Great video Steve (and the lads), that seemed like an 'official' noseh if you know what i mean. It never ceases to amaze me to see the incredible engineering of those days. I wonder if they knew or expected their fabulous structures to still be around centuries later. Nothing is built like that now. Thanks mate!
First time watching the channel, and I really enjoyed it. It's great to hear your familiar accent, grew up listening to it. I now live in the Black Country, and the industrial history is vast. Moving out towards Shropshire and, in particular, Ironbridge, there is another treasure chest of industrial history. Well worth a look. Yes, i have subscribed!
Thank you very much for watching, and subscribing. It’s very much appreciated. I’ve been to ironbridge a few times, but never made a video there. Expect more from the west midlands in the future. There’s a number of sites I’d like to visit in Shropshire to.
I live about 35 miles from here, and there used to be a great pub at the Netherton end... The Dry Dock. They used to sell Lumphammer Bitter and Desperate Dan Cow Pies. Marvellous. Cracking video. Ta
Great video, excellent production. Brings back memories. I went through Netherton tunnel in the mid 80's. One of the boat crew (not me) decided it would be a lark to light the boat stove. Not the best idea. We exited the tunnel in a cloud of smoke, much to the annoyance of the boat crew just entering.
Another excellent one Steve, as I mentioned to you before I work on the canals and I know Netherton tunnel well, i normally walk the other side as I have keys to the gates makes you feel a bit safer when I am going through on my own, can be a bloody spooky place on your own ! I am currently hedge cutting on the Coventry near fradley. Keep up the excellent work mate. Chris
Great video. Good to see you showing the 1983 work. I did my first canalboat holiday in 1979 with no clue about canals but became hooked. We put our nose into Dudley Tunnel (pre-Museum days) and realised we didn't fit. Netherton was closed and there wasn't a plan to fix it. It got fixed as you showed, and I went through it in about 1985. By this time, I was obsessed by the BCN canals. It's stayed open ever since.
Brilliant video . As an ex Driver with British Rail I used to love working to Corby and beyond, and loved the experience of going through the tunnels en route. When headlights were fitted to the locos you got the full delights of the inside of the tunnel, especially Corby as this had a 20mph speed limit. Dore & Totley was a similar great experience, seeing it from the cab. ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Cheers Malcolm. This was a fun video to make. It’s incredible really, that 80 or 90% of our railway tunnels especially were built over 150 years ago, and so many are still in use. Most commuters that pass through these subterranean wonders, probably never even take any notice!
Another great video, what an amazing place to explore. It amazes me how we have lost the quality of workmanship over the years. Wouldn't see such craft now. Thank you Steve and the gang for brightening up my evening :) 😁
Watching the video the tunnel had a gauge. That was a great idea. I used to work for the railway. Lorries or bus drivers did not have a clue of the height, they would hit the bridge, trains ran at a reduced speed. It was called a bridge bash. I suggested waste or old tracks could be used for this, but to no heed.
Yes, it’s a great idea. It still amazes me how many road bridges still get hit by large Lorrie’s. There is one on the A5 at Hinckley, 15 miles from me. It’s always getting hit, it’s notorious
Thank you very much. It was a great experience walking through Netherton tunnel. A remarkable piece of history, built by people who are long forgotten.
17:28 Just to add another reason for not quite straight as an arrow tunnels and an important acknowledgement of the superhuman skills of the navvies, lots of kinks in canal tunnels are because of the ground conditions. As you said, they came up against all sorts of nasties and often the only way to deal with them (and keep costs within check) was to go round the obstacle.
