Photo: Rochdale Online
Boats passing along the new channel between Edinburgh Way and Gorrells Way.
Photo: Rochdale Online
One of the boats passes below the new Gorrells Way bridge.
Photo: Ian McCarthy
Moss Upper Lock, no. 49, the first lock after Littleborough.
Photo: Ian McCarthy
Blue Pits Upper Lock, no. 51 at Castleton.
Photo: Ian McCarthy
Straight through the former Lock 53 and into the new channel under the M62.
Photo: Ian McCarthy
The first section of new channel.
Photo: Ian McCarthy
Under a farm access bridge with the culvert under the motorway in the distance.
Photo: Ian McCarthy
Approaching the culvert tunnel under the motorway.
Photo: Ian McCarthy
The tunnel. Eventually it will have a "floating" towpath on the right hand side.
Photo: Ian McCarthy
Leaving the tunnel, the new channel swings to the right. A few spectators brave the rain to watch the boats pass.
Photo: Ian McCarthy
Looking back to the tunnel under the motorway.
Photo: Ian McCarthy
Approaching the new Lock 51 that will take the boats down to the original line of the canal towards Slattocks.
For more pictures of the M62 tunnel and the new channel click here.
Following problems in 2001 after the opening of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, British Waterways are being very cautious about the Rochdale Canal. The performance of the canal will be monitored carefully by BW. Direct input and feedback from users is being sought to enable priority issues to be addressed promptly and efficiently.
Key lock flights on the newly restored canal will be open only during certain operating hours which will be displayed at top and bottom locks. Boats using the "Manchester Flight", between Locks 66 and 83, will need to book in advance during the commissioning period. To begin with, only two lockfulls (which could be four narrowboats) a day in each direction will be allowed. The 18 locks need to be completed the same day so boats will probably need to start on the flight around 8.00 am.
A few of the points of particular interest to boaters taken from that web page are:
"1st July marks the start of a commissioning period during which many new and repaired structures will be used for the first time. It is inevitable that there will be difficulties to be overcome and we welcome your assistance in identifying and addressing these."
"..this is NOT a "brand new canal". It has been reopened to a minimal navigable standard and it's future success depends on it's careful operation."
"Certain sets of locks (especially in Manchester) may be fitted with heavy-duty locks outside operating hours."Key lock flights will generally only operate between 8am and 6pm. when BW staff will be on hand to assist. Current operating hours and conditions will be displayed at top and bottom locks. Please do not attempt to navigate these flights outside of these times."
Lock 69 (Newton Heath) will have a hydraulically operated tail gate. Locks 70 & 71 (Newton Heath), 79 & 80 (Ancoats) and 92 (Castlefield) will have mechanically operated tail gates. Both offside gates at Lock 51 (Castleton) will be mechanically operated.
Click here to go back to Page 1 - Opening Ceremonies.