Where Does a Canal get its Water from?

This is the utterly delightful Crofton Beam Engines. Go visit them here: www.croftonbea...
Huge thanks to David Eaves who provided some graphics and movement clips from Crofton. You can visit his KZbin Channel here: / grovedave
Massive thanks to all the Team at Crofton, including Pam, Catherine, Steve and many more.
If you are interested in ways in which you can help support the channel please do consider clicking on any of the links below or alternatively the join button on here.
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[@richardvickers148]

Went here to ,loverly visit and i mentioned id come after seeing your video ,they remebered you :)

[@pwhitewick]

Ah wonderful. Thanks Richard.

[@richardvickers148]

@@pwhitewick then i went to monkton farleigh sidings...tunnel..going bk to crofton for the steaming day...

[@andrewfanner2245]

The Boulton and Watt engine is a tribute to how well made it was, the same machine, in the same location, still doing the job for which it was designed and installed, 210 years later.

[@hairyairey]

Simple design, easy to maintain.

[@Simon_Nonymous]

And standing in when those new fangled electric pumps failed - you couldn't make this stuff up!

[@suzyqualcast6269]

H, hm, there's one down at Leawood, working as well.

[@matthewrichardson4777]

Birmingham born

[@CharlesTrains99]

Paul and Rebecca, Thank you so very much for sharing this video. Seeing a Beam engine operating in the 21st century doing the job for which it was built is a real treat. A special extended thanks to all of the preservation minded people who keep history alive for all of us to see. :)

[@vc716]

Spent many winters weekends in the early 90's down that well servicing the foot vales amongst other things. I can also claim to have had the title of chief driver once. My first job as a volunteer was cleaning all the soot from the flue which runs from the boiler house to the chimney. You'd be amazed where soot sticks, even after a couple of showers🙄

[@xr6lad]

Up your own drain pipe no doubt!

[@burgersnchips]

I like this channel more and more with every video I see. Very well presented and informative. Thank you both (and all)

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you. Very kind.

[@phillipbateman2284]

Intriguing, perfect vlog created by Rebecca Catherine(she really knew her stuff) and Paul. Thanks, and take care.

[@geraldpayne8615]

Always lovely to see the beam engines and Crofton. Went there on the first date with my wife. We'd found we had a shared interest in industrial archeology over lunch and it was nearby.

[@rmk]

Rebecca didn't look happy when looking down to the bottom of the engine, well done for keeping your nerve!

[@pwhitewick]

Twas a Loooong drop indeed

[@bostonrailfan2427]

@@pwhitewick nerves of steel!

[@bostonrailfan2427]

i only noticed it due to your post, she did look a bit like she was glad Paul didn’t go down there then again, he’d only do that if it was abandoned 😉

[@18robsmith]

@@pwhitewick Not only a long drop, but a very particular smell. In years gone by (not that many) there was a distinct lack of mesh guards, great fun when one had to venture down there when everything was hot, smelly and very steamy.....

[@janinapalmer8368]

She suddenly appeared too..! I was wondering where she was ....

[@fredericksaxton3991]

This was excellent, no larking around. I first and last visited Crofton in May 1971 when they had a steaming day. It was a fabulous day out. Highly recommend a visit here.

[@JamesMinchew]

I love how elegant the Victorian engineering solutions were combined with the sturdiness and chunkiness of the execution. This was a cracking video.

[@robertcoleman4861]

Wonderful story & pictures in a a beautiful place many thanks paul & rebecca kind regards bob.

[@malcolmdalrymple1779]

I do enjoy this channel. It makes my Monday mornings when I get round to viewing it. Thanks.

[@r.davies2702]

Excellent. And what a very knowledgeable young girl who gave you the tour 👌 I noticed when she said "that ladder all the way down there", Rebecca's face looked pretty much as mine would've, slowly stepping back 😂

[@cerealport2726]

as a child, I loved roaming around the former copper mines at Moonta in South Australia. They no longer house Cornish beam-engines, but the engine-house ruins always fascinated me, and even now, I like to imagine what they were like when in operation. Thanks for yet another excellent video!

[@josephcooksley3219]

Ah yes about 25 years ago i visited with a friend of mine ... also a mechanical engineer ... the solutions arrived at to move that amount of water per hour were amazing ... i take my hat to the design and construction team , not to mention those who continue to run the system today to prove and show how well the system worked . Great to see your video of this bit of UK Engineering history thank you .

[@havingalook2]

Fasciinating!!! Love anything "British engineering at its finest". Very informative.

[@ianlainchbury]

I volunteer at Claymills victorian pumping station and it's very rewarding. I've not been to Crofton yet, but will in the future. It's well worth helping out if they need volunteers :)

[@ianmaddams9577]

Every video is a pleasure to watch. Thanks Paul and Rebecca 👍🏻

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Ian.

