Thursday, March 06, 2014

Gas delays our trip to London




The only reason we have not started our journey into London is the stoppage in Berkhamsted at gas locks, so called because of the Gas works just past the north lock.
It is due to open 4pm Friday but the workforce tell me it will be Saturday morning before they move all their equipment off site.

The water mark on the lock wall shows the normal `lock empty` level.
With the water levels lowered this picture gives a good view of what those wind up mechanisms do. The two on the gate are closed but can be raised to let water into the lock. The open one in the wall allows water into the lock via an underground tunnel.
Standing next to the lock in the picture above this shows how close these two locks are. The edging to the left is new.


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6 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 7, 2014 at 9:27:00 AM GMT

    Hi Les

    Very interesting photos of the drained locks and the workings of the top paddles. Not a sight you see very often. I was surprised to see such modern-looking metalwork below the waterline. You assume the whole system is 200 years old, but metal that spends all it's time under water will need to be replaced on a regular basis.

    Have you and your blog readers seen that there is a series starting on More4 on Monday night about Timothy West & Prunella Scales exploring their favourite canals? 9pm start.

    Best wishes
    Alistair

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  2. JanetMarch 8, 2014 at 11:31:00 AM GMT

    Fabulous photographs of this. We visited the stretch on foot a couple of weeks ago, but had no camera with us. We hope the works will have addressed the problem of the pound becoming very low at times. Hope your trip goes well and your health continues to improve.
    Janet from NB MORE

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  3. UnknownMarch 9, 2014 at 7:07:00 AM GMT

    A shallow narrow ditch with considerable mud on each side. Was not aware how painfully shallow in deoth the canals are. I looked at the one photograph and thought, removing the muddy soil the dept of the centre channel would atleast give more depth to the canal, from shore to shore.

    One could in theory walk on the bottom of a canal and move the boat, not realistic however often wonder how easy it is to become grounded on the bottom of a canal, through no fault of your own.

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  4. Les BiggsMarch 10, 2014 at 7:37:00 PM GMT

    hello Alistair
    The paddles were at one time made of wood and I believe they tried some plastic ones but they distorted. Hope those facts are correct. try a google.
    TV will be on More 4 Monday for sure.

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  5. Les BiggsMarch 10, 2014 at 7:40:00 PM GMT

    hi Janet
    yes that pound sure did leak but perhaps with the new Armco all is now sealed.

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  6. Les BiggsMarch 10, 2014 at 7:47:00 PM GMT

    Hello Bryce
    always good to hear from you mate.
    yes our canals are very shallow. Perhaps 3 feet upto 4 feet is a rough guide although of course some parts for various reasons are deeper but only for short distances. They were dug U shaped so the centre is the deepest. Some canals are a nightmare because of lack of depth at the sides, mooring is difficult.

    ReplyDelete

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Jaqueline Biggs