Birmingham Canal Navigations (Main Line)
The Birmingham Canal Navigations (Main Line) is a narrow canal and is part of the Birmingham Canal Navigations. It runs for 16 miles and ¾ furlongs through 24 locks from Worcester Bar (where it joins the Worcester and Birmingham Canal (Birmingham to King's Norton)) to Aldersley Junction (where it joins the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal (Main Line: Stourton to Aldersley) and the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal (Main Line: Aldersley to Autherley)).
The maximum dimensions for a boat to be able to travel on the waterway are 72 feet long and 7 feet wide. The maximum headroom is not known. The maximum draught is not known.
It has junctions with the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Soho Loop) at Winson Green Junction; with the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Icknield Port Road Wharf Loop) and the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Soho Loop) at Rotton Park Junction; with the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Old Main Line) at Tipton Factory Junction; with the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Newhall Branch) at Deep Cuttings Junction; with the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Wyrley and Essington Canal) at Horseley Fields Junction; with the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Wednesbury Old Canal) at Pudding Green Junction; with the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Wednesbury Oak Loop) at Deepfields Junction; with the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Oozells Street Loop) at Old Turn Junction; with the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Spon Lane Locks Branch) at Bromford Junction; with the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Old Main Line) at Smethwick Junction; with the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Gower Branch) at Albion Junction; with the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Netherton Tunnel Branch) at Dudley Port Junction; with the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Oozells Street Loop) at Ladywood Junction and with the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Icknield Port Road Wharf Loop) at Sandy Turn.
Notable features of the waterway include: Galton Tunnel, Factory Locks, Coseley Tunnel, Wolverhampton Tunnel and Wolverhampton Locks
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Worcester Bar Junction of Worcester and Birmingham Canal with BCN |
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Worcester Bar Footbridge | a few yards | 0 locks |
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Gas Street Basin (Old Wharf) | ¼ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Broad Street 'Tunnel' | ¾ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Symphony Hall Footbridge | 1¼ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Brewmasters Bridge | 1¾ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Deep Cuttings Junction Often erroneously called Farmer's Bridge Junction. Junction of BCN Main Line and Newhall Branch. The Island is a vent for the Birmingham - Wolverhanpton Railway line |
2½ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Deep Cuttings Bridge | 4¼ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Old Turn Junction | 4¾ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Cast Iron Roving Bridge | 5 furlongs | 0 locks |
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Sheepcote Street Bridge | 6¼ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Ladywood Junction Western end of Oozells Street Loop |
7 furlongs | 0 locks |
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St. Vincent Street Bridge | 7¼ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Monument Lane Basin | 1 mile and 2 furlongs | 0 locks |
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Monument Road Bridge | 1 mile and 2½ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Sandy Turn Eastern end of Icknield Port Road Wharf Loop (Don't think there's a tow-path around the loop) |
1 mile and 3¾ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Rotton Park Junction Western end of Icknield Port Road Wharf Loop and eastern end of Soho Loop |
1 mile and 4¾ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Rotton Park Towpath Bridge | 1 mile and 5 furlongs | 0 locks |
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Site of Harborne Branch Railway Bridge | 1 mile and 5¾ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Lee Bridge | 1 mile and 7 furlongs | 0 locks |
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Winson Green Bridge | 2 miles and 1 furlong | 0 locks |
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Winson Green Junction Western end of Soho Loop |
2 miles and 3 furlongs | 0 locks |
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Winson Green Roving Bridge | 2 miles and 3½ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Winson Green Gauging Island None of the original building survive |
2 miles and 3½ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Cape Arm Junction (closed) | 2 miles and 5½ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Soho Railway Bridge Line to Smethwick Station |
2 miles and 7 furlongs | 0 locks |
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French Walls Basin Bridge | 3 miles and 1 furlong | 0 locks |
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Rabone Lane Bridge | 3 miles and 1¼ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Smethwick Main Line Turnover Bridge | 3 miles and 3 furlongs | 0 locks |
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Smethwick Junction Junction of BCN Old and New Main Lines |
3 miles and 3 furlongs | 0 locks |
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Rolfe Bridge | 3 miles and 4¼ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Rolfe Pipe Bridge | 3 miles and 4¼ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Smethwick Stop Only the island remains |
3 miles and 5½ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Engine Arm Aqueduct Overhead Telford Aqueduct |
3 miles and 6 furlongs | 0 locks |
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Brass House Bridge | 4 miles | 0 locks |
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Pump House | 4 miles and ¼ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Galton Tunnel (Southeast end) Telford Way (A4168) crosses the tunnel |
4 miles and 2½ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Galton Tunnel (Northwest end) | 4 miles and 3 furlongs | 0 locks |
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Galton Bridge | 4 miles and 3¼ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Smethwick Railway Bridge Smethwick West Station is immediately southwest from here |
