Locks.

[Supermalc]

I know this topic has been discussed before, but year on year, things change, and there are new boaters around that might like to know this information.

 

For instance. Last year Stamp End gates became silted up, and were extremely heavy. The BW workers told me they could not clear the silt as they normally do, by flushing the lock, as the overide switches were not working, so not allowing them to operate the guillotine gate with the lower gates open.

 

They now swing freely again, although are still 'heavy'

 

Worst lock has to be Antons Gowt, followed by Bottom lock on the kyme, although that isn't a hard lock, just lots of weed clearing which involves winding the guillotine up and down.

 

Bardney is now easy, well it was when I last used it in September.

 

Best locks ...... huge manned locks on the Trent. On my second trip I passed through one going up, without even getting off the seat

 

Most dangerous lock, on my own ...... Barrow on Soar.

[RichardH]

Thornes Lock at the start of the C&H in Wakefield - horrendous surge from the gate paddles no matter how slowly you take them

[Theo]

Thornes Lock at the start of the C&H in Wakefield - horrendous surge from the gate paddles no matter how slowly you take them

 

 

I don't know that lock. Are the gate paddles on the top gate? If they are on the top gate you can wait until the levels are more equal. Provided that there are top ground paddles, that is. (I am sure that chickens and eggs pertain here but never mind. There might be readers who are novices!)

[Hairy-Neil]

Provided that there are top ground paddles, that is.......

 

There are (or were, its 14 years since I last went that way) several locks on the Calder & Hebble that have only gate paddles....

[Keeping Up]

I'd vote for Towney Lock on the K&A. It's very deep, with piled sides that look as if they could cut through your ropes, there are no ground paddles, and there are horrendous water-flows from the big gate paddles which would discharge straight into your front cockpit if you opened them too far. So you have to open them just a tiny amount to allow the water to just trickle in, especially if you've got a big boat in the lock, which means it takes forever to fill.

 

Mind you, it's great fun filling it fast when there isn't a boat in it

 

Allan

[Mick and Pauline]

Thornes Lock at the start of the C&H in Wakefield - horrendous surge from the gate paddles no matter how slowly you take them

 

Hi Richard,

 

The C&H actually starts at Fall Ings Lock on the east side of Wakefield where it leaves the river section on A&C (Wakefield Branch). This lock is a normal lock but the next lock after passing through Wakefield Flood Lock and going back out onto the River Calder is Thorne Lock, the one you mentioned.

 

Now the C&H lock's are unusual and from your description you were using the "Handspike" mechanism built into certain top gates on this canal. The mechanism is built into the lock and only sit a couple of inches above ground level and could be missed or not recognised the be part of the paddle operation. The majority of the C&H lock's do have a combination of windlass and handspike operation, they could be ground paddles or gate paddles. The Thorne Lock top gate is, I think, a handspike operation for the gate paddle and windlass for the ground paddle.

 

For those unaware of the C&H handspike paddle operation, it is a piece of hardwood about a 3 foot long, with a tapered end of 3" x 2" section. The tapered end of the handspike is placed in the socket on paddle spindle and by pulling back and the aid of the ratchet, you can raise the paddle slowly.

 

Hope this help any boater new to the C&H locks.

 

M&P

[Theo]

Hi Richard,

 

The C&H actually starts at Fall Ings Lock on the east side of Wakefield where it leaves the river section on A&C (Wakefield Branch). This lock is a normal lock but the next lock after passing through Wakefield Flood Lock and going back out onto the River Calder is Thorne Lock, the one you mentioned.

 

Now the C&H lock's are unusual and from your description you were using the "Handspike" mechanism built into certain top gates on this canal. The mechanism is built into the lock and only sit a couple of inches above ground level and could be missed or not recognised the be part of the paddle operation. The majority of the C&H lock's do have a combination of windlass and handspike operation, they could be ground paddles or gate paddles. The Thorne Lock top gate is, I think, a handspike operation for the gate paddle and windlass for the ground paddle.

 

For those unaware of the C&H handspike paddle operation, it is a piece of hardwood about a 3 foot long, with a tapered end of 3" x 2" section. The tapered end of the handspike is placed in the socket on paddle spindle and by pulling back and the aid of the ratchet, you can raise the paddle slowly.

 

Hope this help any boater new to the C&H locks.

 

M&P

 

I am sure that when we go on our retirement trip (10months pootling along to wherever we get to ) we will find such advice immeasurably useful!