[@TheOracle65]

I lived in Reading during my school/uni days and my dad was huge steam fan, so naturally we visited the Crofton Beam Engine regularly. I remember the chimney being rebuilt and my dad telling me at great length why this was important 😊. Brilliant place to visit - huge working Victorian steam beam engines, a canal to explore with well-tended footpaths and locks, plus a mainline railway with both passenger and freight traffic. All in lovely countryside too!

[@tonylucky2724]

Beautiful! Combining you steam locomotive and you your canal passion into one building. Amazing engineering from days of old!

[@RossMaynardProcessExcellence]

Boiler Inspector. There's a job you don't see advertised often! Fantastic video.

[@pwhitewick]

Not one I would envy too!

[@LeoStarrenburg]

@@pwhitewick Typical manhole size is an oval 16x12 inches so you have to work your way into the boiler proper through that, than wiggle your way around to be able to have a good look at things. Then there's the sooty bits where the fumes go through. That's why they invented a boilersuit ;-)

[@hughjones4060]

Part of my job used to be arranging Boiler Inspections and other statutory inspections on things such as lifts and cranes, power presses and dust extraction equipment . I worked for an insurance company who had a nationwide staff of engineer surveyors with various specialisations.

[@admiralcraddock464]

We ave a boiler inspector in to inspect our boiler every year. He's in his early seventies but still crawls in the steam and water drum.

[@andyrichardsvideovlogs8835]

Fascinating. I love old boiler houses and pumps. You've also answered a question I've long pondered. One of your very best 👌

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Andy, very kind.

[@SharpblueCreative]

Back in my neck of the woods again. I know that place very well - grew up in the area. Great video.

[@TrevsTravelsByNarrowboat]

I use to love taking my kids to Crofton, and the windmill on the hill.

[@nilo70]

Thank you both for taking me along with you today and showing me this amazing adventure ! Cheers from California!

[@pwhitewick]

Cheers Olin.

[@Railwayexplorers]

@@pwhitewick I hate you

[@Railwayexplorers]

@@pwhitewick my channel is better

[@peters6601]

Thanks for a great video. I hope to be visiting this pumping station next week. Beam engine motion is almost hypnotic.

[@sddsddean]

Now its time to head towards Bath and do a vid on the Claverton pumping station, which does the same job as Crofton, but in a totally different way.

[@SuperBartles]

love the canal engineering ones. The history of engineering is awe-inspiring. Brilliant people

[@bobly]

Another enthralling video from the Whitewicks, that was really interesting thank you Paul and Rebecca

[@Sim0nTrains]

Really enjoyed watching this with the trains passing by and the Crofton Beam Engines, great video Paul

[@cyrildhy8993]

That bend around Crofton is said to be why The Great Western only built one Pacific. It jumped rails.

[@paulinehedges5088]

That was fascinating. Thank you. I had never really thought about where the water comes from to go into the canal ...now I know! Another entertaining Sunday evening. 👏👏👏

[@Hairnicks]

Brilliant, one to add to the "Visiting" list. Thanks for the insight.

[@xr6lad]

What an absolutely beautiful part of the country. Love the canal, railway , road and old engine house sitting close together in those green fields.

[@davie941]

hello again Paul and Rebecca , cool and very interesting video , i could look and listen to this stuff all day , well done and thank you :)

[@richardclowes7428]

Brilliant. I was lucky enough to have this on my running route and often marvelled at how much effort it would have taken to dig the canal.

[@mbarker1958]

Well done again Paul and Rebecca!

[@Bender24k]

I enjoyed this one a LOT. Thanks & Happy Summer!

[@SBCBears]

Fascinating and inspirational. It helps one to realize the amount of work, intelligence, know-how, courage and perseverance is devoted to building the world around us. The guide was quite helpful, too.

[@EandEFC]

Great video stayed there on a canal boat with my scouts a few years back great to see it working and the aerial shots love it

[@radiosnail]

Very interesting. Your videos are sometying to look forward to on Sunday afternoons.

[@pwhitewick]

Awesome, thank you!

[@ReubenAshwell]

Always wondered where the water in a canal comes from and this video has given me the answer. :)

[@colin125gwr]

went there 30 Jul 2019 steampunk event it was quite busy lovely day out got some nice footage of the engines in steam been there quite a few times but it's long way from where I live I learnt some new things from your video so thanks Very well presented and informativeas always

[@eze8970]

Proper engineering, thanks for the tour! 🙏

[@Jimyjames73]

What a great vid - good to see these Crofton Beam Engines still working after all this time 🙂🚂🚂🚂

[@ColinH1973]

Excellent stuff!! You have a gift for simplifying the complicated, which is much appreciated. Thank you both for unmissable Sunday viewing.

