1946 tractor to the rescue of stemmed-up 1951 tug

As things were winding down at the Black Country Boating Festival I was taking a last look at some stands. By the Boshboil Branch I saw that the old Fordson tractor, which I'd been admiring earlier, was on the move.

It wasn't going far. At the end of the arm was Nansen II, a 1951 tug built by Yarwoods of Northwich. I don't know how long this boat had been here, but now it was held fast by the mud. Another boat had tried snatching it free, but without success.

Now it was the turn of the tractor (click on link for an account of its restoration).

I think the tractor would have been up to the task, but, sadly, the stern line was not.

It broke three times; Nick Wolfe was on hand to retie the ever shortening rope.

Despite our efforts (I helped to rock the boat when not taking photos) Nansen II behaved like a true stuck-in-the-mud and would not budge.

Time for the big boys!

It just so happened that a JCB was on site. A strap was attached between a dolly on the boat and the JCB ...

... and in seconds the arm was extended, the mud released its grip, and the boat was free.

And that was that!

Timelapse: Windmill End to West Smethwick

Another great day's boating here. This timelapse film is from day nine of our April 2011 cruise centred on the BCN, and covers the Boshboil Branch, the Bumblehole Branch, Dudley No. 2 Canal to Hawne Basin and back, the Netherton Tunnel Branch through Netherton Tunnel, the Gower Branch up the Brades Lock, a very tight turn from the Wolverhampton Level into the Spon Lane Locks (I've always wanted to do that!), and another nearly 180º turn back onto the Birmingham Level. Almost all of this day was new stuff.

Boshboil Branch

10th April 2011


On the Nicholson's Guide the wonderfully named Boshboil Branch and the Bumblehole Branch look as though, at one time, they might have joined up to form a loop just south of Netherton Tunnel. Now the Bumble Hole Pool (former mine workings?) gets in the way. As I've mentioned before, small branches are there to be explored, so, before anyone else was up, I gently cruised to the end of the Boshboil Branch, just a few yards from where we were tied up the previous night. And to prove it, here are a couple of photos from the end.


The above photo was taken from the same place as the top photo, looking back towards Windmill End Junction. Tomorrow I'll post about the Bumblehole Branch.

Little travelled branches, and Gas Street Basin is reached

As I woke up early this morning I cycled back to see and photograph something I'd seen the previous evening while searching for a newspaper. I'd come across what I assume is the centre of - or gateway to - Netherton. That's Netherton as in the tunnel.


There are references in the sign to things in Netherton's history: an anchor and chain; and a narrowboat are two for starters. The letters themselves appear to be made of brick - brickmaking was a local industry.

But I've jumped ahead. Last night we tied up at Windmill End, at the junction of the Dudley No. 1 and No. 2 Canals and the Boshboil Branch.


The chimney is that of Cobb's Engine House.

Before anyone else on Shadow was up, I'd cruised to the end of the Boshboil Branch and reversed back to the junction. On the way to the Bumblehole Branch I realised that the engine temperature was high again, so I stopped to let things cool. I had noticed that the coolant level was a little low when I did the engine checks before setting off, but I'd assumed that it had just found its own correct level. Wrong! It really was low. I managed to remove the cap this time with no dramatics, topped up with hot water, and all was well again.

The entrance to the Bumblehole Branch passes under the lowest bridge I think I've encountered anywhere on the system. I even had to whip out the tiller pin before it could become modified by Dunn's Bridge. Thanks to Jim's comment the other day about the boom at Walsall Basin, I wasn't too worried by the presence of a yellow boom across the canal just before the fork at the end. Winding here was interesting: the prop seems much better able at pushing water than mud, and the latter was the order of the day here. Well, it was my choice!


There is much more to write about, especially in relation to the trip to Hawne Basin down the Dudley No. 2 Canal, but, again, I've run out of waking hours. How do other people find the time to write extensive cruising blogs? To end with, here's a shot from the bow of our boat this evening. We're by Gas Street Basin with nothing between us and The Mailbox.



Oh - we didn't make it up the Titford Canal - ran out of time.