Yarningale Aqueduct

The Stratford-upon-Avon Canal has 3 aqueducts of which the Yarningale is the first (if you are heading to Stratford from the North, or the last if the other direction of course!) The very short Yarningale Aqueduct spans the Kingswood Brook near Claverdon and dates from the early 19th century. Yarningale itself is a hamlet of the Claverdon parish.

The original aqueduct was made of wood but it was washed away in 1834 during the flooding of the canal and the nearby Grand Union Canal. A new aqueduct was made from cast iron at Horseley Ironworks and this is the structure that remains today. Like the Edstone and Wootton Wawen aqueducts further down the canal the Yarningale Aqueduct is unusual in that the bottom of the towpath is level with the bottom of the canal.

A third Tiger Moth

Project #064 has been completed (bar some varnish) and is my third Tiger Moth. Of course Project #001 which kick started my building of kits after a gap of a couple of decades back in 2009 was another Moth. The other was Project #057 last year. This Moth is a civilian one unlike the others which depicted RAF trainers.

London Transport Museum Depot

I've wanted to go to the London Transport Museum's Depot in Acton for some time, it is where the majority of the collection is held but it is not usually open to the public and i was going to go to the open weekend last month but a bad flu meant i couldn't go. But never mind as i went yesterday instead on a small guided tour and in hindsight it was a much better way to experience this fantastic facility than with lots of people milling about (if you want to take photographs).

The depot exceeded even my high expectations and i think it might be the best heritage visit i've ever made, the wealth of preserved tube stock is amazing and i was able to board a number of historic vehicles plus get up close with a number of unique exhibits. And of course take lots of photographs, which can be seen here!

Lightning done

Project #063, an English Electric Lightning, has been completed and lovely it looks too! Next up will probably be another Tiger Moth.

A bit of Deltic thrash

I went to the Severn Valley Railway again today (second time this year) and enjoyed some "thrash" behind 55 019, the Deltic which is visiting for the Summer. While Deltics arn't my favourite diesel locomotives they certainly sound good, well 3,300hp is unlikely to sound bad!

I travelled behind it up to Bridgnorth and back and stuck my head out of the window to breathe in plenty of fumes (as you do!) I was also able to photograph one of the rebuilt "Ultra 73s" which is at Kidderminster for some reason (driver training or testing probably). You can see my photographs here.

Hertford Union Canal

The Hertford Union Canal is a short canal in East London which stretches from the Regent's Canal to the Lee Navigation. Like the Limehouse Cut the Hertford Union Canal is intended as a short-cut between the Thames and the Lee Navigation. It was opened in 1830 and later taken over to form part of the Grand Union Canal system.

The canal is completely straight throughout its 1.5km length though does have 3 locks. For much of its length the canal runs alongside Victoria Park. At its Lee Navigation end the canal junction is in view of the Olympic Stadium and Park.