Eggborough

Here I am Rune

Distance 9.8 miles

Total 1289 Locks 70 Tunnels

Running total mileage 1816.2 miles

Once again we have got a little bit further than I anticipated to Whitley Bridge near Eggborough so we should be able to make it either to Rawcliffe Bridge or all the way through to Goole tomorrow, weather and mishaps permitting. It has been an interesting trip passing all of the old and overgrown wharves where coal was once loaded onto the ‘Tom Pudding’ boats for taking to the local power stations. Also passed Ferrybridge Power station where the ‘Tom Pudding’ unloading bays are still present (although no longer used). It looked as though the method of emptying them was to raise up the whole boat and invert it into a hopper which must have been fascinating to watch. Along the canal we have regularly passed the coal loading shutes which would have been located at the various collieries (now closed). My only surprise was passing Kellingley Colliery which was clearly still working as I thought that all of the deep pit collieries in South Yorkshire had closed. Having looked up the news on the colliery however it isn’t good. The Government have decided not to offer £338 million of state aid to extend its life by another 3 years so the colliery will close by the end of the year, clearly they still prefer to pay pitmen to be unemployed rather than digging coal! (pity they don’t have the same lack of sympathy for Bankers!).

Coal Loading Shute

'Tom Pudding' unloading bay

Old Great North Road Bridge, Ferrybridge