Nice 1 Steve. I played in these tunnels when I was a kid on push bikes . There used to be lights half way in tunnel years ago . I Believe the pump was removed years ago and in a USA museum . 🇬🇧👍
All very well making cuttings but there have been a number of landslides this year on that canal .Ironically some modern boaters say the straightened canals are boring and wish the old loops had been left in 😂Some bits of old loops still exist and are used for permanent moorings.Thanks for sharing this,love the old industrial stuff👍
I don’t like straight roads either, very boring! But I suppose back in those times, bendy canals were time consuming, and time is money and all that jazz. Thanks for watching mate
@@LeiceExplorePlus if you watch the inexplicably engaging "Canal boat diaries" currently on the BBC and Yesterday channels, the presenter is always going on about first time narrowboaters getting it wrong on corners. Even he has shown just how tricky it is to get going again if you've misjudged it and are stranded on one.
Great video. I have a nearby property on the ground above the Netherton tunnel and I can tell you from personal experience digging anything out of that ground is sheer murder! The hilly ground around Dudley is pretty stable for a reason...
25:00 Sorry, me again. Well you learn sthg new every day and thank you for the revelation that so many shafts were needed in the construction of this marvel and even moreso, that some of them were closed up. Never knew and of course now I want to know why they went to the expense and bother of doing so. Issues with the land owners above or something else like a way to get back some money perhaps? I can't for the life of me think that fewer ventilation shafts would be beneficial. Also thanks for enlightening me to lighting tunnels, something else I didn't know about, despite fancying myself as a bit of a tunnel nut.
There could be numerous reasons I suppose. Land owners could have been an issue as you mention. I don’t fully know the answer, but what I do know, is that the brickwork in tunnels near the shafts was more reinforced because of the shear weight of a shaft pushing down. And as you’ll be aware, some of those shafts in many tunnels are incredibly deep. Plus in tunnels where they may have sunk a shaft where the ground was poor, could be another reason, meaning potentially a lot more potential maintenance in the future, and they knew that they could sacrifice some shafts after the work was completed.I think there are maybe many abandoned shafts still in the uk, that were bricked up at the bottom, but not backfilled with just a protective slab at the top! While most had the full job of being fully filled in and completely buried. We often gawp in awe at these tunnels, but the shafts themselves were absolutely fantastic! The ones concerning Standage tunnel, are unbelievable! Thanks for watching.
5:50 Even the ancient greeks knew you need three posts to get a straight line using line of sight, so I want to see how you do it when I press play again.
Although I state in this video that civil engineering was a “ new profession” in a way it wasn’t. The Greeks are a great example, and even civilisations before that were building incredible infrastructure.
Hi Steve, loved it mate. After watching you and the lads with all that enthusiasm I was worn out and fell asleep. There is no stopping you lads, thank you all 👏👏👏👏. I think the digging at the start must have been to much for my old back 😂😂😂😂😂😂👌👍
Love this and our once world leading Industry testament to the workers that built it and still being used brilliant thanks.
Thank you, I’m pleased you enjoyed it. The men who really built these places is where I’m most facinated
Great video Steve (and the lads), that seemed like an 'official' noseh if you know what i mean.
It never ceases to amaze me to see the incredible engineering of those days. I wonder if they knew or expected their fabulous structures to still be around centuries later. Nothing is built like that now.
Thanks mate!
And just because I'm building a folly, you had to beat me by building a canal...
Thank you very much Lord Isthorpe! It’s a very sobering place knowing men died in there whilst building it
Haha…I only did 1 meter lol
First time watching the channel, and I really enjoyed it. It's great to hear your familiar accent, grew up listening to it. I now live in the Black Country, and the industrial history is vast. Moving out towards Shropshire and, in particular, Ironbridge, there is another treasure chest of industrial history. Well worth a look.
Yes, i have subscribed!
Thank you very much for watching, and subscribing. It’s very much appreciated. I’ve been to ironbridge a few times, but never made a video there. Expect more from the west midlands in the future. There’s a number of sites I’d like to visit in Shropshire to.
I live about 35 miles from here, and there used to be a great pub at the Netherton end... The Dry Dock. They used to sell Lumphammer Bitter and Desperate Dan Cow Pies. Marvellous. Cracking video. Ta
Thank you very much. And thank you for watching!
