Harecastle Tunnel

It was a cold misty wakeup at 6am

I had decided to leave for the tunnel just before 8 as it wasn’t far to go and just the one lock so I had a leisurely breakfast and sorted out some things ready, life jacket (I don’t wear it often but a long tunnel with no towpath it seemed prudent), torch, open all the curtains, camera and phone in a plastic box (tunnels can be quite wet).

At about 7:45 the boat behind me headed off towards the lock, so I readied myself and cast off just before 8, when I arrived at the lock they were about half full so rather than use the duplicate lock I waited, a lady then appeared from nowhere and began to set the other lock, I had passed their boat moored up and she had walked ahead to prepare, we were both ready to leave the locks at the same time when her husband told me to go first and she would close both gates, that was very kind of them, I had met them before at Llangollen and they were helpful there as well.

Arriving at the tunnel there were already three boats waiting on the landing and so the tunnel keeper told me to wait on the offside until they had all set off before going to the entrance, one boat was reluctant to get going so I eventually moved across to the landing area and waited behind him.

Landing area, North portal ahead.

As soon as he finally went I moved into the entrance, listened to the safety chat then I turned on all the interior lights and tunnel light and off I went.

Still cannot get my camera to flash in tunnels, it’s so annoying, I tested it again last night in the boat with the lights off and it was fine, anyway here’s a poor attempt in the tunnel and one just before exiting.

Pathetic 

Doors just opened at the exit

And one looking back at the South Portal

A pleasant enough tunnel as they go, the removal of the towpath makes it quite wide, but very smokey, I think it was the first boat through with a smoking engine, the nicest thing about tunnels is coming out safely at the end into daylight again J

A few facts: The original tunnel was designed by James Brindley and opened in 1777 five years after Brindley had died, there was no towpath so ‘leggers’ were used and it took between two and three hours to get through. This caused a major bottleneck so, reluctantly, the canal company employed Thomas Telford to build a second tunnel with a towpath and this opened in 1827. The first tunnel had taken 11 years to build but the second one with improved techniques took only 3 years. Both tunnels were then used until early in the 20^th century, in 1914 Brindleys tunnel was abandoned, traffic had diminished and subsidence problems rendered it unviable. Electric tugs were used to haul boats through the remaining tunnel into the 1950’s and in 1954 forced ventilation was installed which allowed powered boats to use the tunnel, this is how it is today, subsidence caused it’s closure from 1973-1977 until refurbishment could be carried out, this included removal of the towpath.

The tunnel is 2926 yards long with varying headroom which at its lowest point can be 5’ 9” ( I did have to stoop a couple of times), Tunnel keepers operate at both ends and doors are closed to prevent anyone entering while boats are travelling in the opposite direction (they shut in you in it). It takes approximately 45 minutes to get through and if you don’t appear at the other end after 1 hour 15mins rescue procedures are put into action.

I emerged safely to bright sunlight and continued on my way, I decided to pull over at West port Lake for a cuppa and as it is quite pleasant I have decided to stay here today instead of carrying on.

Tonights Mooring

Totals Today: 2.25 miles : 1 lock : 1 tunnel