An on site inspection has been made of the site today Mon 12th March
of the Smethwick coal chutes. Clearance of the concrete bunkers has
been very well done and its hard to imagine they were ever there. In
attendance were Tony Harvey, Mike Youe, Lizzy Turner from British
Waterways along with Vaughan Welch and Laurence Hogg BCN Heritage
group leaders and Canalscape BCN. Evidence was found of narrow gauge
railway line, some pieces being discovered, a tie bar from track and
at the northern incline some machinery bases. Wharf surface appears
intact below some 12 to 15 ins of soil and coal dust. The Southern
incline has suffered some damage and collapse due to tree growth but
the northern incline is in better shape. The sunken wooden knee joey
boat is still barriered off and will remain so until an archeolgical
survey can be arranged. Tony Harvey will in due course be liasing with
IWA and others to effect site clearance as soon as is feasible. This
should eventually form an impressive offside wharf with interpretation
boards.I am sure there is still a lot to discover on this once
overlooked site.