The Tuesday Night Club Official Web Site

The Tuesday Night Club on Tour

Index

Tour 2003

Index

7 - Marsden to Stalybridge - Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Wednesday 25th June 2003

Neil was up at 07:00 readying the boat. We took everything off the roof and folded down the bolt on equipment rack. The stick fenders, cratch cover, top board and cratch were removed and stowed near front of boat. A bit of heavy steel plate ballast was swapped from the stern to bow. Mats were removed from well deck. 
We had a quickie last cuppa, then gas and batteries were isolated. A BW bod arrived just after 08:00 and gauged the boat. He was not worried about height / air draught but seemed to be worried that boat was exactly 6ft 10ins wide.....Neil said that is what he ordered and that is what he got! 
We signed the standard disclaimer and did couple of things BW bod required - remover tiller bar (this was a first since it's bending and with a bit of WD 40, came off quite easily) also lowish mounted side navigation lights were removed. BW bods then strapped together 4 of the 5 boats which is now the Summer norm, then got out the rubberware - large sheets of rubber sheet, to protect upper paintwork. Earnest also got some front upper cabin corner rubber protectors. 
The side hatches were also opened, just in case they got caught and ripped off. Rubber sheets positioned to cover the hole. (water DID get in here and on the next passage Earnest's hatches, which are flush with handrails were kept shut.) All the travelling boaters were requested to board, as the convoy had to move into the tunnel as the final boat is attached (not enough room at Marsden.) 
Crew members from two of the boats were going to go over the tunnel, as they had cats. There is a good BW organised local taxi firm, with a mini bus, but the boater is responsible for the payment. 
There were two fee paying walkers joining us in the forward passenger module. At 09:20 we were off. Master Of Ceremony  was Peter Carter, an ex Thames locky (Temple to Teddington). There were some over the top safety stuff, due to the tug and passenger module being a class 5 MCA passenger carrying boats (Up to 32 passengers and crew.) The crew consisted of 8, driver, tug minder, MC and a hapless bod on the stern of each boat doing a rather heave-ho fending operation, just using hands in thick rubber gloves. 
There were interesting impromptu talks from Peter Carter about the tunnel and the other Railtrack tunnels. We were allowed on the bow and stern of the passenger module, with had hats provided. At about 6 places we were greeted by a BW bod in a side adit, checking our progress. He then went onto the next audit driving in a Transit van in the nearest disused rail tunnel. All these emergency audits were lit and had full safety equipment. 
BW were thinking of doing away with the "Shadow", by installing an inductive loop communication system with the outside. An experimental system could be seem still in places. There was a REALLY serious gusher at one Railtrack cross adit. The tunnel / summit water level had been lowered by 8 inches during the restoration, to let most modern NB's through. 
All power comes from the tug, which is just a huge battery bank. The convoy was driven AND steered by driver and tug master. The power plants (in tug AND passenger module) are ducted fans that can swivel through 360 degrees, so can be used at side thrusters. 
The tunnel is very interesting with changes between unlined, brick buttress supported areas, stone lined and brick lined. The tunnel has two large kinks in it, which required some slow running / extra fending to get convoy through. There were also a few pinch points where there was slow running. The last section of tunnel was added as a cut and cover section, to get the rail lines over the other side. 
We arrived at Diggle portal at 12:40 (the normal 2.5 hours) As the boats were uncoupled and had their rubberware removed, we pushed over the other side, rather a lack of mooring bollards here and we had to rope up to some railings. We ended up second in the convoy (normally bigger, nearer the profile limit boats go first). 
Martin Clark sorted out the lockies for the Diggle Flight passage. They said it was alright to move right up to the summit Lock 32 W and they would be along after their lunch at around 13:00. We soon shot off up to the lock and managed to completely reassemble Earnest and make a token gesture at a clean up. The boats do get dirty due to soot from steam trains having lined the canal tunnel in places. The valiant boat fender BW bods do get rather filthy and their hand prints were over the back of the boats. BUT this is a small price to pay for a wonderful free experience. 
There were NO scratches to Earnest above gunwale level and only a few to gunwales. We managed to get off at exactly 13:00. After being followed down Diggle (out lock 25 W at 14:10), we soon threw off the other boats following us and had the western side to our selves. 
Absolutely no trouble down western side until locks 9 W (incredibly leaky bottom AND top gates) meant we had to use a fair bit of water to flush Earnest out of Lock 10 E into the short pound below AND into lock 9W, to ensure we did not have a pivoting on the upper sill situation. After the top gate of lock 9 W had been closed, the level had dropped a foot before we could get the paddles up!....................still there was now plenty of water below. 
Ed Mortimer had walked up and joined us at this point. We completely missed the two "narrow" locks on the western side, we did not even lift our stick fenders! We got to Stalybridge Visitor Moorings, opposite Tesco's at 18:40. There were only two boats moored at Stalybridge (and a rather long term BW work boat resident!). One of these boats "Toby", was moored RIGHT outside the Stalybridge harridan's house, so we could not!  
Dave Mayall came for a chat, Neil had some thing in common, as Dave's NB is a Hancock and Lane hull - same "lineage" as R&D, seeing as Ray worked there in their early days of boatbuilding. Dave Mayall and Ed Mortimer had to go home for dinner, but Ed joined us later in the brand new Stalybridge Wetherspoon's - "The Society Rooms" Very on form Gales HSB and the usual two meals for £5.75. 
Much chat ensued and we found out that Ed is a somewhat quiet and understated local hero. He did all the research for the NABO "How to do the River Dee guide" and has taken two BWB leased full length working boats further up the Dee than he could admit to (including a few tributaries!) he also was the person responsible for getting one of them rather a long way up an old North Oxford loop - the Brownsover Arm.

