Great Engineering - The Falkirk Wheel

[simon c]

The Falkirk Wheel, is the final piece in the renovation of the canal system in Scotland that allows small boats (pleasure craft) to traverse the breadth of Scotland, from the Firth of Forth to the Firth of Clyde, The Forth and Clyde canals meet at Falkirk. The difference in the height between the two canals is 115 feet, Years ago a set of locks (11 in all) allowed the craft to reach the different levels. When the canals were being renovated it was decided that to try and repair or rebuild the locks was out of the question. The answer to the problem was to build a spectacular wheel that would accommodate 4 x 20 Metre long boats in a single go, and as one lot went down 2 more could be lifted at the same time. The following pictures show the wheel in all it’s glory. From entering the cradle to leaving it takes just 15 minutes.

http://users.bigpond.net.au/manfred/pics/wheel.pps

Approx 1MB download

[namtrak]

What an amazing set-up!! In engineering terms reminds of that wacking great bridge in France..

Cheers

[Iain]

Or the wall on the Thames, it would have to feel strange in a boat, on the water that far in the air....

[Wood Butcher]

All I can say is bloody brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!