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

 
 
Worcester Bar
Junction of Worcester and Birmingham Canal with BCN
Worcester Bar Footbridge a few yards 0 locks
Gas Street Basin (Old Wharf) ¼ furlongs 0 locks
Broad Street 'Tunnel' ¾ furlongs 0 locks
Symphony Hall Footbridge 1¼ furlongs 0 locks
Brewmasters Bridge 1¾ furlongs 0 locks
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
Deep Cuttings Bridge 4¼ furlongs 0 locks
Old Turn Junction 4¾ furlongs 0 locks
Cast Iron Roving Bridge 5 furlongs 0 locks
Sheepcote Street Bridge 6¼ furlongs 0 locks
Ladywood Junction
Western end of Oozells Street Loop
7 furlongs 0 locks
St. Vincent Street Bridge 7¼ furlongs 0 locks
Monument Lane Basin 1 mile and 2 furlongs 0 locks
Monument Road Bridge 1 mile and 2½ furlongs 0 locks
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
Rotton Park Junction
Western end of Icknield Port Road Wharf Loop and eastern end of Soho Loop
1 mile and 4¾ furlongs 0 locks
Rotton Park Towpath Bridge 1 mile and 5 furlongs 0 locks
Site of Harborne Branch Railway Bridge 1 mile and 5¾ furlongs 0 locks
Lee Bridge 1 mile and 7 furlongs 0 locks
Winson Green Bridge 2 miles and 1 furlong 0 locks
Winson Green Junction
Western end of Soho Loop
2 miles and 3 furlongs 0 locks
Winson Green Roving Bridge 2 miles and 3½ furlongs 0 locks
Winson Green Gauging Island
None of the original building survive
2 miles and 3½ furlongs 0 locks
Cape Arm Junction (closed) 2 miles and 5½ furlongs 0 locks
Soho Railway Bridge
Line to Smethwick Station
2 miles and 7 furlongs 0 locks
French Walls Basin Bridge 3 miles and 1 furlong 0 locks
Rabone Lane Bridge 3 miles and 1¼ furlongs 0 locks
Smethwick Main Line Turnover Bridge 3 miles and 3 furlongs 0 locks
Smethwick Junction
Junction of BCN Old and New Main Lines
3 miles and 3 furlongs 0 locks
Rolfe Bridge 3 miles and 4¼ furlongs 0 locks
Rolfe Pipe Bridge 3 miles and 4¼ furlongs 0 locks
Smethwick Stop
Only the island remains
3 miles and 5½ furlongs 0 locks
Engine Arm Aqueduct Overhead
Telford Aqueduct
3 miles and 6 furlongs 0 locks
Brass House Bridge 4 miles 0 locks
Pump House 4 miles and ¼ furlongs 0 locks
Galton Tunnel (Southeast end)
Telford Way (A4168) crosses the tunnel
4 miles and 2½ furlongs 0 locks
Galton Tunnel (Northwest end) 4 miles and 3 furlongs 0 locks
Galton Bridge 4 miles and 3¼ furlongs 0 locks
Smethwick Railway Bridge
Smethwick West Station is immediately southwest from here
4 miles and 3½ furlongs 0 locks
Spon Lane Station Bridge 4 miles and 7¾ furlongs 0 locks
Chances Bridge 5 miles and ¾ furlongs 0 locks
Hartley Bridge (Bromford) 5 miles and 1 furlong 0 locks
Steward Aqueduct Overhead
Carries the Old Main line over the New Main line
5 miles and 1¾ furlongs 0 locks
M5 Motorway Overhead 5 miles and 2 furlongs 0 locks
Bromford Junction Roving Bridge 5 miles and 4¼ furlongs 0 locks
Bromford Junction
Junction of Spon Lane Locks Branch with BCN Main Line
5 miles and 4¾ furlongs 0 locks
Bromford Stop Island 5 miles and 5 furlongs 0 locks
Lattice Accommodation Bridge 5 miles and 5¾ furlongs 0 locks
Bromford Bridge 5 miles and 7¼ furlongs 0 locks
Izon Old Turn Eastern End 6 miles and 1 furlong 0 locks
Pudding Green Junction
Junction of Wednesbury Old Canal with BCN Main Line
6 miles and 3 furlongs 0 locks
Albion Bridge 6 miles and 3½ furlongs 0 locks
Albion Railway Bridge
Railway between Sandwell and Dudley and Dudley Port stations
6 miles and 5¼ furlongs 0 locks
Union Furnace Bridge 6 miles and 5½ furlongs 0 locks
Albion Junction
Junction of Gower Branch with BCN Main Line
6 miles and 7 furlongs 0 locks
Dunkirk Stop Island 6 miles and 7½ furlongs 0 locks
Moors Aqueduct
Not really an aqueduct as the stream is piped under the embankment.