"The tug has arrived!" says Martin Clark............Neil looks on bemused.........  Marsden. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Start of tunnel preparation proceedings. Marsden. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

The passenger module and tug arrive. The first of the "Diggle Duck" tow spacers is put in place. Marsden. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

First boat in tow is strapped on. Marsden. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Earnest gets its rubberware. Marsden. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Earnest being strapped up. Marsden. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Ready for the off. Standedge Tunnel, Marsden. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Peter Wright, Martin Clark and Neil in passenger module. Standedge Tunnel. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Back To The Future!...............Rather dramatic shot in tunnel by Martin Wilson (as were all the tunnel interior pictures). Standedge Tunnel. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Standedge Tunnel. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Standedge Tunnel. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Standedge Tunnel. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

A cross adit goes above at this point. Standedge Tunnel. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Looking sideways into a side adit. Standedge Tunnel. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Standedge Tunnel. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Spray concrete lined section. Standedge Tunnel. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

In some sections brick buttresses were put in later, by the railway company. Standedge Tunnel. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Emergency access from this side adit. Standedge Tunnel. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Standedge Tunnel. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Standedge Tunnel. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Side adit to rail tunnel. Standedge Tunnel. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Standedge Tunnel. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Arriving at the Diggle Portal of the Standedge Tunnel. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Diggle portal Standedge Tunnel. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

The tow arrives at Diggle. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

The west to east convoy is moved up ready for connection, after we have been pushed to the offside. Diggle portal Standedge Tunnel. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Neil tries to finish his lunch as we move down to the Diggle Flight. Diggle. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Reasonable moorings just above the Diggle Flight. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Diggle Summit Lock No 32 W. The Diggle Flight, being the last bit of canal built has single bottom gates. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Diggle Summit Lock No 32 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Geoffrey Dickens Lock No 31 W. Diggle Flight. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Diggle. Looking up at Summit Lock No 32 W from Geoffrey Dickens Lock No 31 W. Diggle Flight. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Approaching Dobcross Lock No 30 W. Diggle Flight. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Dobcross Lock No 30 W. Diggle Flight. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Looking back from Dobcross Lock No 30 W. Diggle Flight. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Exiting Dobcross Lock No 30 W. Diggle Flight. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Cast Iron Lock No 29 W and Alice Footbridge No 69. Diggle Flight. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Cast Iron Lock No 29 W and Alice Footbridge No 69. Diggle Flight. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Cast Iron Lock No 29 W. Looking up at Dobcross Lock No 30 W. Diggle Flight. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Embankment Lock No 28 W. Diggle Flight. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Embankment Lock No 28 W. Diggle Flight. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Coffin Lock No 27 W. Diggle Flight. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Looking down At Coffin Lock No 27 W. Diggle Flight. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Coffin Lock No 27 W. Diggle Flight. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Looking up at Coffin Lock No 27 W. Diggle Flight. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

12 Mile Lock No 26 W. looking down at Navigation Lock No 25 W. Diggle Flight. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Looking up from 12 Mile Lock No 26 W