Excellent video again steve you deserve to be on tv 👍
Thank you, I’m very pleased you enjoyed it, much appreciated
Great video, excellent production. Brings back memories. I went through Netherton tunnel in the mid 80's. One of the boat crew (not me) decided it would be a lark to light the boat stove. Not the best idea. We exited the tunnel in a cloud of smoke, much to the annoyance of the boat crew just entering.
Thank you very much! Haha! I bet you lot were popular with that other boat then!
Another excellent one Steve, as I mentioned to you before I work on the canals and I know Netherton tunnel well, i normally walk the other side as I have keys to the gates makes you feel a bit safer when I am going through on my own, can be a bloody spooky place on your own ! I am currently hedge cutting on the Coventry near fradley. Keep up the excellent work mate. Chris
Thank you Chris. It’s an incredible structure. It’s a very sobering place knowing that people died in there building it.
Great video.
Good to see you showing the 1983 work. I did my first canalboat holiday in 1979 with no clue about canals but became hooked. We put our nose into Dudley Tunnel (pre-Museum days) and realised we didn't fit. Netherton was closed and there wasn't a plan to fix it. It got fixed as you showed, and I went through it in about 1985. By this time, I was obsessed by the BCN canals. It's stayed open ever since.
Thank you very much. I shouldn’t mind having a canal boat holiday myself
Brilliant video . As an ex Driver with British Rail I used to love working to Corby and beyond, and loved the experience of going through the tunnels en route. When headlights were fitted to the locos you got the full delights of the inside of the tunnel, especially Corby as this had a 20mph speed limit.
Dore & Totley was a similar great experience, seeing it from the cab. ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Cheers Malcolm. This was a fun video to make. It’s incredible really, that 80 or 90% of our railway tunnels especially were built over 150 years ago, and so many are still in use. Most commuters that pass through these subterranean wonders, probably never even take any notice!
Good to see this. I did the tunnel and the Pepper pots as a walk last year. Plus the engine house too. 👍😉
Cheers mate
Another great video, what an amazing place to explore. It amazes me how we have lost the quality of workmanship over the years. Wouldn't see such craft now. Thank you Steve and the gang for brightening up my evening :) 😁
Thank you Dave, it’s very much appreciated mate
Fascinating video all of a sudden I want to go to Dudley
Thank you. It’s an amazing town full of history
Fabulous! Thank you all! Great photos by Dave as well.
Thanks Clair. Dave takes top notch pics
Thanks Steve and Co. Lovely video.
Thank you Jackie! I’m really pleased you enjoyed it
Watching the video the tunnel had a gauge. That was a great idea. I used to work for the railway. Lorries or bus drivers did not have a clue of the height, they would hit the bridge, trains ran at a reduced speed. It was called a bridge bash. I suggested waste or old tracks could be used for this, but to no heed.
Yes, it’s a great idea. It still amazes me how many road bridges still get hit by large Lorrie’s. There is one on the A5 at Hinckley, 15 miles from me. It’s always getting hit, it’s notorious
Thanks for showing me another masterpiece Steve 👍
Thank you very much. It was a great experience walking through Netherton tunnel. A remarkable piece of history, built by people who are long forgotten.
@@LeiceExplore Not by you though...👍
17:28 Just to add another reason for not quite straight as an arrow tunnels and an important acknowledgement of the superhuman skills of the navvies, lots of kinks in canal tunnels are because of the ground conditions. As you said, they came up against all sorts of nasties and often the only way to deal with them (and keep costs within check) was to go round the obstacle.
Nice 1 Steve. I played in these tunnels when I was a kid on push bikes . There used to be lights half way in tunnel years ago . I Believe the pump was removed years ago and in a USA museum . 🇬🇧👍
Thank you very much. Great memories. And it’s great to know about the pump to. Thanks for watching
1:23 That is the world's smallest wheelbarrow!
It’s a 2024 barrow, not made for real men lol! The barrows we now use on site, are 9 ton dumpers that any weakling can drive!
