NEW GATES FOR OLD

As i said on the last blog i passed some time watching the lock gates at Buckby top lock being changed and now with NB Valerie in a new location together with a much stronger Internet signal here are some pics. The pics on the last blog were taking 17 mins to download but now with a better signal all 8 here took 11mins.

Off comes the old beam

Up and over into the car park. You can see NB Valerie in the distance on the right with smoke rising from the chimney.
The lorry with the new gates arrives
First off the cill buffer beam that protects the concrete that the gates close against below water. A bit like the old bumper bars that were fitted to cars, remember them strong metal in shiny chrome that gave quite a lot of protection to the car unlike the plastic so common today.
You can see the 2 gates but in case anyone is wondering why only one gate beam it`s because one of the old ones still has some life left in it and will be re-used.
In comes a new gate
being lowered into the lock chamber, the new gates will be craned into position another day when work to the lock chamber is finished
Above and below out comes the first of the old gates.

Just looked out the window as i publish this blog and guess what it`s Snowing heavy, so glad i moved.