4 miles and 3½ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Spon Lane Station Bridge | 4 miles and 7¾ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Chances Bridge | 5 miles and ¾ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Hartley Bridge (Bromford) | 5 miles and 1 furlong | 0 locks |
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Steward Aqueduct Overhead Carries the Old Main line over the New Main line |
5 miles and 1¾ furlongs | 0 locks |
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M5 Motorway Overhead | 5 miles and 2 furlongs | 0 locks |
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Bromford Junction Roving Bridge | 5 miles and 4¼ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Bromford Junction Junction of Spon Lane Locks Branch with BCN Main Line |
5 miles and 4¾ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Bromford Stop Island | 5 miles and 5 furlongs | 0 locks |
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Lattice Accommodation Bridge | 5 miles and 5¾ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Bromford Bridge | 5 miles and 7¼ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Izon Old Turn Eastern End | 6 miles and 1 furlong | 0 locks |
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Pudding Green Junction Junction of Wednesbury Old Canal with BCN Main Line |
6 miles and 3 furlongs | 0 locks |
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Albion Bridge | 6 miles and 3½ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Albion Railway Bridge Railway between Sandwell and Dudley and Dudley Port stations |
6 miles and 5¼ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Union Furnace Bridge | 6 miles and 5½ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Albion Junction Junction of Gower Branch with BCN Main Line |
6 miles and 7 furlongs | 0 locks |
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Dunkirk Stop Island | 6 miles and 7½ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Moors Aqueduct Not really an aqueduct as the stream is piped under the embankment. |
7 miles and 1 furlong | 0 locks |
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Site of Rattlechain Brickworks Basin No access to the basin |
7 miles and 2 furlongs | 0 locks |
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Coopers Aqueduct Crosses a footpath tunnel |
7 miles and 4 furlongs | 0 locks |
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Dudley Port Junction Bridge | 7 miles and 4½ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Dudley Port Junction Junction of Netherton Tunnel Branch with BCN Main Line |
7 miles and 4¾ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Rattlechain Bridge Towpath bridge over Dixon's Basin |
7 miles and 5¼ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Ryland Aqueduct | 7 miles and 6¾ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Dudley Port Station Aqueduct | 7 miles and 7½ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Puppy Green Aqueduct | 8 miles | 0 locks |
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Puppy Green Pipe Bridge | 8 miles and ¼ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Watery Lane Bridge | 8 miles and 3¾ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Watery Lane Pipe Bridge | 8 miles and 3¾ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Caggy's Yard Bridge | 8 miles and 4½ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Watery Lane Junction Junction with closed Tipton Green and Toll End Communication |
8 miles and 4½ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Caggy's Yard | 8 miles and 4¾ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Tipton Station Bridge | 8 miles and 5½ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Tipton Station Arm (closed) | 8 miles and 5¾ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Tipton Station Pipe Bridge | 8 miles and 5¾ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Wood Street Footbridge | 8 miles and 6¾ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Factory Footbridge | 8 miles and 7¼ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Factory Bottom Lock | 8 miles and 7½ furlongs | 0 locks |
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Factory Lock No 2 | 8 miles and 7¾ furlongs | 1 lock |
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Factory Road Bridge | 9 miles | 2 locks |
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Factory Top Lock No 1 A "Water Conservation Key" is needed for these locks. These are available from BW offices and from boatyards |
9 miles and ¼ furlongs | 2 locks |
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Factory Junction Bridge | 9 miles and ½ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Tipton Factory Junction Junction of BCN Old and New Main Lines. Access to the Barge & Barrel PH |
9 miles and ¾ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Factory Bridge | 9 miles and ¾ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Factory Bridge Arm (closed) | 9 miles and 1 furlong | 3 locks |
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Bloomfield Pipe Bridge | 9 miles and 2½ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Bloomfield Junction Former junction with southern end of Wednesbury Oak Loop; Ox Leasowes Foot Bridge to Bean Road Industrial Estate |
9 miles and 3¼ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Wallbrook Bridge | 9 miles and 5¼ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Footbridge to Old End Lane Pipe Bridge is next to footbridge |
9 miles and 5½ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Coseley Tunnel (South end) | 9 miles and 7 furlongs | 3 locks |
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Coseley Tunnel (North end) | 10 miles and ½ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Coseley School Footbridge | 10 miles and 1 furlong | 3 locks |
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Deepfields Foot Bridge | 10 miles and 2¼ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Deepfields Pipe Bridge | 10 miles and 2¼ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Hills Bridge | 10 miles and 4 furlongs | 3 locks |
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Hills Bridge Winding Hole | 10 miles and 4½ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Anchor Bridge (Deepfields) | 10 miles and 5¼ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Deepfields Junction Junction of Wednesbury Oak Loop Line with BCN Main Line |
10 miles and 5½ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Black Country Route Bridge | 10 miles and 6¼ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Ladymore Basin Narrows | 11 miles and ½ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Turton Croft Bridge | 11 miles and 1 furlong | 3 locks |
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Ettingshall Arm Junction | 11 miles and 3¼ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Parkfield Railway Bridge Birmingham to Wolverhampton Main Line |