[@johnhall6993]

Excellent video as always: thank you! Quite appropriate for me as last week, I spent some time in a narrowboat sitting on the bottom of a lock on the Grand Union because someone the previous day had left a paddle half-open and the the canal pounds had pretty much emptied. The resident ducks looked happy, though, as they could reach weed to eat that was normally inaccessible!

[@griswold67]

Fascinating, Well done P&R!

[@MrGreatplum]

What a fascinating place - really interesting and well filmed, thanks!

[@handyandy6050]

So lovely to see machinery like this still in action!

[@UKAbandonedMineExplores]

Thanks, that was fascinating, and not something we often think about.

[@robinhayhurst5943]

This video deserves to go viral.

[@1Polglen]

Wow fascinating. We must have cycled near there on our way to Bath. Wish we'd known about it as would have loved to visit. Sign another life now. Cheers and thanks.

[@peebee143]

Saw Tom Rolt's name on that plaque at the end of the vid. He was as famous for his work for canals as he was for railways.

[@robertansell4538]

Paul Rebecca that was outstanding blog 👏 top people 👏 love ❤ that 👏 well dun 👏

[@bullettube9863]

Thanks for explaining the workings of this wonderful old steam engine!

[@QALibrary]

what a fantastic video - thank you for all your time in making the video

[@dianespears6057]

Very interesting. Enjoyed the tour.

[@isaacplaysbass8568]

Wow, always informative, and entertaining. Thank you. Great music choices too.

[@lindamccaughey6669]

That was incredibly interesting thanks. Please stay safe and take care

[@shirleylynch7529]

My goodness we live and learn. That was so interesting.. what a fabulous vlog. Thank you.

[@briancjohnson]

This was really cool. Thank you so much for all the effort you both do to bring these things to us!

[@ray_wilton]

Great timing for this video, only yesterday I interviewed the Kennet and Avon Trust on Kennet Radio, to publicise their waterways festival in Newbury today. I was also at Crofton a few weeks ago with my film camera. Not far away is Wilton Windmill too, preserved but a separate piece of history.

[@petestuart6584]

Been there myself quite a few years back now and thoroughly enjoyed it. Well worth a visit both on steaming and non-steaming days. Theres more of these engines out there than you think!

[@teescottageguyproductions]

Beautiful Crofton Pumping Station! I work at a pumping station in Darlington called Tees Cottage Pumping Station. It’s also steam powered! If your ever near Darlington and want to see it let me know! We have open days but we can also do private tours.

[@michaelmiller641]

Fascinating! One to visit, I think!

[@davidpalin1790]

Excellent video

[@stegra5960]

Maybe Rebecca could try the walkway on the Newport Transporter Bridge. It's very high up and you can see through the mesh floor as you cross. Interesting place and one of only six in the world still working but closed until next year.

[@BigKelvPark]

Rebecca doesn't look to comfortable looking down that piston shaft. Great video as always.

[@scoopypigeon1694]

Another great video, team, cheers!

[@sianwarwick633]

Wow. Stunning. Great. Would like to see that

[@SimonFairbourn]

I was wondering about Catherine the other day. That's spooky. I didn't know she was working there. I think a visit to those engines is all the more in order now.

[@simonbradshaw3708]

Thank you for another interesting and enjoyable video, also thank you for the guide for explaining the process. I look forward to next week's video.

[@garymason8540]

Haven't been there in an age. Fascinating to find out how it operates without actually being there.😁

[@DavidCollison]

Great video. The brief shot of the advert for the Murder Mystery and Hog Roast at Wilton Windmill sounds uncannily like the script for disposing of the evidence in an episode of Midsomer Murders...

[@SNAILSPARK]

Fascinating! … well done !

[@RobertSmith-zv1xo]

Very interresting and enjoyable to watch!

[@oldgreygritter]

Another interesting video. Thank you.

[@pwhitewick]

Always a pleasure.

[@chrissayers7076]

I have visited, I urge everyone to go it's really interesting, thanks guys, your video bought back memories for me..

[@ste2442]

Ahh Sunday at 5pm , cheers Paul 👍

[@pwhitewick]

Enjoy

[@lustycourtier2425]

I love a good steaming weekend!

[@iancharlton678]

This is why I finally have a giant TV……. that I don’t watch 😳 Top quality production….. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@taffythegreat1986]

That was really informative. That’s what I like, there are always solutions to a problem and that’s what drives us forward 👍👍

[@brianartillery]

LTC Rolt - A great writer and supporter of the preservation of the canal network. Robert Aickman, similarly, but better known for his horror stories. LTC Rolt also wrote similar stories, though sadly, not so many - One volume only - 'Sleep No More', contains some of the most disquieting stories, based on mines, railways, canals, foundries, and a car racing circuit, that you will ever read. He definitely had talent. Rolt and Aickman had a big falling out, though, which they never really recovered from, before their deaths.

