4.6 Cannock Coal to College Road

The continuing journey along the old canal coal route, taking supplies from the mines of Cannock to the industries of Birmingham.
In this episode we pass down the Perry Barr locks, exploring how they were built and piecing together the remaining fragments of the BCN's last operational back pumping system.
#canalhunter #birminghamcanals #perrybarr

[@DavidGCroft]

Really enjoyed it

[@dennisporter753]

What a great piece of engineering, beautifully designed as well .. I really liked how the gates worked.. it's a shame they rarely get used .. Can hardly wait to see the next episode!Cheers from Missouri USA.. Happy New Year Andy!

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

You too Dennis - its a shape I couldn't find enough bits of the pumping system to work out how all the bits worked.

[@nickcaunt1769]

Really interesting looking for the back pumping system. We know loads of places for pumping systems around the country, but there doesn't appear to be anything to see. So great that you have found evidence. It makes me want to try harder next time I'm exploring a canal.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

It is a bit of an oddity with all its return valves. Most simply pump from the bottom to the top.....

[@andrewreed7936]

Do we need to remember that dormer bungalow for the next episode Andy!? Another great video!

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Keep remembering...... It is relevant, but I ran out of time to refer back to it. Well spotted!

[@andrewreed7936]

@@lifeat2.3milesanhour57 I had to watch it through twice to make sure I hadn't missed the link! :D :D Looking forwards to the next episode

[@raymondkirkham3815]

Greetings Andy thanks for another informed video thanks for braving cold weather l have purchased a copy of the other 60 miles as you recommended on your first video very informative looking forward to seeing you in person in the Dudley area when you visit next when this current situation improves maybe the summer.in the meantime all best wishes to you and your family keep up with the excellent work. I am now endeavouring to teach my grandchildren about the canal's as they are for all future generations .kind regards Ray

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Glad you are enjoying them and hope you find The Other 60 Miles informative - certainly a publication of its time! Hopefully I will see you in the summer.

[@mikehaldane4061]

Excellent episode, good to see the remains of the former pumping system and good research as always.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Thanks Mike - its been a refreshing change to venture onto the live canals and to expand the scope of the history a bit.

[@christinegibbins6105]

Thank you Andy, fascinating. All the very best for 2021. Take care

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Thanks Christine - you too.

[@AuntieSullivan]

Happy New Year, and thanks for the fascinating video. What a unique system on these lock flights. Genius!

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Happy New Year to you too. I seem to have become more fascinated with the hydraulics than the old photos this week - normal service resumes next Saturday.

[@AuntieSullivan]

@@lifeat2.3milesanhour57 I am a delighted geek, a retired engineer (though not a mechanical one). I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

@@AuntieSullivan If not a Mechie were you a Leckie?

[@1961Jezza]

Another fascinating episode Andy many thanks I never knew or had even heard about the method for bringing water from the bottom of the locks to the top before; another stretch of canal for my friends and I to explore once the lock-down has hopefully ended.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Its a nice stretch to explore - good towpaths too.

[@stevenbates1128]

Andy another excellent episode. Nice to see the remains of back pumping system. The last time we did the BCN challenge 2019 we took Scorpio and Leo down there now know what the valves were for.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Glad to add to your accumulated body of BCN trivia!

[@crossercuss1]

Happy new year andy and thanks for your great videos !!!

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

You are welcome Dave!

[@algee7921]

Excellent series. I use local canals for recreational cycling. It is really interesting to learn about their historic development.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

@@algee7921 I always find the miles pass fasted with the interest of the canals around me.

[@Myfunnytaste]

60 years ago I saw the tug driver flick his mop right then left and dropped the two top paddles as he passed. The catches on Perry Bar paddles had a sort of rocker arrangement , as a young boatman I was so impressed did I dream this ? I went on to boat to the Potteries, quite a different paddle gear on Cheshire locks it’s a long time ago but I can still her the rattle of dropping paddles in my head. Was this a BCN feature?

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

There were all sorts of paddle gear around the system but these became much more standardised in the 60's and 70's. The boatmen has loads of tricks to "get ahead" - not all of them very kind on the infrastructure! I suspect that this means of dropping paddles was one of them. The addition of security locks and the demand that all gates and paddles be left closed put paid to many of the "tricks of the trade".

[@johnwilliams6267]

Happy new year Andy👍. Apparently that pumping system is unique, no, I don’t understand it fully either😂

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

I am going to keep my eyes open and see if I can find out any more as a read round the subject. I think one problem is that because the Tame Valley was the last to be built it wasn't as "historic" for the canal writers of the past.

