Smethwick canal walk, Part 1 Dudley/Sandwell station to Rolfe Street

This walk starts at Bromford Road with this rather attractive Art Deco building (which I'd never noticed when driving past).

The Railway Inn: I parked nearby ....

... joining the canal just after the Sandwell and Dudley railway station.

At once, I entered a green oasis of calm. This is the Lattice Accommodation Bridge

I only saw three narrow boats during the walk, so it was very quiet.

After about half a mile, the canal splits. I took the left hand fork

This is the Old Main Line route. Official name: Birmingham Canal Navigations (Old Main Line)

Some of the locks are right under the M5

It's amazing to hear the traffic thundering overhead.

You emerge, to go under Spon Lane Bridge, itself under the motorway.

High above, the lorries rush past

This old factory building is a landmark on a bend on the M5: I' d never seen it from this angle before

Back under the motorway - the old warehouse in the distance, the rolling advert, and a steel company

A heron flew past

The bridge by Summit Tunnel - and the tunnel ahead

Emerging from the tunnel,...

...beautiful scenery.

Ahead - Galton Valley Pumping Station

The (New) Main Line is right next to the Old Main Line, but about 60 feet lower down

A bit of history: When the Old Main Line was built, the local geology made it too difficult to build a long tunnel here, hence the locks up to and down from the summit. Later, with improved technology, the New Line was built, (well, excavated) lower down, avoiding the need for those locks. It was the biggest civil engineering project of the time. However, both canals needed extra water for the summit as there as no reservoir close by, and the canal traffic was extensive, serving the industry of Birmingham and the Black Country. So the Pumping Station was built, to keep the traffic flowing - and the water!

Brasshouse Lane Bridge

The summit - lots of sky here

Tomorrow's blog will feature the return along the New Main Line. Click here to see it

Today's walk: Parking near Dudley and Sandwell Railway Station, I walked along the canal. After 1/2 mile, there was a junction: I took the right, and followed the old Main Line Canal for about 1.5 miles, until Smethwick Junction, returning along the (New) Main Line. The walk was 6.3 miles. The two canals are very close together for the whole route, and it's easy to shorten the route. Or walk it the other way round. However, I think the Old Line is more interesting (despite the section under the motorway) so I prefer to walk that bit first.