Category: Old Main Line Photos (BCN)

Looking uphill at Smethwick Locks from the Middle Lock towards the Top Lock.

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

Straight ahead is the New Main Line towards Birmingham and diverging to the right is the Old Main Line to Birmingham.

The signpost at Smethwick Junction marks the three way junction.

Looking along the Old Main Line towards Smethwick Junction where it merges with the New Main Line to form the Main Line towards Birmingham.

Cruising between Smethwick Bottom Lock and Smethwick Middle Lock.

Adjacent to Smethwick Top Lock is a reconstruction of the Lock Keeper’s Office in the traditional octagonal style of the Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN).

A photo taken in the top lock at Smethwick looking along the Old Main Line of the Birmingham Canal Navigations towards Wolverhampton, with Birmingham behind the camera.

The chimney marks the location of Brasshouse Lane Pumping station which sits between the Old Main Line and the New Main Line which is in a cutting to the right of the photo.

Summit Tunnel wouldn’t be recognised by the old canal builders as it’s a modern addition, built to carry a new road across the canal.

Summit Tunnel is a modern construction made from cast concrete segments which provide an unusual shape.

Summit Rail Bridge, in the foreground, then Summit Bridge, in the middle, both stride across the full width of the canal without interrupting boat movements.

The summit level of the Old Main Line of the Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) passes through a cutting.

The M5 motorway strides over the Old Main Line in several locations as it threads its way through Birmingham.

There are several stretches of the Old Main Line when the M5 Motorway provides a roof over the canal. Handy to keep the rain off, or provide shade on hot summer days.

Almost hidden under the M5 Motorway is Spon Lane Junction where the widened channel allows full length boats to turn.

Looking towards Spon Lane Junction from the Wolverhampton side, the M5 Motorway bridges provide a roof over the canal.

The slightly narrowed channel with the railing each side marks the Steward (or Stewart) Aqueduct which carries the Old Main Line over the New Main Line just before the railway bridge.

Looking towards Birmingham from the aqueduct which carries the Old Main Line over the New Main Line. The straight channel of the New Main Line forms a contrast to the twisting route of the Old Main Line we are on.

Looking from Old Main Line on the Steward (or Stewart) Aqueduct towards Wolverhampton.

I wonder how many people driving along the M5 Motorway overhead realise the Old Main Line of the Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) is underneath.

Providing a contrast in building styles and techniques.

The traditional Blakeley Hall Bridge would have stretched the canal builders skills to construct a bridge which straddles

The motorway strides straight into the distance where the Old Main Line continues to wander around the landscape, challenging the motorway builders to position their piers carefully around the canal.

Look carefully just before the footbridge and you can just see the break in the left hand edge of the canal where the Titford Canal diverges to the left at Oldbury Locks Junction.

The Old Main Line of the Birmingham Canal Navigations passes Oldbury Junction on its route from Birmingham to Wolverhampton.

Looking from the Wolverhampton Side, Oldbury Locks Junction hides under the motorway bridges and is marked by the gap in the right hand towpath where the Titford Canal heads towards Oldbury Locks.

Now mostly filled in the Former Chemical Arm is one of many around the BCN that allowed access directly to factories and works for the loading and unloading of boats.

The views from the canal will have changed many times during their lifetime. Originally serving factories and works making noises and belching smoke next to the canal along both sides.

At Brades Hall Junction the Old Main Line of the Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) runs from Birmingham (behind the camera) to Wolverhampton (straight ahead).

Looking from the Wolverhampton side, the location of Brades Hall Junction only becomes obvious at the last moment when the entrance to the Gower Branch appears under the towpath bridge.

Fisher’s Bridge is one of several along the Old Main Line which now has a flat span where the original bridge, probably a traditional arched style, has been replaced to meet the requirements of modern road traffic.

Another example of a flat topped bridge along the Old Main Line.

Passing through the Black Country there are sections of the Old Main Line which form a surprisingly green corridor, well separated from industrial and residential buildings.

Tividale Aqueduct, where the canal narrows a little, is where the Old Main Line crosses over the Netherton Tunnel Branch of the Birmingham Canal Navigations.

The Netherton Tunnel Branch, viewed from the Tividale Aqueduct which carries the old Main Line over the branch.

Some modern housing developments have incorporated former arms and wharves to make them look attractive, although I’ve never seen a boat enter this arm.

The Old Main Line towards Factory Junction curves to the right where a sharp turn to the left puts boaters onto the Dudley No 1 Canal.

With Factory Junction behind the camera we are looking towards Tipton Junction.

The original building has the white front door and had one window each side. It;s been carefully extended to several times its original size in carefully matching brickwork and style.

The steps up to the brick wall at the side of the canal mark the location of the former Tipton Green Junction with the now abandoned Tipton Green Branch.

Owen Street Bridge may look like it’s been there for some time but the plaque on the metal arch says

On the left, with the red doors, are the former canal buildings with the ground floor used as stables for the horses and the upper floor used for

Looking along the Old Main Line towards Factory Junction, with Tipton Junction behind the camera.