Grants lock Oxford canal broken and closed

[magnetman]

Tail gate balance beam fell off apparently. 

 

I think this one has single gates. 

 

 

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notices/01975a51-7630-759a-a1d0-ce545a0933ce

[5239]

I see a new pattern emerging,

broken bits are no longer vandalism,

but down to boats hitting stuff,

….well 🤷‍♀️ the silly season has started so expect more of the same

 

Wolverhampton locks are out too,

til end of week

[Ex Brummie]

Quite how a boat hitting the gate can cause a balance beam to fall off is beyond me.

[5239]

Hit an already shit gate with enough force ?

Give me a 70 footer and I’m sure I could manage it. 

 

 

 

[MtB]

5 minutes ago, Ex Brummie said:

Quite how a boat hitting the gate can cause a balance beam to fall off is beyond me.

 

All a bit odd, innit.

 

What CRT actually say:

 

"Due to a boat strike of the bottom gate the balance beam has been broken meaning the lock is not safe for use and locked off accordingly."

 

 

What I suspect they meant to say:

 

"Due to it being old and extensively rotting, the balance beam was not strong enough to withstand a boat strike."

[Ex Brummie]

Surely the balance beam will swing free if the gate is struck. The only way in which the beam could fail in a strike is if it is rotten and the shock/vibration is the proverbial straw....

It's 2 or 3 years since I was on the Oxford and if this gate is in the same state as lots of the others, then maybe the lock operatives had a lucky escape, if the fail had occured when opening or closing the gate in the normal way. 

I find it interesting that the principle of beam temporary repair has moved on from the Armco crash barrier used on the Oxford to the varying lengths of angle iron and big bolts used on the Trent and Mersey and Staffs And Worcs, which apparently is standard equipment in what is left of CaRT response vans.

[5239]

13 minutes ago, Ex Brummie said:

Surely the balance beam will swing free if the gate is struck. The only way in which the beam could fail in a strike is if it is rotten and the shock/vibration is the proverbial straw....

It's 2 or 3 years since I was on the Oxford and if this gate is in the same state as lots of the others, then maybe the lock operatives had a lucky escape, if the fail had occured when opening or closing the gate in the normal way. 

I find it interesting that the principle of beam temporary repair has moved on from the Armco crash barrier used on the Oxford to the varying lengths of angle iron and big bolts used on the Trent and Mersey and Staffs And Worcs, which apparently is standard equipment in what is left of CaRT response vans.

Have you had a go on the bouncy plywood fixtures on the Marsworth flight?

 

if I remember right they’ve been repaired with ply which has a definite spring to it. 
 

 

[Kingdom Isambard Brunel]

The mycelium have failed to hold hands . 

 

You would (!) think that in the 21st century the decay of wood (!) would (!) be understood by an organisation with substantial wooden structures to maintain,  Of course that last word is not in their vocabulary.

[ditchcrawler]

This is one of the Claydon Locks at the moment, well they have actually been painted black now

[Jon57]

2 hrs from start to finish the replacement beam with the skeleton frame. On lock 43 on the grand union. Took longer to get the van and materials and tools to the job. Well done CRT. The number of locks on this stretch with this temp fix is quite considrible. 

[MoominPapa]

Grants lock bottom gate was warped and only just opening enough to get a boat past when we went south last week  and when we returned a couple of days ago. It's possible someone go a bit too enthusiastic trying to push a slightly fat boat past, or had too many people leaning on the balance beam to get the last half inch of opening. Or someone failed to stop whilst entering the lock when full and just hit it. Given the level of fuckwittery I've witnessed going to Oxford and back, nothing would surprise me.

 

If this one doesn't get you, Pigeon Lock probably will. One top paddle in action; takes 30 minutes to make a level.

 

The pound between Slat Mill and Bourton locks that was empty last week is still low, probably because the cill at Bourton is basically blown and the bottom gates leak so much that it still leaks down fast, even with the blown cill filling it.

 

On the other hand, ignore the closure notice for Duke's cut. The top paddle is US, but the top gate leaks so much that it makes a perfect level in 15 minutes. Twice as fast as Pigeon!

 

MP.

  

[5239]

2 minutes ago, MoominPapa said:

fuckwittery

excellent word for all and any wrong doings 

[Arthur Marshall]

13 minutes ago, Jon57 said:

considrible

I rather liked  that one.

[Jonny P]

The lock has been the subject of a stoppage notice for a considerable period of time due to a broken paddle. However it has never been locked out of use and has continued to be used. That’s possible partly because it is shallow and leaks sufficient water to make it passable. But it’s entirely conceivable that one too many boats has helped the gates on their way as a result.

[magnetman]

1 hour ago, Jon57 said:

2 hrs from start to finish the replacement beam with the skeleton frame. On lock 43 on the grand union. Took longer to get the van and materials and tools to the job. Well done CRT. The number of locks on this stretch with this temp fix is quite considrible. 

That is all very good but one idly wonders if it is called a 'balance beam' for a reason. I do not know anything about it but it seems plausible that the weight of the beam itself helps to counteract forces elsewhere so putting on a lightweight lattice type thing while making the lock useable is causing unseen problems which could turn out to be more serious than a piece of wood. 

