Wolverhampton 21 lock 7

[Tony Reeves]

Morning everyone,

A quick heads-up; my in-laws were on their way down the Wolverhampton 21 yesterday afternoon when they were asked not to exit lock 6 by a BW chappie. Apparently the boater ahead couldn't close the top gate of lock 7. The BW team eventually retrieved some rubble/brickwork but then the gate wouldn't then close OR open again! It looked as if the lock had come of its hinges and the rubble was part of the gate structure. However, the lads managed an 'Arkwright'-esque j-j-jiggle and got the gate back on its hinge and sufficiently operational to let the small queue of boats through, but the lock will evediently need an inspection soon - might be worth keeping an eye on if you're planning on using the flight.

 

Interesting that the last boat UP the flight had left most of the top gates open and the anti- vandal locks undone.

[gorbo]

Hi Tony,

 

Glad we were able to use the "jiggle" to put the gate back in it's socket and get the Boaters on their way, the Lock was inspected by our engineers and found to have not suffered for it's ills, the problem was some rubble that had found it's way under the gate and lifted it off it's socket.

 

Thank you to the boaters for their patience and the Tea.

 

BW team