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We're going through the tunnel, push, boys, push!
We're going through the tunnel, push, boys, push!
We're saving this old tunnel, push, boys, push!
It's the pride of Dudley Town,
And they're trying to close it down,
So push, boys, push! Push, boys, push!

We'll go through Castle Mill, push, boys, push!
Cathedral Arch as well, push, boys, push!
There's no more fresh air smell
When you've passed by the Well,
So push, boys, push! Push, boys, push!

There's boats been going through, push, boys, push!
Since seventeen ninety-two! push, boys, push!
It's a crime and it's a shame
If we cannot do the same.
So push, boys, push! Push, boys, push!

Don't let your strength to fail, push, boys, push!
'Cause we're coming to the Jail! Push, boys, push!
We may get stuck inside
If the boat it is too wide.
So push, boys, push! Push, boys, push!

The tunnel's two miles long, push, boys, push!
That's why we sing this song. push, boys, push!
It keeps our spirits high
When we cannot see the sky.
So push, boys, push! Push, boys, push!

And now we're coming nigh, push, boys, push!
Don't you see the sky! Push, boys, push!
We'll have a celebration
Now we've sung it to the nation!
So push, boys, push! Push, boys, push!

Notes

This is a relatively recent song, composed by members of the Dudley Tunnel Trust. Dudley Tunnel runs under the town, being one of five tunnels on the Birmingham Canal. Opened in 1792, it had no towing path, so boats had to be legged through - a slow and dangerous process. Many leggers fell from their boats and were crushed against the tunnel walls.

Dudley and British Waterways wished to close Dudley Tunnel - there is a parallel bore, Netherton Tunnel - but the Dudley Tunnel Trust was set up by enthusiasts, who successfully resisted the closure and helped to restore the tunnel to navigational use. However engines were still not permitted, and boats had to be shafted through.

The Black Country Museum is at the northern end of the Tunnel.

The tunnel also contains old limestone workings, and is not a simple straight-through tunnel. The various features referred to in the song are:

Castle Mill: a basin open to the surface
Cathedral Arch: the junction of two tunnels
The Well: an air shaft
The Jail: a kink in the tunnel.

 

The BCN tunnels

For a map, see my BCN page.:

Dudley: on the Dudley No.1 canal. Length 3172 yards, width 8ft 5in. No towpath. Boats were permitted to enter from the Tipton end at 5 am, 11 am and 5pm, and from the Parkhead end at 8 am and 2pm.

Gosty Hill: on the Dudley No 2 canal. Length 557 yards, width 8ft 1in. No towpath.

Lappal: on the Dudley No 2 canal. Length 3795 yards, width 7ft 9in. No towpath. The protals of Lappal Tunnel have long since disappeared under redevelopment. The bore has probably largely collapsed, though British Waterways is nominally responsible for it still.

Netherton: on the Netherton Tunnel Branch. Length 3027 yards, width 17ft, towing paths both sides, overall width 27ft. Netherton was at one time gas-lit, later by electricity.

Coseley: on the BCN Main Line. Length 360 yards, width 15ft 9in, towing path both sides, overall width 24ft 9in.

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Rod Beavon     17 Dean's Yard     London  SW1P  3PB

e-mail:  rod.beavon@westminster.org.uk