SPEEDY BANK STAFF KEEP SHROP UNION BOATERS AFLOAT

[Sam]

02 September 2005

 

SPEEDY BANK STAFF KEEP SHROPSHIRE UNION BOATERS AFLOAT

Wales & Border Counties bank staff on the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal moved quickly to handle an emergency repair when a boater reported Stanthorne Lock was filling more slowly than usual.

 

Late on the afternoon of Friday 05 August, staff found the bottom gate liner had been damaged. They kept the lock under observation over the weekend, arranging a Monday stoppage ready for repair work to be undertaken by Wednesday.

 

Shropshire Union Canal Maintenance Supervisor Neville Preece said the work was given top priority.

 

“We moved a work boat and gear to the site on Tuesday, enabling a 6am start the next day. Our team of Ray Barlow, Paddy McGovern, Andy Moore, Gary Ravenscroft and Simon Lewis erected safety fencing and fitted stop planks to top and bottom of the lock. Pumping commenced at 7.20am and the lock was dewatered by 8.30am,” said Mr Preece.

 

“The damaged liner was then removed and a new one fitted, so the lock was ready to re-open at 11am,” he added.

 

Wales & Border Counties Service Manager Susan Lane said the turnaround time on the job provided a good example of customer focused response.

 

“By ensuring our response was effectively co-ordinated, we were able to respond quickly to the incident and ensure minimum delays to boaters in our busiest month,” she added.

ends

For more information contact: Susan Lane, Service Manager, Wales & Border Counties on 01606 723810 and 07917 327855.

 

Provided by BW

Edited September 2, 2005 by Sam

[DHutch]

All sounds very impressive.

 

Whats a "bottom gate liner"?

- I assume it stops water geting under the bottom of the bottom gate?

 

 

Daniel

[nbtafelberg]

I think Anne Summers sell them.

[Breals]

ROTFLMAO!

[DHutch]

I think Anne Summers sell them.

[Bernie]

I think Anne Summers sell them.

29587[/snapback]

What are you doing in Ann Summers?

[Paul Evans]

Whats a "bottom gate liner"?

- I assume it stops water getting under the bottom of the bottom gate?

29535[/snapback]

Forget Ann Summers!

Under the water, the bottom gates need to sit against something that will provide a seal to stop water leaking out. Wood-against-stone does not provide a good seal so the stonework is faced with wood beams bolted on. Eventually, the bolts rust through and the beam comes loose allowing the lock to leak. That's what seems to have happened here.

They can also be damaged and come loose if bottom gates are allowed to crash closed by running water into a lock with the bottom gates partly opened. I saw the results of this approach to lock working some years ago on the Wigan flight when the crew of a boat going down "crashed" some gates shut on an empty lock. The bottom liner came loose and the lock would not fill. As a result, the flight was closed for 4 days. A very good reason for making sure that bottom gates are firmly closed before filling the lock!

[DHutch]

Forget Ann Summers!....

Thanks,

- So its just the wood strips on the stone work, fair enought.

 

I though it might be that, but also i some how though it maybe about stoping water going under the stone work, which is obvously a bit nore major!

 

 

Thanks, daniel