Hi Steve, When I received this email, I had to look over my shoulder, as funnily enough I am just sorting through some pictures for the boaty website I take care of... and would you beleive that these pictures I am sorting are of when I arrived at the aqueduct to have it swung "closed" in front of me for some passing traffic on the Ship Canal below!
Although all of the other times I've passed that way it's been open to the Bridgewater. Liam ----- Original Message ----- From: Steve Haywood To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 11:02 PM Subject: [canals-list] Barton Swing Aqueduct Scanning some photos into the PC over the weekend I came across an interesting set I shot in 1984 crossing the aqueduct. In those days IIRC it was left open to give priority to the Ship Canal and so crossing in a narrowboat was a real event - especially since I don't think it happened much in those days, or at least infrequently enough for the bridgekeeper to pose for photos with passing crews. But it set me thinking when the priority of the bridge was changed, and when the bridgekeeper was laid off as I presume he must have been. When was the latest you would have crossed the aqueduct and had to wait for it to swing in your favour rather than just cross it like now? Steve [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
