Crew: Andy & Tommy Belton

Route: Trent and Mersey Canal, north from Action Bridge, Through Dutton Stop Lock, Preston Brook Tunnel and on to the Bridgewater Canal. Passed the end of the Runcorn Arm, east to Lymm, Dunham Massey, Sale. Turned north at Waters Meeting onto the Bridgewater Canal, Leigh Branch, through Trafford Park to Barton Swing Aqueduct. After winding just north of the aqueduct, we returned by the same route.

New Years Day 2006 on the Trent & Mersey Canal, north of Acton Bridge.     [photo: Tommy Belton]


Tommy steering Swallow. [photo: Andrew Belton]


Andy on board Swallow. [photo: Tommy Belton]


Bridgewater Canal between Preston Brook and Lymm.
[photo: Andrew Belton]
 

Bridgewater Canal, Looking east from Dunham Massey.
[photo: Andrew Belton]
 

Swallow moored at Dunham Massey, on the Bridgewater Canal.
[photo: Andrew Belton]
 

Sunset over Dunham Massey Hall, Bridgewater Canal.
[photo: Andrew Belton]
 

Swallow moored at School Bridge, Dunham Massey, on the Bridgewater Canal.    [photo: Andrew Belton]
 

Swallow approaching Barton Swing Aqueduct on the Bridgewater Canal, Leigh Branch.   [photo: Andrew Belton]
 

Swallow crossing the Manchester Ship Canal on the Barton Swing Aqueduct. Bridgewater Canal, Leigh Branch.
[photo: Andrew Belton]
 

Tommy steering Swallow back across Barton Swing Aqueduct, having winded just north of the crossing. Bridgewater Canal, Leigh Branch.    [photo: Andrew Belton]
 

Barton Road Bridge, on the Manchester Ship Canal, looking West.
In the distance you can just see the M6 Thelwall Viaduct.
[photo: Andrew Belton]
 

Swallow moored in the lay-by at Barton. Bridgewater Canal, Leigh Branch. The raised towpath in the foreground once led to an elevated gangway that took horses across the Aqueduct above the boats they were towing. Click to see The Transport Archive .
Nowadays walkers have to leave the canal and cross at the road bridge.   [photo: Andrew Belton]
 

Looking through Barton Swing Aqueduct from the south.
Bridgewater Canal, Leigh Branch. [photo: Andrew Belton]
 

Manchester Ship Canal, looking East from Barton towards Manchester.    [photo: Andrew Belton]
 

Swallow moored in the lay-by at Barton. Bridgewater Canal, Leigh Branch.  The aqueduct is the other side of the footbridge in the background.   [photo: Andrew Belton]
 

Red sky at night... [photo: Andrew Belton]
 

...cold in the morning... Back at Dunham Massey again the next morning.   [photo: Andrew Belton]
 

...and getting colder. Breaking Ice on the return journey.
[photo: Andrew Belton]
 

Breaking more Ice on the return journey. Bridgewater Canal.
[photo: Andrew Belton]