[Tomska]

I'd vote for Towney Lock on the K&A

 

Another vote for Towney Lock - it's a swine. You didn't mention the fact that one bottom gate opens as the other shuts, so it's incredibly difficult to do single-handed.

[allybsc]

Wigan...pick any lock, hated them all

[magnetman]

The worst locks are those ones where BW have seen fit to add louvred baffles to the centre paddles. OK so they would be alright if all locks had them but they don't so they make it more dangerous becaus people assume that they are fitted to all locks. rant over.

[Carrie]

I'm sure I'll find more difficult locks, but the worse for me so far has been Somerton Deep Lock on the Oxford. Why? Well, it was one of the first locks I did single-handed, it was windy, I don't like heights, I had to keep my dog locked inside while I climbed the ladder up to the top and he howled his silly doggy head off the whole time. Like I wasn't stressed enough!

[Sir Nibble]

one bottom gate opens as the other shuts,

This is a common problem. If you let a little water through to hold the gates there is always some silly sod who thinks you are abusing the lock, but the alternative is that you will be there all day.

 

My least favourite of those I use regularly is Bath deep lock, for much the same reasons as Carrie doesn't like Somerton deep lock. Apart from the leg wetting hieght of the ladder, the top gates are really heavy 'cos they're so damn big. This is the only lock where I secure the boat with two ropes rather than dropping a bowline from the centre rope over a bollard and leaving her in gear. This lock also has a habit of draining the top pound as it fills leaving boats on the mud until someone comes along to let a little water down through the next lock.

[RichardH]

Hi Richard,

 

The C&H actually starts at Fall Ings Lock on the east side of Wakefield where it leaves the river section on A&C (Wakefield Branch). This lock is a normal lock but the next lock after passing through Wakefield Flood Lock and going back out onto the River Calder is Thorne Lock, the one you mentioned.

 

For those unaware of the C&H handspike paddle operation, it is a piece of hardwood about a 3 foot long, with a tapered end of 3" x 2" section. The tapered end of the handspike is placed in the socket on paddle spindle and by pulling back and the aid of the ratchet, you can raise the paddle slowly.

 

Hope this help any boater new to the C&H locks.

 

M&P

 

 

Oops I actually meant Fall Ings - which doesn't have ground paddles and is of commercial length.

 

I am probably unusual in actually quite liking the quirkiness of the handspike.

 

Wigan...pick any lock, hated them all

 

Agree - I utterly detest the Wigan Flight - horrible heavy metal gates and a lock keeper who is friendly enough (looks like a gladiator) but also very good at making himself scarce

 

My wife has categorically refused to go through it this year !

Edited February 6, 2007 by RichardH

[Hairy-Neil]

Heaviest Paddle Gear:

Huddersfield Broad (most of them have been fitted with modern reduction gear units now so they also quite high on the "unnecessarily easy but take far to long to wind down in an emergency situation" type.

 

Heaviest Paddle Gear in Abundance

Worcester/Birmingham (Tardebigge) locks top ground paddles. Heavy little B's. We did all 56 in one day once and knew it afterwards, plus the two up from the river.

 

Heaviest Gates

Was also on the Huddersfield Broad. Short stumpy balance beams, trunkated (no pun intended) because of a bridge parapet and too much water coming down the cut. Crew couuldn't manage, had to commandeer help from passers by.

 

Slowest Filler

Langley Mill Lock on the Erewash/Cromford Canal. Time for a 3 course meal with your cup of tea.....

 

Pain in the Butt

13 Thames locks in one night whilst the keepers were off duty

 

Pain in the Butt 2.

The same locks that are "boater friendly"powered, but that are off turned off at 10pm for no reason other than to make it difficult for boaters.

 

Into the Unknown

Leaving Selby Lock for Naburn on a spring tide.

 

Brown Trouser Moment

Entering Keadby Lock towards the end of the tidal window.

 

Brown Trouser Moment 2.

Entering Eynsham Lock on the Thames from below with a loaded pair one Easter with excess flow on the river.

[Tomska]

Pain in the Butt

13 Thames locks in one night whilst the keepers were off duty

 

13??? Yikers. Your arm must have been falling off by the end of that.

[Supermalc]

Heaviest Paddle Gear:

Huddersfield Broad (most of them have been fitted with modern reduction gear units now so they also quite high on the "unnecessarily easy but take far to long to wind down in an emergency situation" type.

 

Have you tried the new paddle on Bottom Lock Neil. I had to wait for the leaky gates to let a bit out before I could move it, and I'm a man sized handle, and I had to jump on it.