7 miles and 1 furlong 0 locks
Site of Rattlechain Brickworks Basin
No access to the basin
7 miles and 2 furlongs 0 locks
Coopers Aqueduct
Crosses a footpath tunnel
7 miles and 4 furlongs 0 locks
Dudley Port Junction Bridge 7 miles and 4½ furlongs 0 locks
Dudley Port Junction
Junction of Netherton Tunnel Branch with BCN Main Line
7 miles and 4¾ furlongs 0 locks
Rattlechain Bridge
Towpath bridge over Dixon's Basin
7 miles and 5¼ furlongs 0 locks
Ryland Aqueduct 7 miles and 6¾ furlongs 0 locks
Dudley Port Station Aqueduct 7 miles and 7½ furlongs 0 locks
Puppy Green Aqueduct 8 miles 0 locks
Puppy Green Pipe Bridge 8 miles and ¼ furlongs 0 locks
Watery Lane Bridge 8 miles and 3¾ furlongs 0 locks
Watery Lane Pipe Bridge 8 miles and 3¾ furlongs 0 locks
Caggy's Yard Bridge 8 miles and 4½ furlongs 0 locks
Watery Lane Junction
Junction with closed Tipton Green and Toll End Communication
8 miles and 4½ furlongs 0 locks
Caggy's Yard 8 miles and 4¾ furlongs 0 locks
Tipton Station Bridge 8 miles and 5½ furlongs 0 locks
Tipton Station Arm (closed) 8 miles and 5¾ furlongs 0 locks
Tipton Station Pipe Bridge 8 miles and 5¾ furlongs 0 locks
Wood Street Footbridge 8 miles and 6¾ furlongs 0 locks
Factory Footbridge 8 miles and 7¼ furlongs 0 locks
Factory Bottom Lock 8 miles and 7½ furlongs 0 locks
Factory Lock No 2 8 miles and 7¾ furlongs 1 lock
Factory Road Bridge 9 miles 2 locks
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
Factory Junction Bridge 9 miles and ½ furlongs 3 locks
Tipton Factory Junction
Junction of BCN Old and New Main Lines. Access to the Barge & Barrel PH
9 miles and ¾ furlongs 3 locks
Factory Bridge 9 miles and ¾ furlongs 3 locks
Factory Bridge Arm (closed) 9 miles and 1 furlong 3 locks
Bloomfield Pipe Bridge 9 miles and 2½ furlongs 3 locks
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
Wallbrook Bridge 9 miles and 5¼ furlongs 3 locks
Footbridge to Old End Lane
Pipe Bridge is next to footbridge
9 miles and 5½ furlongs 3 locks
Coseley Tunnel (South end) 9 miles and 7 furlongs 3 locks
Coseley Tunnel (North end) 10 miles and ½ furlongs 3 locks
Coseley School Footbridge 10 miles and 1 furlong 3 locks
Deepfields Foot Bridge 10 miles and 2¼ furlongs 3 locks
Deepfields Pipe Bridge 10 miles and 2¼ furlongs 3 locks
Hills Bridge 10 miles and 4 furlongs 3 locks
Hills Bridge Winding Hole 10 miles and 4½ furlongs 3 locks
Anchor Bridge (Deepfields) 10 miles and 5¼ furlongs 3 locks
Deepfields Junction
Junction of Wednesbury Oak Loop Line with BCN Main Line
10 miles and 5½ furlongs 3 locks
Black Country Route Bridge 10 miles and 6¼ furlongs 3 locks
Ladymore Basin Narrows 11 miles and ½ furlongs 3 locks
Turton Croft Bridge 11 miles and 1 furlong 3 locks
Ettingshall Arm Junction 11 miles and 3¼ furlongs 3 locks
Parkfield Railway Bridge
Birmingham to Wolverhampton Main Line
11 miles and 3¼ furlongs 3 locks
Millfields Bridge 11 miles and 6 furlongs 3 locks
Gibbet Lane Bridge 11 miles and 7 furlongs 3 locks
Catchems Corner Bridge
Pipe bridges both sides
12 miles and 1¾ furlongs 3 locks
Rough Hills Gauging Station 12 miles and 4¼ furlongs 3 locks
Rough Hills Railway Bridge
Birmingham to Wolverhampton Main Line
12 miles and 4½ furlongs 3 locks
Rough Hills Lane Bridge 12 miles and 6 furlongs 3 locks
Monmore Green Bridge 12 miles and 7½ furlongs 3 locks
Bilston Street Bridge 13 miles and 2 furlongs 3 locks
