Following a lengthy closure of the canal system at Marple for repairs to the Locks Flight - footage of which I posted in April - I witnessed the reopening and some of the first narrowboats passing through.

That little footbridge makes closing the lock nice and easy.  Nicely documented.    

DAFlys Posted at 7-5 01:56
That little footbridge makes closing the lock nice and easy.  Nicely documented.

There's one of those at the majority of the locks, I recall.
It was a bit rushed, as the battery was almost exhausted and the controller was beeping away annoyingly.

Blériot53 Posted at 7-5 02:01
There's one of those at the majority of the locks, I recall.
It was a bit rushed, as the battery was almost exhausted and the controller was beeping away annoyingly.

We dont have many here,   but the few Ive seen on the River Chelmer you have to climb over the closed gate if you are on the wrong side.

DAFlys Posted at 7-5 02:29
We dont have many here,   but the few Ive seen on the River Chelmer you have to climb over the closed gate if you are on the wrong side.

Nicely acrobatic

Blériot53 Posted at 7-5 02:33
Nicely acrobatic

Ive climbed across a few times and I do feel very uneasy doing it,  theres not much room to get over.

DAFlys Posted at 7-5 02:34
Ive climbed across a few times and I do feel very uneasy doing it,  theres not much room to get over.

Usually there's a handrail.

Blériot53 Posted at 7-5 02:40
Usually there's a handrail.

This one is like this,  hand rail to get on it only.

DAFlys Posted at 7-5 02:46
This one is like this,  hand rail to get on it only.

[view_image]

This one is rather more robust  (26 sec.)

Blériot53 Posted at 7-5 02:50
This one is rather more robust  (26 sec.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfNykAHB5Hc

Now thats just cheating with its electric operation.  

DAFlys Posted at 7-5 02:58
Now thats just cheating with its electric operation.

Well it's a bit bigger than your average narrowboat lock

Blériot53 Posted at 7-5 03:02
Well it's a bit bigger than your average narrowboat lock

I can envisage a slot for 20p like public toilets.

DAFlys Posted at 7-5 03:03
I can envisage a slot for 20p like public toilets.

The phrase "Spend a Penny"  is now obsolete

Blériot53 Posted at 7-5 03:10
The phrase "Spend a Penny"  is now obsolete

In the Lake District most of them also took contact less payment.  SWMBOd was spending more than a penny by tapping her watch.

Impressive footage Mr. B.    The width of that lock definitely prohibits the large canal boats.  Quite the impressive process you've documented.

DAFlys Posted at 7-5 03:26
In the Lake District most of them also took contact less payment.  SWMBOd was spending more than a penny by tapping her watch.

Quite a few of the ones in High Peak are free.

DowntownRDB Posted at 7-5 03:45
Impressive footage Mr. B.    The width of that lock definitely prohibits the large canal boats.  Quite the impressive process you've documented.

It's been a lot of work, but for the boating community it's been well worth it. And there's a lot of canal cruise tourism in the summer.

Nice views. Didn't that bridge that you chose as a thumbnail tempt you?

Depp Posted at 7-5 05:09
Nice views. Didn't that bridge that you chose as a thumbnail tempt you?

That's one for another day, Seb

Blériot53 Posted at 7-5 06:03
That's one for another day, Seb

No time like today...

Depp Posted at 7-5 11:08
No time like today...

Today is not the time

Blériot53 Posted at 7-5 04:32
It's been a lot of work, but for the boating community it's been well worth it. And there's a lot of canal cruise tourism in the summer.

Great timing then to get it back open.  


Speaking of the boating community I just did a salvage operation for a local boat rental company.  My dive buddy and I got it up without any damages and the rental company was super happy.  I was happy because I got paid to do something I love to do - making bubbles.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 7-5 14:09
Great timing then to get it back open.  

I think the plan was, to have had it open by Easter. But bad weather held things up.
Nice little earner for you yesterday - workers' playtime with a financial inducement

Blériot53 Posted at 7-5 04:30
Quite a few of the ones in High Peak are free.

Are those the ones that are all behind trees?

DAFlys Posted at 7-6 00:19
Are those the ones that are all behind trees?

Haha. Well those ARE free, yes.
But the municipal ones also are free.

Blériot53 Posted at 7-6 00:27
Haha. Well those ARE free, yes.
But the municipal ones also are free.

That is good really.


In other news no wild campers at the Castle this morning,    I think we can safely assume that under our new government they have fixed that issue already.   

DAFlys Posted at 7-6 00:29
That is good really.

If only

Blériot53 Posted at 7-5 22:35
I think the plan was, to have had it open by Easter. But bad weather held things up.
Nice little earner for you yesterday - workers' playtime with a financial inducement

Always nice to be able to go for a dive.  Even better when you get paid for what you love doing.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 7-6 04:13
Always nice to be able to go for a dive.  Even better when you get paid for what you love doing.

I'm sure Charles in NJ would agree with that

Blériot53 Posted at 7-6 04:34
I'm sure Charles in NJ would agree with that

No doubt he would agree.  

Wow, they are narrow.
Nice job filming!

Montfrooij Posted at 7-7 23:26
Wow, they are narrow.
Nice job filming!

Just wide enough for one boat to pass. Thereby minimising the volume of water lost from the reservoir.

Blériot53 Posted at 7-7 23:51
Just wide enough for one boat to pass. Thereby minimising the volume of water lost from the reservoir.

Interesting when compared to the older Swedish locks in the Dalsland Kanal.

Blériot53 Posted at 7-7 23:51
Just wide enough for one boat to pass. Thereby minimising the volume of water lost from the reservoir.

https://www.google.com/maps/@58. ... 05409&entry=ttu
Here you can see one.

Montfrooij Posted at 7-7 23:57
Interesting when compared to the older Swedish locks in the Dalsland Kanal.

Some canals have larger locks of course, dependent on the volume of traffic they had.

Blériot53 Posted at 7-7 23:59
Some canals have larger locks of course, dependent on the volume of traffic they had.

Must be thousands of liters of water every opening.

Montfrooij Posted at 7-7 23:58
https://www.google.com/maps/@58.9184158,12.3082965,3a,75y,180.11h,91.39t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s-e2tlp27bG1tLHeNPKc9mQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3D-e2tlp27bG1tLHeNPKc9mQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D238.05084%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?coh=205409&entry=ttu
Here you can see one.

Yes. That looks relatively modern. Many of the ones in England were constructed in the early 19th century, and some even in the 18th.

Blériot53 Posted at 7-8 00:01
Yes. That looks relatively modern. Many of the ones in England were constructed in the early 19th century, and some even in the 18th.

1868 the canal was open for business

Montfrooij Posted at 7-8 00:00
Must be thousands of liters of water every opening.

This particular stretch is fed by the reservoir at Toddbrook dam.  You may remember a few years ago - the one which almost breached and caused a major crisis. About 5 years ago.
Work to repair it is almost complete now.

Montfrooij Posted at 7-8 00:03
1868 the canal was open for business

SO it's older than I thought