 

 

Edited June 10 by magnetman

[Jon57]

1 hour ago, magnetman said:

That is all very good but one idly wonders if it is called a 'balance beam' for a reason. I do not know anything about it but it seems plausible that the weight of the beam itself helps to counteract forces elsewhere so putting on a lightweight lattice type thing while making the lock useable is causing unseen problems which could turn out to be more serious than a piece of wood. 

 

 

There are lots of temp beam fixes on this stretch. Going to be a costly job to replace all the temporary fixes at some point. Maybe they will fill them with concrete to get a few more years out of them 🤣

[magnetman]

I suppose one advantage is less damage to the gate anchors when someone opens the paddles before the gates are closed. 

 

The old GU composite gates with steel beams were terrible for that. 

 

But yes trouble is ahead with these scaffold board repairs. It does not seem to be hardwood. 

 

I suppose at some stage new gates will be put in. 

 

 

 

[MtB]

2 hours ago, MoominPapa said:

f this one doesn't get you, Pigeon Lock probably will. One top paddle in action; takes 30 minutes to make a level.

 

Been like that for well over a year. 

 

 

[David Mack]

8 minutes ago, magnetman said:

But yes trouble is ahead with these scaffold board repairs. It does not seem to be hardwood. 

 

I suppose at some stage new gates will be put in.

I assume they are a stopgap solution that can eke out another 2 or 3 years before the gates are due to be replaced.

[matty40s]

3 hours ago, Jon57 said:

. The number of locks on this stretch with this temp fix is quite considrible. 

 

 

I reported over 20 between Brentford and MK last Summer.

I do take UMBRAGE at your temp word!!

😉

 

Ain't nothin goin on but the Temp...

Edited June 10 by matty40s

[NB Saturn]

14 hours ago, David Mack said:

I assume they are a stopgap solution that can eke out another 2 or 3 years before the gates are due to be replaced.

 

There’s nothing as permanent as a temporary fix.

[Ceridwen-ox-canal]

A boaters gear box failed on entry to the lock so they couldn't reverse to slow down meaning they hit it going at a pretty decent speed... it doesn't help that the gate was old and overdue a replacement.. there was even a little nest of bees living near to the lock for a short while that were seen 'chewing' the wood away from the balance beam, most likely leaf cutter bees... Grants bottom gate often gets debris like sticks and boat fenders stuck behind it and with folk forcing their way though it was always going to have something happen to cause a closure... at least now the gate will be replaced sooner rather than later... might even make it easier to single hand though it next time. 😂

[Saskia]

22 hours ago, MoominPapa said:

Grants lock bottom gate was warped and only just opening enough to get a boat past when we went south last week  and when we returned a couple of days ago. It's possible someone go a bit too enthusiastic trying to push a slightly fat boat past, or had too many people leaning on the balance beam to get the last half inch of opening. Or someone failed to stop whilst entering the lock when full and just hit it. Given the level of fuckwittery I've witnessed going to Oxford and back, nothing would surprise me.

 

If this one doesn't get you, Pigeon Lock probably will. One top paddle in action; takes 30 minutes to make a level.

 

The pound between Slat Mill and Bourton locks that was empty last week is still low, probably because the cill at Bourton is basically blown and the bottom gates leak so much that it still leaks down fast, even with the blown cill filling it.

 

On the other hand, ignore the closure notice for Duke's cut. The top paddle is US, but the top gate leaks so much that it makes a perfect level in 15 minutes. Twice as fast as Pigeon!

 

MP.

  

 We went through Grants Lock mid-May, going north we had to phone CRT as the bottom gate would not open as there was something stuck behind the door.  Boat in the lock couldn't get out. Despite many boats in the queue no one had the right equipment. Some impatient boaters suggested pushing the door open really hard, luckily they were stopped by a guy mentioning it could make the situation much worse. After CRT arrived with the tools and removed  a stuck go-kart wheel fender, the door fully opened.

One week later, we were going south, back to the hire base, and again the door wouldn't open fully as it did after the fender-removal. We managed to just get out, but reported the situation to CRT as a potential issue. Sounds like you experienced the same - again or still. CRT guys said, as the derelict cottage next to the lock attracts all sorts, they have to remove bricks and building material regularly from the lock 😕

 

I hope the impatient boaters didn't get as far south as Pigeon Lock 😅 that one is perfect for a few cups of tea and biscuits. 

 

[ditchcrawler]

2 hours ago, Saskia said:

 We went through Grants Lock mid-May, going north we had to phone CRT as the bottom gate would not open as there was something stuck behind the door.  Boat in the lock couldn't get out. Despite many boats in the queue no one had the right equipment. Some impatient boaters suggested pushing the door open really hard, luckily they were stopped by a guy mentioning it could make the situation much worse. After CRT arrived with the tools and removed  a stuck go-kart wheel fender, the door fully opened.

One week later, we were going south, back to the hire base, and again the door wouldn't open fully as it did after the fender-removal. We managed to just get out, but reported the situation to CRT as a potential issue. Sounds like you experienced the same - again or still. CRT guys said, as the derelict cottage next to the lock attracts all sorts, they have to remove bricks and building material regularly from the lock 😕

 

I hope the impatient boaters didn't get as far south as Pigeon Lock 😅 that one is perfect for a few cups of tea and biscuits. 

 

Strange, I met a boater who warned me about the problems there, but we went through quite cleanly