Chillington Interchange Basin
No access to basin
13 miles and 2¼ furlongs 3 locks
Chillington Electricty Cables Bridge 13 miles and 3 furlongs 3 locks
Walsall Street Winding Hole
Old Grand Junction Wharf entrance
13 miles and 3¾ furlongs 3 locks
Walsall Street Bridge 13 miles and 4½ furlongs 3 locks
Minerva Wharf Arm
Entrance to the old Minerva Wharf
13 miles and 4¾ furlongs 3 locks
Pickford's Wharf 13 miles and 4¾ furlongs 3 locks
Corporation Wharf Arm
Entrance to the old Corporation Wharf
13 miles and 5 furlongs 3 locks
Horseley Fields Bridge 13 miles and 5¼ furlongs 3 locks
Horseley Fields Junction
Junction of the BCN (Main Line) with the Wyrley and Essington Canal
13 miles and 5½ furlongs 3 locks
Albion Wharf 13 miles and 7½ furlongs 3 locks
Mill Street Bridge 14 miles and ¼ furlongs 3 locks
Wolverhampton Tunnel (Southeast end)
Corn Street crosses here
14 miles and ½ furlongs 3 locks
Wolverhampton Tunnel (Northwest end)
Railway Drive crosses here
14 miles and 1 furlong 3 locks
Broad Street Basin
BW yard with facilities
14 miles and 1¾ furlongs 3 locks
Broad Street Bridge 14 miles and 2 furlongs 3 locks
Wolverhampton
Moorings for town
14 miles and 2¼ furlongs 3 locks
Wolverhampton Top Lock No 1 14 miles and 3½ furlongs 3 locks
Little's Lane Bridge 14 miles and 5¼ furlongs 4 locks
Wolverhampton Lock No 2 14 miles and 5½ furlongs 4 locks
Wolverhampton Lock No 3 14 miles and 6¼ furlongs 5 locks
Wolverhampton Railway Bridge
Wolverhampton High Level Station to the North and West
14 miles and 6½ furlongs 6 locks
Wolverhampton Lock No 4 14 miles and 6½ furlongs 6 locks
Wolverhampton Lock No 5 14 miles and 7 furlongs 7 locks
Cannock Road Bridge 14 miles and 7¼ furlongs 8 locks
Wolverhampton Lock No 6 14 miles and 7½ furlongs 8 locks
Wolverhampton Lock No 7 15 miles 9 locks
Wolverhampton Lock No 8 15 miles and ½ furlongs 10 locks
Jordan Bridge 15 miles and ½ furlongs 11 locks
Wolverhampton Lock No 9 15 miles and 1 furlong 11 locks
Wolverhampton Lock No 10 15 miles and 1¼ furlongs 12 locks
Foxs Lane Bridge 15 miles and 1½ furlongs 13 locks
Wolverhampton Lock No 11 15 miles and 1¾ furlongs 13 locks
Railway Bridge - Bilbrook to the North
With a disused railway bridge alongside
15 miles and 2 furlongs 14 locks
Stour Valley Viaduct
Railway Line Wolverhampton to the North
15 miles and 2 furlongs 14 locks
Wolverhampton Lock No 12 15 miles and 2¼ furlongs 14 locks
Gorsebrook Pipe Bridge 15 miles and 2½ furlongs 15 locks
Wolverhampton Lock No 13 15 miles and 2¾ furlongs 15 locks
Wolverhampton Lock No 14 15 miles and 3¼ furlongs 16 locks
Wolverhampton Lock No 15 15 miles and 3¾ furlongs 17 locks
Gorsebrook Bridge
Also called Stafford Bridge
15 miles and 3¾ furlongs 18 locks
Wolverhampton Lock No 16 15 miles and 4¼ furlongs 18 locks
Spring Bridge
Carries the Wolverhampton Railway to the West
15 miles and 4¾ furlongs 19 locks
Wolverhampton Lock No 17 15 miles and 5½ furlongs 19 locks
Wolverhampton Lock No 18 15 miles and 6½ furlongs 20 locks
Wolverhampton Lock No 19 15 miles and 7½ furlongs 21 locks
Dunstall Park Bridge 15 miles and 7½ furlongs 22 locks
Wolverhampton Lock No 20 16 miles 22 locks
Wolverhampton Bottom Lock No 21 16 miles and ½ furlongs 23 locks
Aldersley Junction Bridge 16 miles and ½ furlongs 24 locks
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