Why is this Old Disused Railway being turned into a Canal?

[@chrisbentleywalkingandrambling]

It's brilliant that they are resurrecting this Ant. Thanks for highlighting this for us.

[@briyeo]

That area was our playground back in the 1950's and early 1960's. When the canal and railways were still there. We were always hanging around the canal from Langley Mill up to Codnor Park res. My brother myself and a friend even made it on to the Langley Mill and Aldercar Cooperative calendar one year when we were photographed fishing for sticklebacks next to Lock 13. My father worked at the Moorgreen Colliery and sometimes got a ride back to the Cromford road level crossing in the cab of the Locomotive. My mother always referred to that railway branch as the Paddy LIne, We went down to look at the work being done on the canal a couple of weeks ago. If only it could have been left how it was when I was young.

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

Great to see an imaginative re-use of a former railway to enable the Cromford canal extension. In the past, it was often new railways which took over canal routes. Nice to see the tables being turned!

[@themackeler5011]

Brilliant Ant I used to fish a stoney lane lock and watched the bulldozers fill in the canal with earth think the canal will still be under all the earth

[@Rockdoc2174]

The line at Cromford Road near Langley Mill was a colliery line, not BR. It linked Moorgreen and Watnall to massive interchange sidings a couple of hundred yards north of Langley Mill & Eastwood station. It passed the GNR line near Eastwood & Langley Mill station and interchanged there, too. I knew the original Stoney Lane very well. My Grandfather would take me along there to feed the swans and ducks on the canal near Vicar’s Lock in the mid-fifties. The Pinxton branch crossed the road there and the keeper lived in what may well have been originally the lock-keeper’s house. British Waterways and the NCB had to do a deal very quickly to close this section of the Cromford and the Nottingham canals for opencasting. People were beginning to kayak along them, which might have been enough to prove continued use. A mate said he fished in the Nottingham one weekend and returned the following weekend to find the canal breached and all the fish dead.

[@ukman9797]

It goes full circle. The railways replced the canals. Now the canal is replacing the railway. Great video.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much indeed 😃

[@williamoates1754]

What a fantastic addition to tourism in the area. Imagining the canal trip from Cromford to Langley Mill and back is heartwarming, even though i doubt i will live to see it. What also comes through in your inspired video is the way our industrial heritage has been vadalised by so called progress in the past, which was likely caused by lack of forward planning, and short term gain.

[@v8cool231]

Wonderful old photos. Its amazing all the hustle bustle, and smells these places saw every and heard everyday. People clocked in and worked there like its a normal day, using those old buildings, and not thinking much of it, not knowing that people in 2023 will be looking at them with some form of romantic nostalgia.

[@martinbell8369]

Great video. I lived in jacksdale and I remember walking around there when I was a young lad with my grandad in the early eighties. We walked from brinsley and the old canal was filled in so you could see the bank walls in the fields. That was all lost when it was opencast. I would love to see it reopened again even if it was only a short way.

[@alanlake5220]

Fantastic stuff Ant, hope it goes ahead, and yes keep popping back to see what progress is being made .

[@TrekkingExploration]

It's great it's definitely happening. I'll be back

[@michaelmiller641]

I did enjoy that, Ant, Another fascinating video! Fancy that! Building new canals in 2023!

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Michael. It's quite exciting

[@angelaknisely-marpole7679]

Brilliant, thank you. We belong to the Chesterfield Canal Society and they are doing really well at re-opening the canal!

[@TrekkingExploration]

I walked that when I first started doing these in 2019. Maybe it's worth re doing

[@lesbendo6363]

It is amazing how much history you have all around you. And how far back it goes in time! Where I live; Fort Langley BC, Canada National Historic Site Built 1827 (original) 1839/1840 (second site) Original use - Trading post Rebuilt 1957-58 Current use - Living museum. 🇨🇦

[@v8cool231]

Most of the time we take it for granted though. Virtually every village in the UK has a church that dates back to at least the 1400's, and you can more often than not just walk in them. Although I sometimes sit back and look what we have and it hurts my head thinking about the the history here . Where I used to live there was a church with an Anglo saxon vault underneath and you could visit it. The atmosphere under there was astonishing. 1000 years of people entering it, and it was totally unspoilt, unrestored. Today, I visited a castle where Katherine Parr (Henry VIII last wife) lived. And Queen Elizabeth 1st lived there with her. To think I actually walked under the same archways as Elizabeth 1st did, blows my mind. And in this castle theres original locks of Katherine Parrs hair, and one of her teeth.

