Category: New Main Line Photos

The signpost at Smethwick Junction marks the three way junction.

To the left is the main line to Birmingham. Straight on is the New Main Line to Wolverhampton and diverging is the Old Main Line of the Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN).

Looking along the New Main Line of the Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) towards Birmingham. The almost invisible Smethwick Junction is just before the nearest bridge where the Old Main Line merges from the left.

Toll islands are a feature of the Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN). As the boats passed through the narrows the toll collector would use a marked stick to check the depth of the boat in the water to see

The Engine Arm Aqueduct carries the Engine Arm over the New Main LIne of the Birmingham Canal Navigations.

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

A bright April day shows Brasshouse Lane Pumping station in a great light. The Old Main Line runs to the right of the building after climbing through three locks from Smethwick Junction so it is 6.10m (20 feet) higher.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

Approaching Bromford Junction, looking towards Wolverhampton.

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

At Bromford Junction, looking along the New Main Line towards Birmingham.

It’s rather unusual to see the toll island, and the left hand bank, clear of vegetation. They are frequently covered with overgrown vegetation. Bromford Junction is just

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

Most of the New Main Line’s route between Smethwick Junction and Factory Junction is wide and straight. Between Bromford Junction and Pudding Green Junction it adopts the

Approaching Pudding Green Junction where the New Main Line of the Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) continues straight ahead towards Factory Junction and Wolverhampton. Turning right under the

Looking along the New Main Line of the Birmingham Canal Navigations towards Birmingham. Emerging from under the bridge on the left is the Wednesbury Old Canal at

To the west of Pudding Green Junction the New Main Line has several flat topped bridges, such as Albion Bridge. The next bridge, just visible in the

The New Main Line of the Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) is wide and straight. At this point it is generally at the natural ground level. Further ahead

The railway line between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton follows stays close to the canal for most of its route as they both aim to find a

There are several ideas about why Union Furnace Bridge has the phrase “Tojo the Dwarf” painted on it but none stand out as the likely explanation. Suggestions

Looking towards Wolverhampton along the New Main Line of the Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) at Albion Junction. Turning left under the towpath bridge on the left at

The New Main Line of the Birmingham Canal Navigations passes Albion Junction between Birmingham and Wolverhampton.

Looking along the New Mail Line from Albion Junction towards Wolverhampton. Toll islands appear near junctions at several locations around the Birmingham Canal Navigations enabling the draught

The railway builders chose the same straight and level route for the line between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton. The New Main Line of the Birmingham Canal

The bridge allowed horses to cross from the right hand towpath at Dudley Port Junction. Next to the bridge the Netherton Tunnel Branch turns to the left

We are looking down the Netherton Tunnel Branch on its way to Netherton Tunnel.

On the Wolverhampton side of Dudley Port Junction the New Main Line is raised on an embankment. There are several narrows in the channel which each mark

The last of the long straight sections on the New Main Line when heading towards Wolverhampton (or the first when heading towards Birmingham). Just out of sight

Factory Bottom Lock 3 has a wide footbridge across the tail of the lock to carry a public right of way. This is the lowest of the three

Out Waterway Routes narrowboat is entering Factory Lock 2, the middle of the three Factory Locks. As with many of the locks on the Birmingham Canal Navigations it

Three Factory Locks are in easy walking distance for the crew to walk between them. They raise the New Main Line up to meet the Old Main

Looking back from our boat as it is entering Factory Top Lock we see Factory Junction between the two bridges. Joining from the left between the bridges

The photo is taken on the Main Line of the Birmingham Canal Navigations with Wolverhampton behind the camera.