Coal staithe with waggon tippler and coal chute on the off-side of the Fairbottom Branch above Sammy's Basin. Coal waggons were brought here on a tram road from Wood Park Colliery to be emptied onto waiting boats.

Coal staithe and chute on the off-side of the Fairbottom Branch above Sammy's Basin in the 1960s, after the rails had been removed. [Photo: Peter Caunt]

Closer view of coal staithe and chute showing flap at bottom of chute. (1960s) [Photo: Peter Caunt]

Looking from the coal staithe across the canal, with Sammy's Basin in the background. (1960s) [Photo: Peter Caunt]

Looking from the coal staithe towards the back of the lock cottages and the pumping station. (1960s) [Photo: Peter Caunt]

Fairbottom Branch Canal looking west towards the junction with the Hollinwood Branch (1962). [Photo: Chris K. Potter Archive]

Ice on the Farbottom Branch, at the narrows east of Valley Aqueduct. To the left is the entrance to the loading wharf for Bardsley Colliery and a dry dock (1920s). [Photo: Garry Jones of Littlemoss]

The narrows east of Valley Aqueduct with the entrance to the loading wharf on the left reeding up slightly (1930s). [Photo: Oldham Local Studies Library]

A boat being repaired in the dry dock off the Fairbottom Branch. The dry dock was a continuation of a short loading arm just east of Valley Aqueduct. To the right can be seen waggons on the tram road that came down from Bardsley Colliery (1920s).
There was another dry dock near Dock Pit near Fenny Field Bridge, but no photos are available. This photo is sometimes wrongly described as showing the Fenny Field dry dock.

The steam boat Pioneer on an excursion near Bardsley Bridge (1910s). [Photo: Oldham Local Studies Library]

Hand-coloured postcard of Bardsley Bridge [1910s].

Close-up of Bardsley Bridge showing the extent to which mining subsidence had affected the levels. The bridge had been re-built in 1862 by the railway company which had bought the canal. The lettering reads "M. S. & L. Ry. Co. A. C. DEPt." standing for Manchester Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway Company, Ashton Canal Department.