[@leswallace2426]

Fascinating stuff....so great to see canals being restored and the commitment and initiative of volunteers.

[@TrekkingExploration]

It's wonderful isn't it? I shall definitely be back for updates 😀

[@terryansell6641]

You always a excellent job with your videos thank you from New Zealand

[@Mark-yk1ny]

Outstanding video thanks ant 👍 I hope they keep that bit of track too 🤞

[@TrekkingExploration]

I hope so too. Thank you 😊

[@shirleylynch7529]

Fabulous Ant. Great filming. Photos before amazing. Just love your music choices. They enhance your films so much. Thank you

[@colleennewton7882]

Great stuff Ant, in my doorstep too. Can't wait to see how it progresses.

[@petergrant2366]

Brilliantly put together, I love your passion and so nice to see the old Cromford canal being extended, even though its not the original route.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Peter thank you I shall be back here soon

[@Marc_von_Hoffrichter]

That is amazing. I certainly hope it all comes together! What a great effort from a committed group. Will be wonderful to check in on this. Thanks Ant, appreciated cobber.

[@cadburysclub1807]

Grew up just up the road from the level crossing in Langley Mill, (1972 until 1992)unfortunately the Durham Ox my childhood home is no longer there but remember the coal trains from Moorgreen colliery using the line and the slag heap behind the A610 before it was covered over, Hall road was built to allow the coal lorries from Woodlinken open cast mine to get to the A610 duel carriageway ( before the extension was built where the brick bridge is) hope this information is useful

[@benGBRf]

Another fantastic video Ant. Thank you 😊

[@michaeljohnson-li5nn]

As a lifelong resident of Jacksdale, and someone who is interested in our industrial heritage, it’s heartwarming to see the restoration of the Cromford canal. From my perspective it would be interesting to see what was needed to further extend the canal to Jacksdale and maybe up as far as Codnor Park reservoir. To fully restore the canal it would need the Butterley tunnel to be made navigable again. This would be a major civil engineering project, and I would imagine an extremely expensive one. Looking forward to your updates on this project.

[@johncarold]

Hi Ant, WoW ! This will be great to see what happens through the years. It would be nice to see your boat chugging down the locks.

[@TrekkingExploration]

It's a two year project I believe so progress may be pretty good

[@rustycyclingtrucker]

I live just round the corner from this really looking forward to seeing the reinstated bit of the comford canal. Thanks ant great to see all this as it all gets done

[@IS-L]

I hope this gets started soon. But please slow down on the camera panning, it’s better to take long shots rather than pan. We don’t get dizzy and appreciate the views a bit more.

[@richardharris4452]

Thank you, Ant. I've walked most of the route many times & knew of the plans, but didn't realise you could walk beyond the basin. The use of the former railway line isn't a bad plan b to the original line,as you rightly say, but once again, your research & and presentation are truly superb. I look forward to future updates.

[@lindamccaughey6669]

Really enjoyed that thanks Ant. Can’t wait to see the work as they do int, I so look forward to it

[@simonrichardson5077]

Another gem.thanks Ant

[@2010ditta]

Hopefully they will leave that bit of track alone...maybe put a couple of wagons on it or a coach etc. Lovely video again..all the best.

[@TrekkingExploration]

I hope so. I fear it'll get buried in Canal spoil

[@stuart3383]

Made my evening thanks Ant.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Stuart

[@orwellboy1958]

Thanks Ant. Another interesting presentation. Funny how things change, it was probably the railway that killed of the canal and now the canal will be resurrected via the railway.

[@martinmarsola6477]

Thank you for the walk along tour with you today. An interesting conversation about the past and future. See you on the next. Cheers Ant! 🇬🇧🙂👍🇺🇸

[@TrekkingExploration]

Cheers Martin. It's something a little different isn't it and worth a return visit soon. I hope you are keeping well

[@martinmarsola6477]

@@TrekkingExploration Slowly,but sure.

[@TrekkingExploration]

@@martinmarsola6477 good 😊

[@simonballard6413]

Another fascinating video, Ant. I do hope it all happens soon. (lovely piano music at the beginning, by the way!) Many thanks.

[@simonballard6413]

Very interesting indeed. I wish Butterley tunnel could be reopened, too !!

[@quercus21]

I hope they go ahead. There have been talks of re-opening or extending back onto the Kennet and Avon near Melksham in Wiltshire.

[@Jimyjames73]

That's different - didn't expect that!!! 🤔🚂🚂🚂

[@jontaylor1652]

What an interesting topic, this is the first I've heard of this project. Very well done Ant and thanks.