[@grahamhall8249]

Great video Andy, thanks. Always wondered what that pipe was for. I've seen it before as I walked the canal, with the brick built surrounds of the valve housings. It just shows that this canal must have been at the peak of canal building in the UK. I've not seen or heard of anything like it anywhere else. Is the chimney at the bottom of the locks from the old pumping station? Can't wait for the next episode

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

The remaining chimney was part of the GEC works - there are some good photos of the pumphouse between the loks in next weeks episode.

[@mickhargreaves2032]

Very nice hope you keep going. I wood love you to have a look at louth canal in Lincolnshire. I believe it is one of the oldest ie got started first but didn't open first as the water pressure on the fens gave new problems ence the finger of eight locks. Thanks mick h

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

I have never been to see the Louth Navigation - so many waterways and so little time..... Then there is the Ancholm, The Drffield and the Market Rasen around the Humber. One day...

[@mickhargreaves2032]

@@lifeat2.3milesanhour57 yes lots of good stuff. We also have the fosdike built by the Romans to and the Horncastle canal of the Witham. Have fun keep safe mick h

[@henryharesdene4164]

Another spiffingly good and highly informative presentation from The Master of the Midlands canals. We've cruised this section of the system at leas three times. I assume many boaters are put off by the mattresses in the cut at the top end and the terrible state of the canal by Spaghetti Junction above the canal. It's 'fun' waving at lorry drivers on the section that runs nearly parallel to the M5 - they're usually in a slow que thus have plenty of time to respond with a 'toot'. As can be seen from the video the track is in good condition and is mostly isolated from mass habitation, however being a closely coupled flight there's nowhere to moor (if you conform to the rules). Thank you Andy (if I may make so bold - we haven't been introduced...) I await your nex presentation with much anticipation!

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

You have to catch that mattress at the Ocker Hill end to win your BCN spurs! Mooring in the area is a problem and I personally am not keen on the top of Perry Barr locks where windows have been smashed. My OK spots are: Ocker Hill Res Moorings, Star City, Cuckoo Wharf, Longwood Junction and, at a pinch, the bottom of the Rushall flight.

[@RobinPickering]

At 13:45 you can see the bridge, underneath which Sarah Welch and I french kissed for a remarkable 8 mins and 1 second. A world record at the time for under 11s.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Thats probably the finest comment ever left on this channel Robin! I am curious that you managed to time it to the second though.......

[@christopherjones7459]

Another great video, Thanks Andy. On the reflux valves, I suspect that is just the description of a valve allowing recirculated water to discharge back into the system, thus opening a particular valve would allow the associated pound to fill. This is based on terminology I am used to in industrial applications in the UK. I would not think that they were used to drain pounds for maintenance as the lock paddles easily fulfill this function. Note that if you look up reflex valve you get definitions for check (non-return valves), but I believe that to be US based terminology. I look forward to seeing any more details you cn come up with.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

The few written accounts are conflicting - which is a pain Chris.

[@peterfisher6348]

Medical associations reflux is "to throw up" or "discharge".To discharge the pipe to lose the accumulated silt makes some sense. To fill a pound from the back pumping makes more sense energy wise than to pump it to higher up and then discharge it through the paddles (it would be impossible to hold bottom gates open as you have proved). However it would have made far more sense to me if the point of discharge was above the top lock of a flight than below the bottom one for 2 reasons: First going up and finding an empty pound you need the discharge above the flight and Second if wanting to lose the silt the silt would accumulate where the water travels slowest which would be more likely on the level pipe sections alongside the pounds rather than alongside the flights. That is assuming gravity is being used rather than the pumped water from below. Silt would accumulate most where level section and gravity rolling silt down the flight meet (just where the valves are) after a period of no pumping particularly. Therefore with pipes full of static water, close off valve at top of pound, open reflux into pound and gravity washes silt into the pound from above the open bottom of flight valve. Close reflux and open main valve again allows water or air to only flow along pipe. Alternatively close valve at bottom of flight and open reflux valve and pump will wash out silt in pipe alongside the pound. Both these methods may have been used to clear any accumulation of silt at the site of the valves.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

@@peterfisher6348 I wish there was a schematic!

[@peterfisher6348]

sorry edited to add text to my comment...

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

I wish I could have found a washout valve but I failed on that count.

[@nate8551]

I’ve never seen a boat moving on that stretch and often see empty pounds. Always a shame to see canals that don’t get much use.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

It is a shame.

[@jasonkennedy8230]

great episode Andy, i used to live in Perry Barr as a kid and i remember that pipe well when cycling or walking this section, i also recall there was a further section of it visible about 50 yards down, after a quick look on google maps ive found it behind a modern wall. goo.gl/maps/jKjLyFpZuuGb5C378

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

I would never have thought that google earth would have ventured into that complex!