2018, Fuel Costs.

The theme today is of bridges along our route in 2018.

These disused swing bridges on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal between Appley Bridge and Gathurst make me wonder what used to travel over them in the past, and why they are not used today. Something must have changed, but luckily that is one less bridge to open.

Leigh Bridge is on the outskirts of Liverpool, and we wwre on our down to the Liverpool Link. It was built in 1861 by the Liverpool Health Committee. I wonder why they got involved? Maybe it was because close by are the loading stages where night soil was transferred to canal boats for taking out of the city to around Busrscough to put on the fields.

This would make a great jigsaw I think. I wonder how they managed to erect the scaffolding on the Runcorn Bridge. I wouldn't mind shares in the company that put it up though. The Silver Jubilee Bridge from 1961 is undergoing a refurbishment now the new bridge is open.

 This is Latchford High Level Bridge on the Manchester Ship Canal with the Knutsford Road Swing Bridge and the Latchford Railway Viaduct and the Latchford Locks beyond that. I was amazed that these little narrow cantilever bridges that were built at the time the Ship Canal was dug to honour rights of way are still standing, and still taking motorised traffic.

I think this is Acton Grange Viaduct with Chester Road Swing Bridge in the distance. Rail routes were diverted from the original lower bridges one the newer higher bridges had been constructed. It shows that it wasn't just digging a ditch involved, but lots of ancillary works too. Allowable airdraft on the canal is 70 feet. We squeezed under this one.

Chester is always a great place to visit, and during our stay this year we even saw the Queen. After we had passed up Northgate Staircase we were travelling alongside the Roman wall of the city and under the Bridge of Sighs and the Northgate Bridge. I thought that the Bridge of Sighs was just a cross beam to hold up the house on both sides, but it seems it lived up to its name. Built in about 1793 it was used to allow prisoners from Northgate Jail to cross to a Chapel in the Bluecoat School on the opposite side so they could be given their last rites before execution! Originally there were railing on it to prevent the offenders leaping to liberty.

Here is the Heath House turnover bridge on the Montgomery Canal with the delightful warehouse next to it. This is/was the only turnover bridge on the canal as the towpath stays on the east bank all the way to Newport. What a great trip that will be when they get it all reopened.

Another of these iconic lift bridges on the Llangollen Canal, but this one is Stark's Bridge on the Prees Branch that we ventured up for an overnight stop.

The beautiful and well maintained bridges at Windmill End at the junction of the Dudley No.2 Canal and the Netherton Tunnel Branch with the chimney of the remains of Cobbs Engine House poking up over the trees.

Old meets new with the here on the BCN New Main Line the M5 motorway was constructed right across the Stweart Aqueduct where the original Old Main Line  or Wolverhampton Summit Level canal was under cut by the new. This stretch of canal is a fascinating place to me.

This photo sort of shows the paranoia of former canal companies as the Oxford Canal, on the right, ran parallel to the Coventry canal, on the left for a good way before being allowed to join. Later, here at Hawkesbury Junction, or Sutton Stop a cut through was made and this sharp turn under the bridge has to be made. The Greyhound pub is out of shot to the right. I must have been feeling cocky about making the turn in one to be able to take a photo, unless Helen did of course!

I put this one in despite it just being an ordinary bridge on the Trent and Mersey as it has a nice reflection and was on our last day before arriving at Aston Marina.

FUEL COSTS        2018      2017      2016      2015     2014
Diesel                     365-81   426-34  584-30  730-36    985-79
Electricity              135-00     15-12    83-22     24-74     51-75
Coal                           //          17-00       //         20-00     34-94
Gas                          29-75     28-00    54-40     50-04     74-18
TOTAL                 530-56   566-51  721-92   824-94  1146-66

ENGINE HOURS
2018    340.6                      We felt that we had done a lot fewer hour in 2018 but it turns out not to be
2017    307.2                      so. The general trend is down, maybe due to age, maybe due just to
2016    517.6                      appreciating a slower pace on the canals. It also is reflected in the diesel
2015    560.5                      costs.
2014    686.5

HURRICANE HOURS
2018    64.0                      The number of Hurricane heating hours corresponds with the engine hours
2017    67.5                      as I suppose reflect the number of days more aboard at the start and end of
2016    44.0                      season.
2015    95.0
2014   148.0

TOTAL DIESEL USED Lt
2018    492.46                   Once again the amount of diesel used obviously reflects the hours run.
2017    613.87
2016    730.19
2015    964.79
2014   1062.6

HURRICANE DIESEL USED Lt
2018    53.8                        These figures are derived from multiplying the Hurricane hours run by
2017    56.7                         the manufacturers given average consumption of 0.84 lt / hour. My
2016    38.3                         diesel all comes from the same tank.
2015    79.8
2014   124.3

ENGINE DIESEL USED Lt
2018    438.70                  To find a true consumption by the engine i deduct the calculated diesel
2017    557.17                  used by the Hurricane from the total figure.
2016    699.1
2015    884.79
2014    944.8

AVERAGE Lt/Hr
2018    1.28                     I can't really account for the better performance this year. There was some
2017    1.81                     deeper water that will help, but maybe it is the new propeller? However that
2016    1.35                     has been attached for the year previously and those figures were the worst.
2015    1.58                     The average of averages is 1.48 Lt/Hr.
2014    1.38

LEAST EXPENSIVE DIESEL
2018    65                        It is interesting to see the fluctuations in price. This is just the heating
2017    56                        price, lower price of the split VAT structure. I wonder what will happen. 
2016     //                         with BREXIT?
2015    55
2014    76

MOST EXPENSIVE DIESEL
2018    78.7                 
2017    73
2016     //
2015    99
2014   100

AVERAGE PRICE OF DIESEL
2018    74.3                       This is the average of all the heating prices paid each year.
2017    69.5
2016    79.2
2015    75.7
2014    100

TOTAL DIESEL £'S
2018    365-81                  The costs this year reflects the better 'mileage' obtained along with the
2017    426-34                   lower number of hours run, and just goes to show you don't need to go
2016    584-30                   mad to have fun!
2015    730-36
2014    985-79

TOTAL DIESEL Lt.
2018    492.46                  I suppose this reflects the lack of hours and the lack of rushing about too.
2017    613.87
2016    738.19
2015    964.79
2014   1062.60

How does this lot compare with other peoples experiences. Please let me know.