New strapping posts at Stoke Bruerne top lock

[Leo No2]

Whilst CRT is seemingly coming in for another 'bashing' on the dark side to do with the Aylesbury lock issue I would like to give them the 'thumbs up' for replacing the two broken strapping posts at Stoke Bruerne top lock last week.

 

All the Stoke Bruerne locks (and I believe the ancillary bits that go to make up the lock furniture) are listed. CRT have replaced the one adjacent to flagpole (which has been missing for some years) and the one on the lock waiting area which broke last autumn. They have been replaced with recycled balance beams and I think they look really good. Well done CRT bankside staff and the Heritage team as well. The one adjacent to the Spice of Bruerne still remains even though it is a little bit worn but it seems to be still quite serviceable.

 

Edited July 21, 2014 by Leo No2

[koukouvagia]

That is good news. I shall make a point of using them next time I visit SB.

 

I wonder if there are plans to replace the many others which are missing on the southern GU.

[Guest]

Ok ignoramus question time....

 

How are these used?

[pete harrison]

Ok ignoramus question time....

 

How are these used?

The one in the fore ground = no idea, I can not see its relevance (likewise the two small iron bollards) - probably a modern position used to secure a boat whilst waiting for the lock to be set.

 

The ones above the top gates are used to slow and stop the forward movement of a butty or horse boat. A 'Strapping Line' is taken from the rear anser pin of the butty / horse boat and a couple of turns are placed around the post. The 'Strapping Line' is allowed to slip around the post as the butty / horse boat continues moving forward. The person holding the 'Strapping Line' progressively allows the bite to increase on the Strapping Post, and if judged correctly will bring the boat to a stop just as the fore end touches the bottom gate.

 

This method is only really required with loaded boats, and when done well looks very impressive - and is also quite efficient. Empty boats will most likely pass through these locks abreast, freeing up the butty steerer to carry out domestic chores or assist with lock operating.

 

Two pairs of Strapping Posts should also be placed near the bottom gates, the first being to bring the butty / horse boat to a standstill and the second to hold the butty / horse boat off the bottom gates whilst the lock is filling.

Edited July 21, 2014 by pete harrison

[Guest]

Cheers Peter.

[pete harrison]

I wonder if there are plans to replace the many others which are missing on the southern GU.

This would be nice

[Quinafloat]

Well, with one missing for a few years, and the other broken since last autumn, I think the quick answer is they weren't used. Still they look nice and probably make good seats for the people working the lock.

Edited July 21, 2014 by Quinafloat

[pete harrison]

Cheers Peter.

No problem - but please feel free to call me Pete (my mother was the only person to call me Peter).

[Guest]

No problem - but please feel free to call me Pete (my mother was the only person to call me Peter).

[Leo No2]

Well, with one missing for a few years, and the other broken since last autumn, I think the quick answer is they weren't used. Still they look nice and probably make good seats for the people working the lock.

 

Someone I know well who works a loaded boat, sometimes with a butty, is delighted the post is back alongside the lock as, I am told, it will be used.

 

The one upstream of the steel bollards I don't know too much about but will enquire of my friend. The steel ones are there for lock waiting but are seldom used because those waiting for the lock prefer to use the two behind the photo which are, in my opinion, not of a great deal of use. If they were got rid of boats would wait closer to the lock and there would be space for others to move forward rather than wait in the stream and get into all sorts of issues with the backpumping and the wind that whistles around here on some days. That coupled with the trip boat winding can lead to some 'interesting' moments'. There's plenty of room to get boats out of the lock if there are boats waiting on the forward bollards.

[Mike Tee]

I wondered what C&RT was doing at SB the other day - guess they were installing these posts. Its a pity they decided to park their truck in what is, I think, the only disabled parking space in Stoke Bruerne.

[pete harrison]

The one upstream of the steel bollards I don't know too much about but will enquire of my friend.

Although I can not see the purpose of the Strapping Post in the fore ground of your photograph it does appear in numerous period photographs, so it must serve some commercial purpose.

[Leo No2]

Although I can not see the purpose of the Strapping Post in the fore ground of your photograph it does appear in numerous period photographs, so it must serve some commercial purpose.

I wonder if, in the absence if the steel bollards that are there now, it was to hold the motor via the back end rope? My rough estimation is that would have allowed enough room at the front for a motor and butty to come out, singling out, on the left hand side of the lock. Just a thought? Looking out my door there seems to be just about the right amount if room to accomplish that.

