Query about balance beam ends

[alan_fincher]

Many of the GU lock gates had additional balance weights:

 

Radford Bottom Lock.jpg

 

Balance beam.JPG

 

One still survives at Buckby Top lock.....as a planter!

 

 

 

 

 

I think that arrangement was probably unique to only the new wide locks on the Birmingham main line though (Calcutt to Knowle).

 

I can't think I have ever seen evidence of it on any of the Southern GU or Leicester line wide locks, (but happy to be corrected if any ever did have it).

 

(Good to see you back, BTW, Ray!).

[furnessvale]

Many of the GU lock gates had additional balance weights:

 

Radford Bottom Lock.jpg

 

Balance beam.JPG

 

One still survives at Buckby Top lock.....as a planter!

 

 

 

 

I hate locks with additional weights placed on the beams.

 

The beam may well be in balance but it invariably loses out on the lever arm that a longer beam provides. I appreciate that the design of some locks means that a longer beam would leave a boater with his legs swinging over fresh air. That is simply bad design.

 

What really annoys me are locations where the adjacent road has been widened to please the local authority, leaving the beams shortened or kinked. Once again, I think the boaters concerns are at the back of the queue.

 

George ex nb Alton retired

[cuthound]

I think that arrangement was probably unique to only the new wide locks on the Birmingham main line though (Calcutt to Knowle).

I can't think I have ever seen evidence of it on any of the Southern GU or Leicester line wide locks, (but happy to be corrected if any ever did have it).

 

(Good to see you back, BTW, Ray!).

Yes, welcome back Ray.