Dredging barge Sutton & push tug Clifton at Manchester No 2 dock.

Two current Big Ditch Shipping co vessels Calemax Enterprise & Gina D at Manchester No 3 dock. Note the new BBC media city being built in the background. Calemax Enterprise was named in conjunction with a freight trial undertaken along the Caledonian canal 3 years previously but is to be possibly renamed in the near future.

Arriving at Manchester No 3 dock (formerly the drydocks) where sister vessel Gina D was being unloaded.

Leaving Mode Wheel locks into Salford quays where our destination is situated just out of sight to the right.

Irwell park wharf operated by European Metals Recycling (EMR) is the only wharf at the top end of the canal which still recieves large coastal vessels albeit on a sporadic basis dependant of scrap prices.

Barton swing bridge & aquaduct.

Just before Barton locks are the disused pumps at Davyhulme sewage works.

Arriving at Irlam locks.

The river Mersey can be seen flowing into the canal just before the former Cheshire Lines Committee railway viaduct crossing the canal at Irlam.

Irlam container wharf on the left where one of the empty barges are tied up.

Disused Cadishead railway viaduct just before Partington oil basin.

Where did i put my camera..?

Heading away from the M6 Thelwall viaduct.

The disused railway viaduct on the approach to Latchford locks.

Calemax Enterprise passing Knutsford road swing bridge.

The recently repainted Cantilever bridge, Warrington.

Underneath the shadows of Northwich road swing bridge is the remains of Twenty steps lock where a now filled in canal connected to the river Mersey above Howley weir in Warrington.

Chester road swing bridge closing behind us.

Looking back at Acton Grange viaduct which carries the west coast mainline.

Daisy Doardo near Randles sluices on the way outward from Irlam to Seaforth dock.

We pass the push tug & barge Daisy Doardo near Randles sluices.

The crew aboard Calemax Enterprise take a break from painting as we pass Runcorn old quay.

Calemax Enterprise passing underneath the Runcorn-Widnes bridges.

MSC Dainty, originally part of the canal's dredging fleet now a dive boat seen at Runcorn docks.

The MSC 250 ton crane currently out of use stored at Runcorn docks with MSC Dainty on the wall infront.

Work barge in the disused Mersey side lock at Runcorn.

Sigas Duke (ex Knud Kosan) at Runcorn oil berth.

Sigas Duke at Runcorn oil berth.

Old lock gates stored on the Mersey wall at Weston Point for use in possible emergencies.

Passing the Weaver sluices on the left as we near Weston Point.

LPG tanker Auteuil at Ince oil berth.

Westminster Dredging co. vessel Norma at Ellesmere Port.

Plough dredger 'Norma' a recent visitor to the area seen berthed infront of retired suction dredger WD Severn at Ellesmere Port.

Catharina C at Ellesmere Port.

Resident bunkering tanker Keewhit alongside at Ellesmere Port. She was involved in an incident a few days before where she demolished one of the dolphins outside Eastham locks whilst swinging round from the QE2 dock.

Catharina C unloading at Ellesmere Port.