Trent Lock, Canals and Chimneys

This week we started at the south end of the Erewash Canal where it meets the River Trent. We parked in the Trent Lock car park at 07:50. had a little wander around where the canal meets the river Trent. This is junction of 3 counties, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and leicestershire.

Ratcliffe on Soar Power Station

The first lock was Lock No 60 from the national numbering system. Just across the river from Trent Lock is Ratcliffe on Soar Power Station which has eight cooling towers and a 199 m (653 ft) tall chimney. It has four coal-fired boilers made by Babcock and Wilcox, each of which drive a 500 megawatt (MW) Parsons generator set. This gives the station a total generating capacity of 2,000 MW, which is enough electricity to meet the needs of approximately 2 million homes. 

Tent Lock

Double deck house boat

Typical mix of barges and boats

Swan about to have a nibble at Rob

The sinister looking figure in the shadows is Ike 

This section was the start of lots of  evidence of the industrial past

Swans on patrol

This is Harringtons Mill building one of many along the Erewash canal

Only this chimney left from this mill complex and its home to several phone transmitters

Nice to have swans at the bottom of your garden

 There was a fire in the grounds of the old Stanton Iron Works in September 2012 which raged for several days and unfortunately this resulted in the contaminated water draining down into the Erewash canal. This was a disaster for the fish in that stretch of water and the local Environment Agency relocated thousands of them higher up the canal. They are due to be moved back very soon to the relief of the fishermen and wildlife.

These are new fishing platforms  just been installed.

Is this the local branch of Boots.

Ike, Rob and Geoff.

Geoff getting chatted up

Another sinister figure

This ones for Geoff

A lot of these barges are permanently occupied

Just couldn't resist making this shot into black and white.

 On the way to Trent Lock Ike had mentioned the turbine house in Milford so on the way back we decided to have a look. We parked in the Millhouse car park and just as we approached the turbine house the local engineer appeared and he let us in to have a look.
Milford Mill was where Derwent Hydro first began exporting electricity through the national grid, back in 1990. The main aspects of the scheme are very old, with the current generator, gearbox and turbine dating from the 1930s. The turbine is a Gilkes vertical shaft pit. Water reaches the turbine via a long leat that passes several hundred meters from the top weir and under some industrial premises (Milford Mill) and the A6, major road. It flows under the "Mill House" pub (site of old mill) and comes out beyond in two mill races further down, by the River Derwent.

Interesting structure in the Turbine House

Inside the turbine house at Milford

Another really interesting walk along part of the Erewash canal showing a lot of its industrial history. Just 6 miles, cold but very enjoyable.
See you next week
Cheers