Typical Diggle Flight paddle gear. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Looking up from Navigation Lock No 25 W. Diggle Flight. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Wool Road Lock No 24 W. Diggle Flight. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Navigation Lock No 25 W. Diggle Flight. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Looking up at Navigation Lock No 25 W and the rest of the Diggle Flight. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Wool Road Lock No 24 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Wool Road Lock No 24 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Wool Road Lock No 24 W. Here bottom gates revert to being a paired. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Wool Road Lock No 24 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Wool Road Bridge No 70 and the Wool Road Transhipment Warehouse. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Lime Kiln Lock No 23 W and Saddleworth Railway Viaduct No 76. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Lime Kiln Lock No 23 W and Saddleworth Railway Viaduct No 76. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Lime Kiln Lock No 23 W and Saddleworth Railway Viaduct No 76. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Dungebooth Lock No 22 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Clogger Knoll Bridge No 77. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Looking back at Clogger Knoll Bridge No 77 and the Saddleworth Winding Point. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Wade Lock No 21 W. Saddleworth. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Wade Lock No 21 W. Saddleworth. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Wade Lock No 21 W. Saddleworth. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Upper Mill High Street Bridge No 78. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Hall Lock No 20 W and Halls Footbridge No 79. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Hall Lock No 20 W and Halls Footbridge No 79. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Factory at Lower Arthurs. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Frenches Bridge No 80. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Manns Bridge No 82. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Royal George Lock No 19 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Keith Jackson Lock No 18 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Typical HNC Pepperpot air vent for paddle culvert........and not so typical Northwich ground paddle. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Earnest arriving at Keith Jackson Lock No 18 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Keith Jackson Lock No 18 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Looking back at Keith Jackson Lock No 18 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Royal George Aqueduct No 84 and Division Bridge No 85. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

New housing beside the canal at Roaches. Huddersfield Narrow Canal. 

Division Lock No 17 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal. 

Gas Works Lock No 16 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal. 

Gas Works Lock No 16 W and Roaches Lock Bridge No 87. Huddersfield Narrow Canal. 

The Tollemarche Arms at Roaches. Huddersfield Narrow Canal. 

Roaches Lock No 15 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal. 

Roaches Lock No 15 W and the pub of the same name. Huddersfield Narrow Canal. 

Leaving Roaches Lock No 15 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal. 

Mill at Mossley. Huddersfield Narrow Canal. 

Woodend Lock No 14 W. Mossley. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Woodend Lock No 14 W. Mossley. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Woodend Lock No 14 W. Mossley. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Mossley. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Mossley. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Bottoms Bridge No 91 Mossley. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Leafy Mosley! Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Bottoms Bridge No 91 Mossley. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Egmont Street Bridge No 92. Mossley Bottoms. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Whiteheads Lock No 12 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Whiteheads Lock No 12 W and Scout Tunnel beyond. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Scout Tunnel No 93. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Scout Tunnel No 93. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Inside Scout Tunnel No 93. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Inside Scout Tunnel No 93. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

The sharp bend after Scout Tunnel No 93. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Avenue Lock No 10 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Looking down at the rather leaky Black Rock Lock No 9 from Avenue Lock No 10 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Looking up at Avenue Lock No 10 W from Black Rock Lock No 9. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Grove Road Bridge No 96. Millbrook. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Grove Road Bridge No 96, Bywith Lock No 8 W beyond. Millbrook. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

The new sanitary station above Bywith Lock No 8 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

The new sanitary station above Bywith Lock No 8 W, Grove Road Bridge No 96 beyond. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Bywith Lock No 8 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Bywith Lock No 8 W. The straddling pylon beyond. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Bywith Lock No 8 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

The straddling pylon beyond Bywith Lock No 8 W. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Knowl Bridge No 97. Stalybridge. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Knowl Bridge No 97. Stalybridge. The "locals" Martin Clark and Ed Mortimer. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Mottram Road Lock No 7 W. Stalybridge. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Mottram Road Lock No 7 W. Stalybridge. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Mottram Road Lock No 7 W. Stalybridge. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Mottram Road Bridge No 99 and Mottram Road Lock No 7 W. Stalybridge. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Mottram Road Bridge No 99 and Mottram Road Lock No 7 W. Stalybridge. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Mottram Road Bridge No 99. Stalybridge. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Visitor Moorings by Tesco's in Stalybridge. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Lock No 6 W Stalybridge. Visitor Mooring out side the harridan's house! Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Stalybridge. Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

The Tour Continues...

Home Page | "Earnest" | "Beatty" | Canal Restoration