On Sun, 29 Jan 2006 15:45:25 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Liquorice"
wrote:


Just think there are two big (24"?) pipes from Welsh Wales to Birmingham
and the Grand Union from Birmingham to London. The flow from Wales to
Birmingham is gravity. I expect that there is at least one lift required
on the Grand Union but generally I think it's down hill from Birmingham
to London (ISTR that Brum is at 300' ish, London is sealevel).
You get the idea...

There are essentially two long level pounds on the canals up at Brum -
the Wolverhampton and the Birmingham.Highest point is up at Titford
Pools Between Brum and London, the Grand Union drops significantly to
Leamington, then rises gradually to Braunston/Daventry. drops down to
Bucks before climbing gracefully and gradually up to Tring Summit (the
Chilterns I believe) before dropping down to London. The quite heavy
lockage has resulted in a back pumping scheme around Stockton Brook
IIRC
I probably can get the exact rise and fall if anyone is interested. I
will be using the GU to bring a boat down to London this April. The
canal shares a river for a short distance just below Batchworth but I
have forgotten the name. The river powers across the cut at right
angles, which seems to terrify boaters who have not seen this sort of
thing before.
For many years there has been talk of a transfer of water from the
Severn to the Thames which I would have thought was a more
straightforward plan. I cannot work out why this did not actually
happen as the idea got into A level text books some 10 years ago.

I heard on the radio yesterday that the Medway was being used shortly
to fill an important reservoir in the SE. Not sure where but the chap
speaking said that it would fill at the rate of 1% per day. I gather
this is a reflection of the dry situation but whether it has happened
before I do not know. Any ideas?
Robin