The Online Archive now enables you to zoom in. If you click on the thumbnail of an image, it will open in full-size (high resolution) view - on a black background. Double-click on this image and it zooms in, albeit by a fixed amount. You can also drag this view (moving the mouse or touchpad whilst holding down the left mouse button) to see different parts of it. Double-click again to zoom out.

A short video is now available describing the offline processes necessary to record the catalogue and caption information for each image, and create digital copies of the hard-copy original, prior to uploading. It supports the detailed description provided on the Guidance Page.

We have received the following, welcome, message "This is a wonderful resource and extremely helpful for everyone with an interest in the canals of the Midlands. I will share the link with my colleagues Canal & River Trust Thank you."

A new 18-minute introductory video is now available, explaining how the online archive is organised, and how to view its content.

Hugh Potter has begun to add images to the Birmingham Canal Navigation pages, where there are already others from other collections. The captions are very basic being a combination of what is on the slides, his knowledge and Ray Shill’s comments. Some will be familiar to you from the HNBC book BCN 1950-1977 by Mike Harrison using some of the same photos. If you can add to the knowledge of these images please post your comments in the box beneath the images so that the captions can be improved. (...)

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Richard Dean has recently donated a comprehensive set of diagrams (as digital copies) to the RCHS, comprising 589 detailed diagrams, together with index plans, and the contemporaneous records of alterations and amendments to be made to the diagrams. The first set, covering the line from Portpatrick to Carlisle, and on to Hellifield, has been added to the online archive, and further diagrams will be added as volunteer resources permit. The diagrams cover a period of railway development with new (...)

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Dennis Hadley photographed many canals and his complete collection of 1600 35mm colour slides and 900 35mm black and white negatives have now been scanned. They are mostly taken in Southern England and the Midlands but other parts of England, Wales and Scotland are also represented.
These are gradually being made available.
Currently images of the following canals have been added:
Kennet and Avon Canal, Thames and Severn Canal, Basingstoke Canal ( some additional imgaes of this (...)

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Over the past few weeks there have been some images of stations added to the ROMA. Amongst these are some images of pre-grouping country stations which give a snapshot (literally) of railway and social history of the period. For the railways there is the equipment and signage being used plus the staff uniforms whilst socially there are images of the mix of customers, their outfits and the advertising signage businesses thought pertinent to the railway traveller. Examples of these images include (...)

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Amongst the many images recently uploaded is a small group displaying three slip coaches, and their operating mechanisms. I don't suppose the safety elves would permit the use of such technology these days.

A selection of drawings and photographs of boats and engines manufactured by Abdela and Mitchell has been added.
Isaac J. Abdela and Mitchell of Queensferry, Flintshire; of Brimscombe, Stroud, Gloucestershire; and of George Street, Manchester, were makers of steam engines and boilers for marine use and builders of boats, mainly for river use. The company was incorporated in 1901, (...)

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