A Canal Traffic Experiment on the BCN in 1898
The following accounts from the Birmingham Daily Post were found by Ray Shill while conducting his research.
I found the experiment very interesting. I've neither seen nor heard of this continuing but perhaps a little more research may discover the outcome
Birmingham Daily Post 22/10/1898
The Birmingham Canal Company are, we are informed, making an experiment in connection with the coal traffic from Cannock Chase, which is of considerable interest to those concerned in the trade.
It is that of bringing a train of boats by steam, instead of each boat being towed by horsepower. There is nothing new in a mere train of boats, but it is has been found that upon a narrow and crowded canal, such as that between Birmingham and Cannock, a train of ordinary coal barges is unmanageable.
By the advice of the company's engineer some special boats have been prepared, to which the name of tubs has been given. They are practically in the form of half an ordinary barge, with a V shaped indentation at the stern. This indentation is intended to receive the sharp bow of the boat that follows. A number of boats thus arranged are connected by chains on each side, forming a train, which should follow the steam tug in perfect sequence, instead of tending to break away with any change of direction on the part of the leader.
The first train of ten tubs, bearing a consignment of coal for Messers Boston and Son, will arrive at the Old Wharf, Paradise Street, soon after twelve today.
Should the experiment prove satisfactory, it gives promise of a considerable saving in the cost of transit as compared with horse haulage, which amounts to from 1s to 1s 3d per ton from Cannock to Birmingham.
Birmingham Daily Post 23/10/1898
As stated in yesterday's Post, an experiment of considerable interest to those concerned in the coal trade has been made by the Birmingham Canal Company, in the way of bringing a train of specially constructed boats by steam traction, instead of each boat being towed by horse power.
The first train of boats arrived at noon yesterday, at the Old Wharf, Paradise Street. The experiment was a somewhat crude one. The Canal Company borrowed a steam tug with an engine of 15 horsepower usually employed by the Shropshire Union Company for conveying coal between Chester and Ellesmere Port.
On the trial trip six men were employed, three on the tug one in steering the rear boat, and two with boat hooks to assist in preserving the straightness of the line. The train of ten boats or 'tubs' left Cannock on Tuesday afternoon and made a long detour via Tipton and Wolverhampton, the object being to avoid fourteen locks at Walsall and West Bromwich.
A difficulty in negotiating the little fleet was the insufficiency of water which was at least 9in below the ordinary level. The time taken was more than double that occupied by boats travelling by the ordinary route.
It has not yet been ascertained whether the cost of the extra time and fuel will be cheaper than the employment of ten horses and a number of extra men, whose services under the new arrangement are dispensed with. Unless the canal is deepened there would appear to be serious limitations to the practical possibility of steam haulage.