[@TrekkingExploration]

It's exciting stuff isn't it? Very different. I'll definitely be back for future updates

[@ste.h9825]

As usual a very good informative video.Roll on part 2.Thanks Ant.👍

[@TrekkingExploration]

So glad you enjoyed it. Thank you

[@eggy77]

Love to see all the old canals getting restored to their former glory. I wondered regarding the Chesterfield Canal as there's an old railway tunnel that goes under the M1 parallel to where the Norwood tunnel is, I wondered if they could use the railway tunnel instead of rerouting the canal... I was looking at the course if the old Nottingham Canal yesterday, I wonder if there's any plans to restore that, but it's been built on around the Lenton area so that would need a fair old detour.

[@michaelwhite1723]

Another cracking video Ant, very informative as usual, I was here few months ago for the festival with Python. Hope to bump into you again soon for a catch up

[@nottyash2316]

The railway you mention several times was not the Midland Watnall branch. This came through Kimberley and joined the Erewash Valley main line near Awsworth. They also had a branch up to Watnall Colliery and brickworks, but no further. The line crossing the canal and the Erewash just north of Langley Mill was a colliery line owned by Barber Walker and later the NCB. Both trains you show are NCB trains. Barber Walker had a quite extensive system of branch lines feeding from various collieries in the area to the canal and the Erewash Valley line, as well as the Great Northern. Otherwise a very interesting video. Thanks.

[@TrekkingExploration]

I've just checked my usually reliable maps online and the line that joins near Awsworth is the Babbington Branch? I've also followed the route of the line in this video and it heads on over to Watnall and Watnall Junction. The other line from Watnall was the Basford to Ilkeston Midland Railway joining by Bennerley

[@nottyash2316]

@@TrekkingExploration The MR Watnall branch (or New Watnall Colliery Branch) ran north from near Watnall station on the MR Bennerley-Bulwell line to Watnall Colliery only. Here it connected with the Barber Walker colliery lines which ran south to Nuthall and north west towards Beauvale Priory before turning west through Moorgreen Collliery to Langley Mill. Barber Walker also had several branches joining this line to various collieries and landsale sites, plus connections to the GNR and MR at Langley Mill and elsewhere. Old OS maps will show this pretty clearly. I could understand how the map makers of your reference might think the MR line carried on to Langley Mill, but with local knowledge I can assure you it didn't. There is a good reference to the Barber Walker lines and various photos, maps etc in the The Great Northern Railway in the East Midlands: Erewash Valley Lines, Pinxton Branch, Awsworth - Ilkeston, Heanor & Stanton Branches book - see www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31586923109&searchurl=an%3Dhenshaw%2Balfred%26sortby%3D17%26tn%3Dgreat%2Bnorthern%2Brailway%2Beast&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-title3

[@mikenorman2525]

Great video, I don't live far from there and it wasn't that long ago I cycled up from Trent Lock to Langley Mill along the towpath and I had no idea this was even happening! I suppose it's handy that the coal mining lasted just long enough (probably only by a few years) that when the A610 Langley Mill bypass was built in the early 1980s they had to provide that bridge otherwise this project would probably have been a non-starter.

[@TrekkingExploration]

It is lucky that this particular mine and railway lasted until 1985 the route beyond towards nottingham closing years before

[@roblubelski422]

Interested to see the progress with this. Great video as always, some cracking images and drone footage.

[@TrekkingExploration]

Thanks very much Rob. Very kind

[@amberdy12]

Really enjoyed the video = what a feelgood plan. Hope it's successfully completed. Wonder if Brian Blessed helped raise the money needed. I remember when he lived near here he was a member of "The friends of Cromford canal "

[@Tuberuser187]

Its fortunate there is an alternative route, there are some Canal restoration projects that are proving impossible when they simply cant afford to go over/under a road when it will cost as much as the rest of the entire project.

[@fhwolthuis]

Very interesting project 👍🏻

[@TrekkingExploration]

It's definitely something to keep an eye on

[@trevorkent7916]

Absolutely fantastic

[@JosephWood1941-iz6mi]

What about the severed section of the canal at Ambergate? This occurred in the mid 1960s when Ambergate electricity substation was either expanded or possibly built. The canal was severed at this point. I walked the cansl route from Cromford to Ambgate before 2015. The canal at the Cromford terminal connected with the canal-that-never-was that became a railway. The Cromford and High Peak Railway.

