SLHS Wonders Of The Waterways

More Information

1. See.. STEM: How A Lock Works
   

2. History Of President & Kildare: Canals&Rivers Magazine (downloads from Braunston Marina):  Part1 & Part2 & Part3 & Part4.
   

Why This Page..

I have to confess that as the son of the Founder Treasurer of the first canal to be restored in the UK, yes the Stratford Canal, I was over-soaked in talk about them. However I followed my father’s lead and helped dig some of it out in the 1960’s. I was a bit young, and prisoners from Long Lartin were used at times, so my contribution was likely minimal. However as I grew up I must’ve been to at least 50 working parties clearing fly-tipped waste, trees and more brambles than you can shake your blood soaked hands at !

My father was enthusiastic beyond compare all the time, pausing only to be enthusiastic about steam railways, and spent his last days as the Engineer (boiler stoker and engine driver) for the last remaining original steam narrowboat President for the Dudley Museum. A double pleasure for him.

He waxed lyrical about the achievements of the canals before railways came along. He told me of the unusual and remarkable installations that were necessary for the usual transport of goods where remarkable problems had to be overcome. This was normally due to the steepness of a hill, the lack of land or the lack of water or all three !

So it’s to him that I offer you the chance to see why he thought these achievements were so good.

● These items have aspects that uniquely contribute to national or world history.

To return to Master page click on ‘Canal’ above.

Seven Wonders Of The Waterways

In 1955 Robert Aickman (co-founder of the Inland Waterways Association) published a book called Know Your Waterways. ln it he listed 7 remarkable pinnacles of waterway achievement. As you might have guessed my father was somewhat unhappy with the shortness of this list.

Frankly, there’s no point in repeating what others so admirably describe elsewhere. However I have visited quite a number of remarkable installations which don’t even make it into his or anyone else’s hit parade of wonders.

Twelve Wonders Of The Waterways - MUST SEE

My father is no longer with us but I have since discovered a fantastic website which does far greater justice to the subject. You must move directly to here; You must pass Go, do not get sidetracked in jail and do realise that you are about to pick up £200 worth of knowledge on your way. This is the best there is on the subject..

Twelve Wonders Of The Waterways

Well done Lucy & Stephen*

Millennium Project

In Scotland since WW2 the Forth & Clyde Canal and the Union Canal had fallen into disuse just as every other canal in the UK. After restoration the English canals had seen a huge resurgence in their use by tourists but Scotland had just let theirs go. In its run up to the celebrations the Millennium Commission sought to provide Scotland with a long lasting memory of the occasion.

* If you really are as mad as a hatter then the builders of this august website, Lucy & Stephen, might interest you with their fantastic photographic record of their wonderful trips from 1995 to 2015.

Take a look at: Luphen

If You’re Still Not Yet Convinced About Canal Wonders - An Example

When I was younger I had not seen the light. Perhaps even my memory was distracted by other less wonderous things. Therefore perhaps an example-wonder might help..

Falkirk Wheel

A completely new, and you’ll whince at me for saying, “and revolutionary” project was proposed. in 1995 British Waterways had been given the green light to restore the 11 badly derelict locks  which joined the two systems which were at greatly differing levels. However with the millennium approaching a new idea was needed as a “Showpiece For Scotland”. Several designs were costed and the winner was announced. It was the magnificent Falkirk Wheel and was opened by the Queen in 2002.

Like so many innovations in the canal world the innovative design was a brilliant British achievement, and no less than a world first, but there was another surprising reason..

Statistics

As with all canal wonders that word remarkable can be used again. This time it sums up the design’s remarkable efficiency. Let’s look at some statistics:

1. •It replaced 11 derelict double width locks
   

2. •Height change is 24m
   

3. •Yet it takes just 4 minutes to move the two 600t caissons of water
   

4. •It’s shape is like a double Celtic axe
   

5. •It takes just a trifling 13hp to rotate
   

6. •Total energy used is a trivial 1.5KWh ie equivalent of boiling just 8 kettles of water. Take a bow Falkirk Wheel !
   

These statistics are taken from David Murdoch’s brilliant video of it operating:  Bankieland: Falkirk Wheel