - Sheffield Basin. Tinsley Canal. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Terminal Warehouse and Grain Warehouse- Sheffield Basin. Tinsley Canal. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

Terminal Warehouse - Sheffield Basin. Tinsley Canal. Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

The Tour Continues...

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