Friday, 26 August 2011

Birmingham New Main Line: a bridge with a tragic story; and forgotten wharves

10th April 2011

We turned right at Dudley Port Junction from the Netherton Tunnel Branch onto the Birmingham New Main Line, passing under another Toll End Works iron towpath bridge. Tied to the parapet were several floral tributes, presumably marking the location of a death.


This young lady stopped to read some of the messages.


All over the BCN are reminders of past industry, as here on the main line.


An inlet to a wharf or warehouse, perhaps, and at a curious angle. I suppose an entrance at right angles would have required a widening of the canal to allow boats to turn in, whereas a shallow angle such as this makes it easy for boats approaching or leaving in one direction. Boats needing to go the other way would have been able to wind at the next junction, in this case only a quarter of a mile away.

1 comment:

Vallypee said...

Poignancy and pleasure. More fascinating corners!