The Birmingham is the oldest boat in the project is a narrow canal tug built in 1912 by Abdela and Mitchell for the Sharpness New Docks Company. She was designed to replace the former steam tugs used to tow boats through the longer tunnels on the system near Tardebigge.

In 1917 she was sold to Marylebone Council and re-named Tyburn being used to tow barges freighted with domestic rubbish along the Regents Canal. She remained in the south east of England until the 1990s when she was acquired by British Waterways. She is no longer canal-worthy and what remains of her structure has been preserved and is on display at British Waterways yard at Tardebigge.

Birmingham – an Early History
Information  provided with thanks by Cath Turpin