These pages feature photographs given to the father of Mr J W Harrop by Daniel Adamson, promoter of the Manchester Ship Canal. The photographs appear here by kind permission of Mr Harrop.
The Barton Swing Aqueduct under construction in the background with Brindley's original 1761 stone aqueduct in front.
The barge "Astmoor" crosses the original Barton Aqueduct, with the new Swing Aqueduct behind.
Daniel Adamson inspecting the work on the canal. The MSCC railway locomotive "Stanlow" is coupled with the directors' viewing saloon.
At the time, the construction of the ship canal was the largest engineering work to have been carried out in Britain. The transport of materials required the construction of a railway along the whole length of the canal. The railway had 180 steam locomotives and 6000 waggons.
The Manchester Ship Canal in 1893, before being watered. The location is the Cadishead railway viaduct between Partington and Cadishead.