Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.

Old Main Line (BCN)

Description: Part of the original main line. Runs from Smethwick Junction to Tipton Factory Junction, joining back to the present Main line in both places.

History: Engineered by James Brindley and opened in November 1769.
For more details see the History page.

Waterway Group: This waterway is part of the Birmingham Canal Navigations

Navigation Authority: MD's Office: Southern Waterways, General Manager: Central Shires Waterways, Peel's Wharf, Lichfield Street, Fazeley, Tamworth, Staffordshire B78 3QZ : Telephone 01827 252000 : Fax 01827 288071 :

Canal and M6 Motorway

Related Books

• The Canals of the West Midlands (2nd Ed) by Charles Hadfield, 352 pages, Published by Augustus M Kelley, in 1969,

Related photographs

• Old Main Line (BCN): Smethwick Top Lock No 3 Smethwick Locks
• Old Main Line (BCN): Smethwick Top Lock No 3 Engine Arm
• Old Main Line (BCN): Smethwick Top Lock No 3 The Engine Arm Aqueduct
• Old Main Line (BCN): Spon Lane Junction Canal and M6 Motorway
• Old Main Line (BCN): Spon Lane Junction Canal bridge and M6 Motorway
• Old Main Line (BCN): Spon Lane Junction Aqueduct over the new Main Line.

Related Cruising Logs

• 31st May 1997

Other Related Pages

• Cruising Times

Lock Sizes and maximum craft dimensions: Length 70 foot, beam 7 foot. NOTE: For more details of maximum lock and craft sizes and the basis of these figures see Craft and Lock Sizes Page

Old Main Line (BCN): Table of distances			Miles	Locks	Navigable (N)	Grid ref	OS Map No
Smethwick Junction	Junction with BCN Main Line Junction with BCN Main Line		0	0	N	SP028890	139
Smethwick Top Lock No 3	Preceeded by Smethwick Locks 1 and 2, and followed by the junction with the Engine Branch.		0.4	3	N	SP024889	139
Spon Lane Junction	Junction with Spon Lane Locks Branch (BCN) Junction with Spon Lane locks Branch		2	3	N	SP005898	139
Oldbury Junction	Junction with Titford Canal (BCN) Junction with Titford Canal		2.6	3	N	SO994892	139
Junction with Houghton Branch Canal			2.8	3	N	SO992891	139
Brades Hall Junction	Junction with Gower Branch Canal (BCN) Junction with Gower Branch Canal		3.9	3	N	SO978903	139
Aqueduct over Netherton Tunnel Branch			4.4	3	N	SO968909	139
Tipton Junction	Junction with Dudley Canal Line No 1 Junction with the Dudley Canal		5.5	3	N	SO951919	139
Tipton Factory Junction	Junction with BCN Main Line Junction with the BCN Main Line		6.5	3	N	SO950927	139

NOTE: N and U in the Navigable column above indicates that the node is navigable or unnavigable. If a D appears here it means that navigation is difficult or restricted to smaller craft.

 

Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.