[rallyfan]

Some would argue that Stanstead Lock on the River Lea is among the worst. Mind you, worst or best depends on whether you are ascending it in your boat, or just watching someone elses attempting to ascend it

[Howard]

 

Pain in the Butt

13 Thames locks in one night whilst the keepers were off duty

 

Pain in the Butt 2.

The same locks that are "boater friendly"powered, but that are off turned off at 10pm for no reason other than to make it difficult for boaters.

 

Brave man doing 13 in one night , you weren't trying to get out of buying a vistors licence were you ? sneaking through under cover of darkness and all that ?

 

Just kidding ...

 

They are turned off at night because the hydraulic electric motors tend to keep the lock keepers awake if they are running through the night, they are quite noisy things , and the lock keepers live on site as i'm sure you know. Also the vast majority of people who come through late at night tend to have had several beers , there is only so much damage you can do to the lock and yourself handwinding it , as opposed to using the power. So its from a safety point of view as well. The keeper is probably going to be up and awake until ten so if the motor jams and catches fire (as happened at Romney a couple of years back) for example, theres a good chance it will be dealt with , if it were to happen at 3am for example a lot more damage could occur.

 

Not everything the Agency does is to annoy you Neil believe it or not !

 

Hope everyone is well !

Edited February 6, 2007 by Howard

[Hairy-Neil]

Brave man doing 13 in one night , you weren't trying to get out of buying a vistors licence were you ? sneaking through under cover of darkness and all that ?

 

Just kidding ...

 

Was a case of having to, we had a tide to catch....and an appointment to keep with a coal lorry. And going that many locks I'd think we'd have been on a merchandise ticket with the token ton of coal.

 

We had left Reading around lunch time delayed by an hour or so because our crew had struggled to find us at out moring at Blakes Lock. The next delay was a huge queue at marsh lock following a temporary stoppage. We had already brokered for delays at Henley due to being the saturday of regatta week...... but passage of the "mile" took longer than I'd expected, not least because the EA "police" didn't think it appropriate for me to pass through with a 70 foot motor tug towing a 70 foot empty barge........I showed them my merchandise ticket, told them I had a tide to catch (by this point in about 20 hours time) and that we were going, stop me....In the event I was escorted through by the EA launches, each one seeing me through their patch before handing me over to the next man. Hambledon Lock was passed around 8.00pm whilst still manned and Hurley was one of our coal regulars so wouldn't see us struggle through unaided. Beyond there we were completely on our own.

 

We tied up on the piling above Boveney Lock at 01.00am and snatched, if I rember correctly, about 3 hours sleep by which time is was getting light again. We continued through to Chertsey lock which we filled and were in before the keeper arrived to finish off under power.....At least it saved restarting the engine 13 times....Arrived at Teddington, I thought 1/2 hour later than I'd hoped but turned out I was 1/2 hour early due to tide times being in GMT. Time for a relaxed cuppa before dropping down to Berntford and on to the Grand Union. Three days later we were tied up at Stoke Bruerne ready for the coal lorries to load us at 6.00am the following morning.

 

 

Have you tried the new paddle on Bottom Lock Neil.

 

Not been through Bottom Lock for a while now, maybe 7 - 8 years

 

13??? Yikers. Your arm must have been falling off by the end of that.

 

Sandford Lock was always the worst out of hours, took the age of a big dog to hand wind it did. Long enough to collect a pint from the adjacent Kings Head.....

[Jon]

My personal worst lock is the penultimate lock going up the Hatton Flight (next to the Cafe). I've had 2 incidents here:

 

1) - pushing our luck for daylight, almost dark on a winters evening, opened up the top paddles to fill the lock only to find a few moments later the boat had grounded in the middle of the pound. Turns out a log was trapped between the lock gates below the surface and was letting water through into the pound below!

 

2) Same lock, same boat, next year, while going through the lock the clutch failed, had to drag boat up to the top and await repair...

 

I don't like that lock!

 

Jon

[Adam]

Oops I actually meant Fall Ings - which doesn't have ground paddles and is of commercial length.

 

How is it a bad lock i just sit at the end out of the way

 

I think its got quite big paddles though and there stiff buggers

 

Regards Adam

[Gillie]

So far Woolhampton on the K & A by a long way....

 

the flow of the river was really fast a few weeks ago..it was like white water narrowboating going downstream..

 

and I don't want to talk about what happened going up stream on the way back to Newbury...