11 miles and 3¼ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Millfields Bridge | 11 miles and 6 furlongs | 3 locks |
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Gibbet Lane Bridge | 11 miles and 7 furlongs | 3 locks |
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Catchems Corner Bridge Pipe bridges both sides |
12 miles and 1¾ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Rough Hills Gauging Station | 12 miles and 4¼ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Rough Hills Railway Bridge Birmingham to Wolverhampton Main Line |
12 miles and 4½ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Rough Hills Lane Bridge | 12 miles and 6 furlongs | 3 locks |
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Monmore Green Bridge | 12 miles and 7½ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Bilston Street Bridge | 13 miles and 2 furlongs | 3 locks |
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Chillington Interchange Basin No access to basin |
13 miles and 2¼ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Chillington Electricty Cables Bridge | 13 miles and 3 furlongs | 3 locks |
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Walsall Street Winding Hole Old Grand Junction Wharf entrance |
13 miles and 3¾ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Walsall Street Bridge | 13 miles and 4½ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Minerva Wharf Arm Entrance to the old Minerva Wharf |
13 miles and 4¾ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Pickford's Wharf | 13 miles and 4¾ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Corporation Wharf Arm Entrance to the old Corporation Wharf |
13 miles and 5 furlongs | 3 locks |
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Horseley Fields Bridge | 13 miles and 5¼ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Horseley Fields Junction Junction of the BCN (Main Line) with the Wyrley and Essington Canal |
13 miles and 5½ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Albion Wharf | 13 miles and 7½ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Mill Street Bridge | 14 miles and ¼ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Wolverhampton Tunnel (Southeast end) Corn Street crosses here |
14 miles and ½ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Wolverhampton Tunnel (Northwest end) Railway Drive crosses here |
14 miles and 1 furlong | 3 locks |
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Broad Street Basin BW yard with facilities |
14 miles and 1¾ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Broad Street Bridge | 14 miles and 2 furlongs | 3 locks |
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Wolverhampton Moorings for town |
14 miles and 2¼ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Wolverhampton Top Lock No 1 | 14 miles and 3½ furlongs | 3 locks |
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Little's Lane Bridge | 14 miles and 5¼ furlongs | 4 locks |
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Wolverhampton Lock No 2 | 14 miles and 5½ furlongs | 4 locks |
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Wolverhampton Lock No 3 | 14 miles and 6¼ furlongs | 5 locks |
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Wolverhampton Railway Bridge Wolverhampton High Level Station to the North and West |
14 miles and 6½ furlongs | 6 locks |
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Wolverhampton Lock No 4 | 14 miles and 6½ furlongs | 6 locks |
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Wolverhampton Lock No 5 | 14 miles and 7 furlongs | 7 locks |
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Cannock Road Bridge | 14 miles and 7¼ furlongs | 8 locks |
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Wolverhampton Lock No 6 | 14 miles and 7½ furlongs | 8 locks |
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Wolverhampton Lock No 7 | 15 miles | 9 locks |
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Wolverhampton Lock No 8 | 15 miles and ½ furlongs | 10 locks |
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Jordan Bridge | 15 miles and ½ furlongs | 11 locks |
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Wolverhampton Lock No 9 | 15 miles and 1 furlong | 11 locks |
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Wolverhampton Lock No 10 | 15 miles and 1¼ furlongs | 12 locks |
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Foxs Lane Bridge | 15 miles and 1½ furlongs | 13 locks |
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Wolverhampton Lock No 11 | 15 miles and 1¾ furlongs | 13 locks |
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Railway Bridge - Bilbrook to the North With a disused railway bridge alongside |
15 miles and 2 furlongs | 14 locks |
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Stour Valley Viaduct Railway Line Wolverhampton to the North |
15 miles and 2 furlongs | 14 locks |
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Wolverhampton Lock No 12 | 15 miles and 2¼ furlongs | 14 locks |
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Gorsebrook Pipe Bridge | 15 miles and 2½ furlongs | 15 locks |
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Wolverhampton Lock No 13 | 15 miles and 2¾ furlongs | 15 locks |
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Wolverhampton Lock No 14 | 15 miles and 3¼ furlongs | 16 locks |
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Wolverhampton Lock No 15 | 15 miles and 3¾ furlongs | 17 locks |
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Gorsebrook Bridge Also called Stafford Bridge |
15 miles and 3¾ furlongs | 18 locks |
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Wolverhampton Lock No 16 | 15 miles and 4¼ furlongs | 18 locks |
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Spring Bridge Carries the Wolverhampton Railway to the West |
15 miles and 4¾ furlongs | 19 locks |
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Wolverhampton Lock No 17 | 15 miles and 5½ furlongs | 19 locks |
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Wolverhampton Lock No 18 | 15 miles and 6½ furlongs | 20 locks |
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Wolverhampton Lock No 19 | 15 miles and 7½ furlongs | 21 locks |
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Dunstall Park Bridge | 15 miles and 7½ furlongs | 22 locks |
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Wolverhampton Lock No 20 | 16 miles | 22 locks |
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Wolverhampton Bottom Lock No 21 | 16 miles and ½ furlongs | 23 locks |
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Aldersley Junction Bridge | 16 miles and ½ furlongs | 24 locks |
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Aldersley Junction Junction of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Main Line with the Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line |
16 miles and ¾ furlongs | 24 locks |

