Wayne,
There are signs but since much of the canal system offers no opportunity for
turn offs they take the form of mileage markers indicating the mileage ahead
and back to the two places linked by that particular stretch. When there is
a junction a conventional road signpost is used.
Initial power was horses, hence the tow path. Long tunnels made the addition
of a tow path too expensive so the horses were led overland and the boatmen
lay on their backs on boards protruding from the front of the barge and
'walked' them through using the walls of the tunnel. Steam was next up and
made life easier except through the tunnels where many boatmen were
asphyxiated before the installation of air vents.
Now it's diesel.
--Graham
From: "Wayne Harridge" <wayneharridge@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [OM] Re: #233
>
> >
> > Another canal boat question: Are these boats refurbished
> > survivors of a
> > prior era of commercial use or are new ones still being built today?
> >
>
> ...and while we're asking questions:
>
> Are there "Canal Signs" (instead of road signs) ?
>
> What are these narrow boats powered by ?
>
> ...Wayne
>
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