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1996 trip to the Leek and Caldon canals

Sorry I haven't had time to complete this page yet, but here are a couple of pictures of Froghall Tunnel for you to look at.

Keeping Up has an air draught of about 5'10", but the slope of the sides does narrow the roof somewhat. Boats that are significantly newer than Keeping Up (built 1991) often have sides that are more nearly vertical so the roof is wider.

In 1996 we asked the boat builder (Stoke-on-Trent Boat Building, only a few miles away) if it would fit through Froghall Tunnel and they optimistically said "don't know, it might do". We asked BW who pessimistically said "don't know, it might not". So we looked at the guide profiles and thought "don't know" so we decided to try it anyway.

Full of water etc, it just got through and only lost a bit of paint off the handrails. Then we turned round and nearly couldn't get back - the collar of the flue sticks up an inch or two on the left hand side, and the tunnel isn't quite symmetrical. Good thing chimney collars are strong, we had to force our way through leaning over and popped out like a champagne cork.

Since then the water level has been lowered by a few inches.

 

Click to enlarge Click to enlarge
Taken from a friend's boat in 1986 this clearly shows that the tunnel is not quite straight
Taken from our boat in 1996 this clearly shows that there is not much spare room!

 

Go to Allan's Page The building of "Keeping Up" Canals Home Page Our HOME page Go to Deb's Page

 

All pictures on this site are © Allan Jones unless otherwise stated

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