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Locks on the Thames


Jporter

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Below Oxford, generally yes. The start & finish times change depending on time of year, and they usually have an hour or so off for lunch. Plus they might not be there for various other reasons eg weirs need seeing to. But self-service is very easy - just button pushes if everything is working correctly (it isn’t always!). 

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IMO the Thames is notg doing well for lock service at the moment and I suspect CoVid has caused problems with training  for volunteers and relief staff.

The locks above Oxford starting at King's are all large balance beam and handwheel sluices - easy to operate. Thise below  are electric push button with instructions printed on the cabinet (unless some scrote has torn them off). Just DON'T hold the "sluices up" button - just press for 2-3 seconds - or the system will lock up completely and require a techie to reset.

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We found, twice, I know twice because it’s a pain, locks unmanned and a power off notice. Try to ascertain how long for, if it’s a quick fix, don’t go through the lock. To operate the lock handdraulically takes ages and lots and lots of energy.

 

Just saying.

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It's very unusual (!care!) to find a lock pedestal without public power (unless some Pr**t has held the sluices up button until the system goes into error mode.... Even so, it's a right pain in the 'glutimus maximus' to have to hand wind - take your time - find a friend to help.  After all you don't have to wind the sluices up all the way - just enough to get some water moving and similarly you don't have to open the gates fully......

Just enjoy the Thames so long as we have it indpendent - befre CRT or worse take it over...

  • Greenie 1
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11 hours ago, F DRAYKE said:

Don't forget that you are supposed to tie up with front and rear line in locks on the Thames not just a centre line.

It's a reasonable requirement - once you've seen a plonker insist on using only the centre line - and then watching his boat wandering all over the place, potentially damaging other boats or the lock furniture itself.

 

What's adequate on the canals does definitely not apply on the Riverl

Lockies have given up trying to explain to stroppy NB'ers - who then complain to the management and the lockie gets a b****g

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5 hours ago, OldGoat said:

It's a reasonable requirement - once you've seen a plonker insist on using only the centre line - and then watching his boat wandering all over the place, potentially damaging other boats or the lock furniture itself.

 

What's adequate on the canals does definitely not apply on the Riverl

Lockies have given up trying to explain to stroppy NB'ers - who then complain to the management and the lockie gets a b****g

I agree. Personally when single handing on the Thames I use looooong lines at bow and stern. Tie one of them off on a bollard and then adjust the other one.  A 25-30' line can easily cope with the rise and fall at (say) Sandford, one of the deeper ones (and also where the water rather unhelpfully comes in through the floor of the lock, pushing you away from the walls).

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