Waterway Routes

Maps and DVDs for the Waterways of Britain

Category: Birmingham Cnl Navs (BCN) Photos

Lattice Accommodation Bridge

The lattice structure makes for a lightweight bridge, probably added sometime after the canal was built as the style isn’t typical of other bridges which were added

Bromford Junction

Approaching Bromford Junction, looking towards Wolverhampton.

Steward Aqueduct

The Steward Aqueduct, sometimes called the Stewart Aqueduct, is a twin arched structure which carries the Old Main Line over the New Main Line. The Old Main Line was the original route and it runs three locks higher.

Multiple Arches

The straight route of the New Main Line disappears into the distance through two single arched bridges first.

Multiple Bridges

Where the New Main Line has been dug into the cutting the straight route allows multiple bridges to be seen in the distance.

Spon Lane Bridge

The New Main Line of the Birmingham Canal Navigations is wide and straight and must have seemed like a motorway to the old boatmen. Built with towpaths along both banks, although only one is maintained today, this allowed boats to pass each other without slowing down at all.

Galton Bridge

As boaters leave Galton Tunnel they find Galton Bridge striding high above the canal, with the railway bridge in the background.

Galton Tunnel

Galton Tunnel would not be recognised by the old canal builders as it’s a modern addition. Arched concrete segments were placed over the canal before being covered by earth to form the base for a modern road scheme.

Brasshouse Lane Bridge

Brasshouse Lane Bridge is a substantial modern structure where the metal girder suggests it has been widened since originally built as a brick arched structure. This is a handy crossing point

Smethwick Junction

At Smethwick Junction the Old and New Main Lines diverge. They rejoin into a single route at Factory Junction.

To the right is the original route of the canal, now known as the Old Main Line. It climbs almost immediately through three locks, then runs on that level to Wolverhampton.

Lee Bridge

The large Lee Bridge spans the Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) Main Line at an angle.

Rotton Park Junction

The four-way signpost marks Rotton Park Junction.

Rotton Park Junction

The four-way signpost marks Rotton Park Junction.

The Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) Main Line runs from Birmingham to Wolverhampton. The original route of the canal now forms the Icknield Port Loop and the Soho Loop which diverge at this junction.

Rotton Park Junction

The four-way signpost marks Rotton Park Junction.

Old Turn Junction

Deep Cutting Junction and Old Turn Junction are often considered as one junction where you can go four ways.

This side of the footbridge, with the signpost on the island, is Deep Cutting Junction where the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal to Fazeley Junction leaves behind the camera. The Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) Main Line runs to Gas Street Basin and Worcester Bar to the left.

Old Turn Junction

Deep Cutting Junction and Old Turn Junction are often considered as one junction where you can go four ways.

This side of the footbridge, with the signpost on the island, is Deep Cutting Junction where the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal to Fazeley Junction leaves behind the camera.

Oozells Street Loop

With Old Turn Junction behind the camera we are looking along the Oozells Street Loop. In the distance is Sheepcote Street Bridge.

Beyond the bridge is Sherborne Wharf. All moorings there are part of the marina but it’s possible to cruise straight through the loop to reach Ladywood Junction.

Canal Voyager Hotel Boats

Canal Voyagers Hotel Boats, with motor boat Snipe towing un‑powered butty Taurus as they take their guests around the canal system.

Close to the centre of Wolverhampton

Close to the centre of Wolverhampton the canal passes a mixture of modern build flats and old warehouses which have been converted into flats.

Moorings above Wolverhampton Top Lock

There are several mooring spaces above Wolverhampton Top Lock, frequently used by boaters the night before descending the Wolverhampton 21 Locks, or immediately after ascending them.

Wolverhampton Top Lock 1

Wolverhampton Top Lock 1 is a welcome sight for those who have just ascended the 21 locks of the Wolverhampton flight.

Th railway viaduct appears in many photos

Many boaters have a photo similar to this in their blog or personal photo collection.

This is the main line between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury, which is electrified for a short distance between…

Bromford Junction

The New Main Line of the Birmingham Canal Navigations (bcn) passes Bromford Junction as it provides one of the routes between Birmingham and Wolverhampton.

Icknield Square Junction

At Icknield Square Junction the Icknield Port Loop diverges to the left under the towpath bridge. This loop was the original route of the canal.

Industrial Setting

Between Birmingham and Wolverhampton the canal passes through a great variety of scenery, including modern residential developments and historical industrial settings.

Edgbaston Reservoir

Built for the canal company in 1826 to supply water for the Birmingham Canal Navigations this was called Rotton Park Reservoir.

Centre of Birmingham

Cruising from Worcester Bar and Gas Street Basin through the centre of Birmingham towards Deep Cutting Junction and Old Turn Junction.

Deep Cutting Junction

Our Waterway Routes narrowboat is turning onto the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal which is generally considered to start at Deep Cutting Junction these days.

Historically, the section from Deep Cutting Junction to Farmers Bridge Junction (at the top of Farmers Bridge Locks) was built as the Newhall Branch of the Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN).

Broad Street Tunnel

Having left Worcester Bar and Gas Street Basin, our Waterway Routes narrowboat is now leaving Broad Street Tunnel in Birmingham. Today this is more a large bridge than the tunnel it was in the past.

Worcester Bar at Gas Street Basin

Our Waterway Routes narrowboat is passing through Worcester Bar as it leaves the Worcester & Birmingham Canal and enters the Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line at Gas Street Basin.

When first built the act of Parliament which authorised their construction required them to be separated by a bar and all good had to be transhipped across the bar. Eventually permission was granted for the channel to be constructed through the bar that we use today.

President and Kildare

Moored between Old Turn Junction and Ladywood Junction, with Sheepcote Street Bridge in the background, are President and Kildare.

President is an historic steam powered narrowboat, with Kildare being the unpowered butty it usually pulls.

Spon Lane Bottom Lock 3

Entering Spon Lane Bottom Lock 3. Immediately below the lock is Bromford Junction where the New Main Line is just visible.

Spon Lane Middle Lock 2

Looking down the Spon Lane Branch from Middle Lock 2 to Bottom Lock 3.

Spon Lane Middle Lock 2

The three locks on the Spon Lane Branch all have single top gates and double bottom gates.

Spon Lane Top Lock 1

Spon Lane Top Lock 1 has an unusual bridge which is built in two cantilevered halves to create a gap in the middle to pass the tow rope through.

Above Spon Lane Top Lock

Waiting at Spon Lane Junction for Spon Lane Top Lock to fill.

Sherborne Wharf Trip Boat

Euphrates, the Sherborne Wharf Trip Boat is moored between Broad Street Tunnel and Deep Cutting Junction in between trips .

Ogley Junction

Ogley Junction is, today, considered the end of the Wyrley & Essington Canal which runs from Wolverhampton.

The Anglesey Branch runs from Ogley Junction to Anglesey Basin.

Anglesey Basin

The northernmost point of the Birmingham Canal Navigations is Anglesey Basin at the end of the Anglesey Branch which starts at Ogley Junction.

Windmill End Junction

Windmill End Junction lies near the south end of Netherton Tunnel. Despite the sign only having three fingers it is possible to cruise in four different directions, albeit the missing finger would point to a very short branch.