Britannica
Sources used in this answer
- canals and inland waterways - Inland waterway craft
- tunnels and underground excavations - Water inflows
- canals and inland waterways - Bridges, aqueducts, and tunnels for waterways
- tunnels and underground excavations - Development of method
- canals and inland waterways - Ancient works
- tunnels and underground excavations - Canal and railroad tunnels
How were early canal tunnels used before towpaths were added?
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canals and inland waterways
The Oudegracht (Old Canal), Utrecht, Netherlands.
Before towpaths were added to canal tunnels, vessels were propelled through these underground passages using manual methods. Crews moved the boats by poling or by a technique known as "legging," which involved crew members lying on their backs on the cabin roof and pushing with their feet against the tunnel walls or ceiling to propel the vessel forward.1