Where was I yesterday, Tuesday 15th March?

[whole diary]

[johnneyw]

Happened upon this on a railway enabled day out.  It's adjacent to a railway but only indirectly linked to it.

[PhilWakely]

Alongside the Taunton and Bridgwater Canal between Creech St Michael and Charlton (Cogload Junction). I assume you took notice of the 'scale model' of the solar system alongside the tow path?

[johnneyw]

Alongside the Taunton and Bridgwater Canal between Creech St Michael and Charlton (Cogload Junction). I assume you took notice of the 'scale model' of the solar system alongside the tow path?

Spot on.  It was originally used to pump water from the river to the canal ( its Watt beam engine is now in a museum in Taunton) but was in later years used to pump water to the railway.
I did the entire "Somerset Space Walk", Taunton to Bridgwater yesterday.
As PhilWakely pointed out, it is a "to scale" sculpture walk of the solar system using the entire length of the canal with The Sun at the mid point at Maunsell locks with the planets placed at their correct sizes and distances in both directions from the centre.
I've posted a couple of pictures below to illustrate.
It's quite an interesting canal anyway, I'll post a couple of parts which I found surprising later on.
As I said previously, it was railway enabled as I took the outward train to Taunton and the return to Bristol was from Bridgwater.
My feet feel a little sore today.

[JayMac]

1980's pop star Howard Jones lives in The Engine House.

As kids we used to go to The County Museum in Taunton on Saturdays. You could pay 5p to see the Watt beam engine from The Engine House running. Not steam powered unfortunately. It is, or was, connected to an electric motor. Not sure if its still on display.

[johnneyw]

I was not expecting some of the canal at the Bridgwater end to resemble more a scene from the industrial Midlands than a Somerset town but these pictures below were taken there yesterday.  The old docks, also pictured, are rather larger than I anticipated.

[Bmblbzzz]

Interesting. I know about the Solar System Trail in York but hadn't realised there was one much nearer. I can feel an investigation happening.

[PhilWakely]

Interesting. I know about the Solar System Trail in York but hadn't realised there was one much nearer. I can feel an investigation happening.

This one is interesting simply because of the scale - plus the excellent cafe at Maunsell Lock (if and when it is open). You need to keep a good eye out for the planets. Once you find one, don't expect the next to be 'just around the corner'. Allow a fair amount of time (even if you are on the bike).

[JayMac]

I lived alongside the canal in the YMCA in Bridgwater for about a year in 1999-2000. I didn't drive back then so used to cycle to and from Taunton to visit family - when I couldn't afford the bus! The solar system is a great feature of the canal. As is Cogload Junction for photographing passing trains.

I second the tearooms at Maunsell Lock. Another watering hole worth checking out is the Harvest Moon in North Newton. Just a short detour from the Church Lane swing bridge between Jupiter and Saturn!

[johnneyw]

The solar system is a great feature of the canal. As is Cogload Junction for photographing passing trains.

Yes, and what an strikingly impressive landmark that metal bridge structure makes.  This snap that I took doesn't do it justice.

[TonyN]

The Path surface looks good in that picture is it generally as good?

[johnneyw]

The Path surface looks good in that picture is it generally as good?

Pretty good really.  Very little in the way of muddy patches.  It seems to be fairly well maintained.

[chuffed]

Visited Maunsell lock and tea room today with trainer ....saw the 4 inner planetary markers and the sun...and also noticed 2 pillboxes,part of the Taunton stop line. One facing east and the other facing west. Was a delightful spot at the tearoom with the daffodils out with a very tame Robin perched on the outside table just waiting for a few crumbs of my scrumptious coffee and walnut cake. If it hadn't been for this thread, I would never have known about this. Thumbs up all round to all the contributors.