[@TheEulerID]

Both fascinating characters in their different ways. The first secretary for the IWA was he writer Elizabeth Jane Howard, who was married to Peter Scott at the time. She had an affair with Aickman and, later in life, went on to marry Kingsley Amis (Martin Amis was her stepson and he credits her for encouraging him). However, that barely scratches the surface of her life, which is documented in her autobiography Slipstream named, in part, for her time with the IWA and how she was often in the slipstream of events and more influential men. Tom Rolt's second wife Sonia is also a very interesting character, and she became important in the conservation movement in her own right.

[@martinmarsola6477]

Another fine video! Thank you.

[@stuwilsonrallying]

absolutely superb, brilliant informative!!! love this kind of content, used to love Fred Dibnah and his industrial history programmes. More of this kind of content please...... think you may have a guest presenter now too, Catherine. She was great 👍 Rebecca certainly didn't look comfortable looking down the well/shaft

[@troglodytestroglodytes220]

Crofton Beam Engines in steam is a must see. Luckily for me, just 20 miles from my house.

[@brucenichols9153]

Just excellent, well done.

[@Alan_UK]

I've enjoyed many a visit to the pumping station. BTW, not far from the pumping engine the canal goes in a tunnel (Bruce tunnel) and under the railway. There is no towpath so walkers ascend up steps, go under the railway, and then descend to the canal at the other end of the tunnel. Before motorised canal boats the boatmen had to haul themselves through the tunnel using a chain attached to the wall of the tunnel while the horse when over the hill. I understand that it's quite an experience to be on a canal boat in the tunnel with a train thundering overhead.

[@martynbuzzing3327]

Brilliant video guys. Very interesting. One of my favourite things to research. thanks.

[@theonlywoody2shoes]

I wondered if this would be Crofton? Many years ago (mid 1980s) I spent several weekends with a work colleague who was a volunteer here. I remember cutting up the old boilers with an oxy-torch before they were replaced with retired ones from a tobacco processing factory near Bristol. Great to see things still going strong.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

it’s weird seeing canals and the support infrastructure discussed and seeing trains roll by: the very things that brought them into disuse… thankfully this key piece of transportation history is kept intact and working and being used alongside the modern equivalent

[@Alan_UK]

The railway put the canal out of business. After being derelict volunteers started to restore it and now it's a great leisure asset. BTW, not far from the pumping engine the canal goes in a tunnel (Bruce tunnel) and under the railway. There is no towpath so walkers ascend up steps, go under the railway, and then descend to the canal at the other end of the tunnel. Before motorised canal boats the boatmen had to haul themselves through the tunnel using a chain attached to the wall of the tunnel while the horse when over the hill.

[@danq.5140]

As a boiler operator myself, this is going on my list of places to visit.

[@Tinhare]

Been waiting for this and it didn’t disappoint. Thank you. Definitely on my places to visit list.

[@TurboTimsWorld]

I've been to Crofton several times an amazing place on a steam or not. I believe the boiler was from the swindon railway works and used to drive equipment and the famous clocking off whistle which is now only heard on the museum steam days and the bear festival but powered by a traction engine. Having moved from ear shot of the Swindon my nearest beam engine is at Minions ! Great Video Thanks Guys

[@scottfw7169]

Canals and railways, two of my favorite things. 😁

[@pwhitewick]

Mine too!

[@13soxs]

Great stuff again, you always find interesting stuff!!

[@1258-Eckhart]

The Crofton beam engines were high on my list of places to visit when I lived in London, but a new job in a new country intervened - thanks for virtually fulfilling the plan. So in fact (if my geography is correct), the eastern half of the climb to the summit pound is filled naturally from Wilton Water near Great Bedwyn. There is a levels difference of 12 metres between Wilton Water and the summit pound, which is overcome using the two pumps you feature here (or electric pumps in normal time). A culvert links the reservoir to the Crofton well. Although the water can obviously flow in both directions down from the summit pound, in fact it is only needed to replenish the western half of the climb, i.e. from Bath to Crofton (plus the locks back down to the Wilton pound).

[@djhrecordhound4391]

Well this is a first--I had to watch this video twice because I was so distracted by your stunning tour guide Catherine. Usually your photographic skills take my breath away, Paul! (Btw of course Rebecca's lovely too, but I know she's married lol)

[@jasonhickman6789]

You should have a look at the source of the Llangollen canal at Llangollen. And the horseshoe falls

[@oneteaminbristolbcfc]

Thanks

[@pwhitewick]

Welcome