James Brindley: The canal pioneer who changed England

BBC ^ | 31/07/2016 | Alex Homer

[Oatka]

Here in the US, the most famous canal is/was the Erie Canal (1825).

The New Yorkers wanted Congress to foot the construction bill but because southern shipping interests feared competition - and controlled Congress - they said "No". The New Yorkers, in effect, said "Screw You", passed the hat among their own, and got it built anyway.

Ah, the "Good Ole Days". :-)

In a neat show of symbolism, they shipped a barrel of Erie water down to the City, where it was poured into the ocean, connecting Erie to the Sea. Then did just the opposite at the Lake Erie terminus.

[VanDeKoik]

I’m hopelessly fascinated by the canal system in Britain. From the construction, culture, villages, and even the canal signage.

To be able to just take a cozy boat virtually anywhere has to be a great life.

There is even an entire program from the BBC that is just a video of traveling down a canal with no music or narration. Sadly it seems to have disappeared from YouTube. I fell asleep to it many times because it was so relaxing.

[Bigg Red]

We have chartered boats and cruised the Erie Canal twice. Great experience. I highly recommend it.

[Bigg Red]

Thanks for that link.

[moose07]

You’re welcome.
The restoration and recovery of old canals continues to this day.
He is where it all started.

[LakeEffectLad]

Check out a book called “Wedding of the Waters” by Peter Bernstein. Terrific history of the canal. Also shows how little politics in Albany have changed in roughly 200 years.

[Stentor]

If not mentioned down thread, Google Falkirk Wheel.

[jocon307]

Great article, very interesting. Thanks for posting it.

[TexasBarak]

Shout out to another old can thrower! Haven’t done it in years, but I’m confident that I could still do it just as well- like riding a bike!

[moose07]

50.

[dp0622]

I didn’t post the thread but it ended up being a lot of fun, right?

A nice change up from the usual.

Ciao!

[BwanaNdege]

“I’m hopelessly fascinated by the canal system in Britain”

https://www.google.com/search?q=narrowboating&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8
“Narrowboating” search

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=narrowboating

YouTube search on “Narrowboating” videos

Those ought to keep you entertained for a while!

While I was on a visit to Shropshire, a friend & his wife took me to see the canals & locks and finally the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ponsyllite+aqueducet

[VanDeKoik]

Nice!

Thanks! I will definitely check these out.

[SunkenCiv]

This topic was posted 7/31/2016, thanks moose07.

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