[@F4Insight-uq6nt]

This process will have happened before many times and will happen again many times. This video in fact proves everything I have been saying on the subject of Water Ways. I didn't need any confirmation personally , buts it a nice bonus... PS: Cromford Canal = CC = 33. Canal = 'C' Anal. & Cromford Mill = CM = 33 All my own work.... Thanks once again for proving me 100% correct.

[@TrekkingExploration]

So proud of you

[@andrewhotston983]

Seems amazing that people are extending the canal network at the same time as budget cuts mean that the existing operating canal network is threatened!

[@martinbrew]

I think the "yard lamps" may have been for semaphore signals.

[@TrekkingExploration]

I bet they get scrapped too

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

Many early railway companies purchased canal companies filled them in and converted them into railways as lots of the infrastructure was already in place.

[@TrekkingExploration]

That's right so it's quite ironic it's happening the other way around so many years later

[@mickd6942]

Was that bridge you were stood on a baily bridge , it certainly looked like it .

[@jayewaters3921]

Yes they are old lamp posts. also were used on the Uk roads

[@sigbjrnjohansen8872]

Imponert over innsatsen som blir lagt ned 😮😊😊

[@jetsons101]

Silly Question: At 1:26 in the top/right of the image there is a smokestack, what name is on it. All I can read is "VIC HALLAM???????? The green really "pop's" in you drone shots of the farm fields. Again, a very enjoyable and informative watch.....

[@briyeo]

Vic Hallam made wooden buildings, sheds greenhouses at first but they also made whole new schools and Library buildings locally in the 1950's. Portacabins were big business in later years.

[@jetsons101]

@@briyeo Thanks for info. I thought there was more to the last name on the smokestack.....

[@dieselbushcraft1299]

If you’re interested in canal restoration and want to do another video on the subject do a google on Lichfield and Hatherton Canal Trust, they are carrying out a fantastic project.

[@davidedmundson1208]

Great video as always, but I’m afraid this will just become a new housing development, really hope it doesn’t but not holding my breath !!!

[@butchknapman3939]

In my book you are not far wrong former railways how they link to modern railways and canals, both interesting subjects

[@marybradley7791]

Great video, this is going to be a very interesting series, is this the canal they are restoring that is going to join up with the South Yorkshire Navigation?

[@TrekkingExploration]

I think that may have been the Chesterfield Canal? I can't remember. Thanks very much for watching Mary

[@mikenorman2525]

The Cromford canal used to go all the way to Cromford (naturally enough!) which is where it always terminated (at Arkwright's mills, the reason for the canal's construction). A severed part of it a few miles in length still remains between Cromford and Ambergate meaning there is a missing section between Ambergate and Langley Mill. Ant's video covers the restoration for a mile or so in the direction of Ambergate from Langley Mill but it would be a huge undertaking to reconnect all the way to Ambergate (and hence to Cromford), not least because of the problem of reopening (or bypassing) the collapsed Butterley Tunnel .

[@TrekkingExploration]

@@mikenorman2525 the tunnel will always be the problem I fear no matter what else gets restored.. thank you for watching

[@richardharris4452]

Add to that , the canal would have to cross back over the A610 around Ambergate,which I can't see happening,sadly.

[@bobingram6912]

That's quite a project and well explained Ant, but can you tell me what the end purpose is, I get the impression they're just extending it a bit further into the middle of nowhere but will it go on to somewhere? Did I miss something???

[@thomasmann9216]

If the new route of the canal is going to pass under the A610, why not revive the old route and have it...pass under the A610?

[@TrekkingExploration]

There's no bridge for it to pass under on the original route

[@vinylchaser5115]

They will probably electric barges

[@TrekkingExploration]

Plans are for you to take your own boats and also trip boats I believe

[@a11csc]

this is a deffo must ant to document this

[@TrekkingExploration]

It's exciting isn't it? Couldn't miss this opportunity

[@davidh4514]

Old railways shuuld be repurposed fkr transport use, roads tramways, bus lanes raiways even or cycle paths and so on.

[@geoffsharp6163]

Amazon contributing? AMAZON ARE YOU CONTRIBUTING ?!

[@TrekkingExploration]

Are they?

[@angelcoops511]

They’ve rerouted canal’s before, so I’m sure they can do that. Would be great if they did.

[@TrekkingExploration]

It's definitely happening. Good stuff

[@annoyingbstard9407]

They need somewhere to dump all their old shopping trollies.

[@garystanley6097]

Hi there love the video. Very detailed and informative. Could you please add the track list of all the music you use in all future videos. Thank you.