All very well making cuttings but there have been a number of landslides this year on that canal .Ironically some modern boaters say the straightened canals are boring and wish the old loops had been left in 😂Some bits of old loops still exist and are used for permanent moorings.Thanks for sharing this,love the old industrial stuff👍
I don’t like straight roads either, very boring! But I suppose back in those times, bendy canals were time consuming, and time is money and all that jazz. Thanks for watching mate
@@LeiceExplorePlus if you watch the inexplicably engaging "Canal boat diaries" currently on the BBC and Yesterday channels, the presenter is always going on about first time narrowboaters getting it wrong on corners. Even he has shown just how tricky it is to get going again if you've misjudged it and are stranded on one.
Great as usual steve and was about time u got a video up lol 😂 👍👍
Thanks buddy, I’d love to get them out every week but it’s just not always possible
Great video. I have a nearby property on the ground above the Netherton tunnel and I can tell you from personal experience digging anything out of that ground is sheer murder! The hilly ground around Dudley is pretty stable for a reason...
Thank you, I’m very pleased you enjoyed it. Dudley is quite a spectacular place historically we will be back
Another fab one buddy!
Thank you mate
Brilliant video guys
Thank you very much
Cracking watch guys. ❤
Thank you! I’m very pleased you enjoyed it, it’s very much appreciated.
Nice one Steve, very enjoyable !
25:00 Sorry, me again.
Well you learn sthg new every day and thank you for the revelation that so many shafts were needed in the construction of this marvel and even moreso, that some of them were closed up. Never knew and of course now I want to know why they went to the expense and bother of doing so. Issues with the land owners above or something else like a way to get back some money perhaps? I can't for the life of me think that fewer ventilation shafts would be beneficial.
Also thanks for enlightening me to lighting tunnels, something else I didn't know about, despite fancying myself as a bit of a tunnel nut.
There could be numerous reasons I suppose. Land owners could have been an issue as you mention. I don’t fully know the answer, but what I do know, is that the brickwork in tunnels near the shafts was more reinforced because of the shear weight of a shaft pushing down. And as you’ll be aware, some of those shafts in many tunnels are incredibly deep. Plus in tunnels where they may have sunk a shaft where the ground was poor, could be another reason, meaning potentially a lot more potential maintenance in the future, and they knew that they could sacrifice some shafts after the work was completed.I think there are maybe many abandoned shafts still in the uk, that were bricked up at the bottom, but not backfilled with just a protective slab at the top! While most had the full job of being fully filled in and completely buried. We often gawp in awe at these tunnels, but the shafts themselves were absolutely fantastic! The ones concerning Standage tunnel, are unbelievable! Thanks for watching.
@LeiceExplore Thank you too for your answers.
About bloody time! Spending your weekends walking round the High Peak singing about JOOP
Haha! Cheers Earl of JOOP! The hills are still alive with the sound of er JOOP LOL!
Well, there you are again. Thought you had gotten stuck in a culvert or something. Nice video 😂
Yep! Back again! Cheers! Thanks for watching
I really enjoyed that one Steve, can't imagine how many bricks were used. The photos were brilliant. Wonder what the depth of water in the tunnel was?
Cheers buddy, I’d made notes and forgot to say that there were 27 million bricks 🧱 within the tunnel
5:50 Even the ancient greeks knew you need three posts to get a straight line using line of sight, so I want to see how you do it when I press play again.
Although I state in this video that civil engineering was a “ new profession” in a way it wasn’t. The Greeks are a great example, and even civilisations before that were building incredible infrastructure.
@@LeiceExploreAnd the Persians were doing it before the Greeks (including massive underground irrigation tunnels that ran for dozens of miles).
I reckon you would make a decent Navvie, Mr P. Probably the Chargehand, no less !
You’d be the charge hand mate lol! Cheers mate
Hi Steve, loved it mate. After watching you and the lads with all that enthusiasm I was worn out and fell asleep. There is no stopping you lads, thank you all 👏👏👏👏. I think the digging at the start must have been to much for my old back 😂😂😂😂😂😂👌👍
Haha cheers Graham! Thanks for watching buddy