On the part two section, JoJo asked if I had any pictures of the inside of the tunnels and as I did not, I set off yesterday to try and remedy the situation.
Obviously to take a picture looking up a tunnel you must either be inside it, or be able to stand in the canal itself and look into the tunnel. I dismissed the second option and decided to have a word with my friendly keeper.
“Good morning” I said stepping into the keepers office, “All right mate” he replied “wot can I elp you wiv?”
“I was speaking to your colleague the other day” I explained . “That would be Charlie mate! eez not er t'day”
I looked at his little weasel face, then at his regulation jacket which was topped off with an obligatory fluorescent life jacket. I also wondered if the food crumbs down the jacket front were another of his accessories, similar to the single jewel encrusted earring that flashed in the sunlight. The last time I saw one that glitzy, it was being worn by my late aunty Agnes.
Or maybe I had just surprised him as he chomped on his pie
We had already established that I was his ‘mate’ as he used the phrase at every opportunity, so I decided to push my luck.
“Is it still possible to take a photograph from inside the tunnel?”
“No mate! Wiv the doors shut, you cannot get a picture”
“Can I go through that little wooden door at the side, after you shut the big doors and take a picture?” I enquired.
“No mate, I can go through the door, but you can’t”
“In that case can I go wiv ….. er with you?”
“Sorry mate! no can do”
“Well if I give you my camera, can you take a picture for me?”
I watched his face as he mentally wrestled with the complexities of pressing a button on my camera, I thought that it was the least he could do for me as after all I had learned a whole new language in order to converse with him. He was obviously bursting with enthusiasm, so I told him never mind and I would try some other method. Unfortunately the tunnel closes this weekend until next years boating season starts again and is only opened by giving 48 hours notice.
Just then a barge arrived at the tunnel and I did my best to get a picture by sticking my camera inside, just before my ‘mate’ closed the ventilation doors, so regrettably it is not a very clear picture, but will give you some idea of how claustrophobic it is.
The outer ventilation doors when closed.
Just visible is the bricked arch of the tunnel roof, it is this size and shape throughout its length. The mist is from the diesel fumes already starting to build up. Note the remnant of the old towpath on the right where old misery could have let me stand to get a better picture.
This is looking up the remaining stretch of the original James Brindley ‘legging’ tunnel which is situated on the left of the later one built by Thomas Telford. It is now gated off for safety and has only seepage water flowing out which is heavily contaminated by iron oxide.
A close up of the gated entrance, just visible is the brick lining of the tunnel. It was upon this roof that the ‘Bargees’ would push with their legs to propel the barges through, hence ‘Legging Tunnel’
Imagine what a tight fit it would be with a 90 foot long barge floating on the water!
We went to the local waterworks open day whan we were in the UK, that was fairly clean 