[pete harrison]

I wonder if, in the absence if the steel bollards that are there now, it was to hold the motor via the back end rope? My rough estimation is that would have allowed enough room at the front for a motor and butty to come out, singling out, on the left hand side of the lock. Just a thought? Looking out my door there seems to be just about the right amount if room to accomplish that.

Possibly, and I have already considered this.

 

I was a professional boatman many years ago and my preference in this instance (if loaded) would be to keep the motor out in the canal until the lock was ready, then towing the butty in on a short 'Snatcher'. This is of course assuming I had dropped somebody onto the towpath to prepare the lock for my boats (usually at the tunnel end with a bike).

[matty40s]

The lock is at a slight angle to the towpath and a pair tied together couldn't exit with anything on the steel bollards.

I used to use the strapping post there as it was the only place to hold your boat if the back pumps were flowing. It was in a very poor state near the end, not able to withstand strapping, just an anchor point for a rope once boat stopped.

[Leo No2]

The lock is at a slight angle to the towpath and a pair tied together couldn't exit with anything on the steel bollards.

I used to use the strapping post there as it was the only place to hold your boat if the back pumps were flowing. It was in a very poor state near the end, not able to withstand strapping, just an anchor point for a rope once boat stopped.

As it is the last lock before the tunnel would you not single out as you come out of the lock so you are ready for the tunnel?

[pete harrison]

As it is the last lock before the tunnel would you not single out as you come out of the lock so you are ready for the tunnel?

Definitely, unless you were intending to stop at Stoke Bruerne.

[matty40s]

As it is the last lock before the tunnel would you not single out as you come out of the lock so you are ready for the tunnel?

Quite agree, you would, but the angle of exit still means a boat on the steel bollards would make the exit a challenge.....impossible if it was a Hudson waiting to go down.

[pete harrison]

Quite agree, you would, but the angle of exit still means a boat on the steel bollards would make the exit a challenge.....impossible if it was a Hudson waiting to go down.

I am referring to loaded narrow boat pairs, and I am discounting the steel bollards as they have no historical relevance.

[matty40s]

I am referring to loaded narrow boat pairs, and I am discounting the steel bollards as they have no historical relevance.

 

I bow to your historical knowledge Pete, but even in this day aand age, having those bollards there makes it a pig of a lock to come out of if a boat is waiting there.......which is why I always use that now replaced bollard.

[David Mack]

The lock is at a slight angle to the towpath and a pair tied together couldn't exit with anything on the steel bollards.

I used to use the strapping post there as it was the only place to hold your boat if the back pumps were flowing. It was in a very poor state near the end, not able to withstand strapping, just an anchor point for a rope once boat stopped.

From the photo it looks as if, with a boat moored on the metal bollards, it would be a tight fit for two full length boats not breasted up to get out. The towpath side boat would would be completely boxed in, and the offside boat would have difficulty swinging across sufficiently to get past.

 

And how do a motor and butty pair single out if the motor is on the towpath side?

[pete harrison]

And how do a motor and butty pair single out if the motor is on the towpath side?

For this reason I always put the motor on the offside when passing uphill through Stoke Bruerne top lock.

 

edit - if empty I would always have the motor on that side anyway, regardless of propeller rotation, as it keeps the motor's back end in the deeper water if passing other boats in the pounds. If loaded I would use a Snatcher up each of the pounds at Stoke Bruerne, but still put the motor on the same side as if I were abreast.

 

edit 2 - interestingly the approaches to Stoke Bruerne top lock are a little awkward whether going uphill or downhill with a pair, i.e. a slight bend both above and below the lock.

Edited July 21, 2014 by pete harrison

[Galeomma]

In the days when the locks were doubled up, as in when the old lock at Stoke Bruerne (where the weigh lift is now) was in use, were there any rules of passage? Right hand lock for going up, left for down or something like that?

[RLWP]

In the days when the locks were doubled up, as in when the old lock at Stoke Bruerne (where the weigh lift is now) was in use, were there any rules of passage? Right hand lock for going up, left for down or something like that?

 

It is more likely that the company would insist on working in a way that preserves water

 

Richard

[David Schweizer]

In the days when the locks were doubled up, as in when the old lock at Stoke Bruerne (where the weigh lift is now) was in use, were there any rules of passage? Right hand lock for going up, left for down or something like that?

 

How would that work then? Once the lock has been used it is available for another boat coming in the opposite direction, to keep one for ascending and the other for descending would require the lock to be filled or emptied each time, unless there was a system for transferring water from one lock to the other as used to happen ay Hilmorten.

Edited August 4, 2014 by David Schweizer