World's biggest free geocaching network
Geopaths - matching lots of geocaches
Full statistics, GPX's, all for free!
Mail notifications about new caches and logs
100% geocaching posibilities for free
Vous devez être connecté pour effectuer des opérations sur cette cache.
stats
Afficher les statistiques de la cache
Big Chute Marine Railroad - OU0AB8
Big Chute Marinie Railway
Propriétaire: simrebel
Veuillez vous connecter pour afficher les coordonnées.
Altitude: sous le niveau de la mer
 Région: Canada > Ontario
Type de boite: Virtuelle
Taille: Aucune boîte
État: Ready for Search
Cachée le: 2017-08-26
Date de création: 2017-08-26
Date de publication: 2017-08-26
Dernière mise à jour: 2017-08-27
1x Trouvé
0x Non Trouvée
0 notes
watchers 0 observateurs
756 visiteurs
1 x notation
Évalué comme: n/a
Afin de visualiser les coordonnées et
la carte des caches
vous devez être connecté
Attributs de cache

Kid Friendly  Big Rig Friendly  Listed on OCNA Only  Quick Cache  Historic Site 

Merci de lire cet article sur les attributs Opencaching.
Description EN

To claim this virtual,   Simply have your picture  taken on the observation platform 

Or if your a boater  a picture of you in the boat while it's in the cradle 

 

Big Chute Marine Railway is a patent slip at lock 44 of the Trent-Severn Waterway in OntarioCanada. It works on an inclined plane to carry boats in individual cradles over a change of height of about 60 feet (18 m). It is the only marine railway(or canal inclined plane) of its kind in North America still in use, and is overseen by federally operated Parks Canada.

 

History

In 1914 contracts were let to have 3 locks built to connect the Severn River to Georgian Bay at Port Severn, Big Chute, and Swift Rapids. With the start of World War I, however, there was a shortage of manpower and resources. Lock 45 at Port Severn was nearing completion, so it was finished as a small, "temporary" lock. (It remains in use to this day.) The locks at Big Chute and Swift Rapids were not completed, with "temporary" marine railways being built instead. The original Big Chute Marine Railway was completed in 1917, and could only carry boats up to 35 feet (11 m) long, preventing navigation by large commercial vessels. The Swift Rapids Marine Railway was completed in 1919, using the same plans as the Big Chute railway.

In 1921 plans were once again made to build three locks at Big Chute, to be part of a new section of canal which would take boats from Big Chute and rejoin the existing waterway downstream from the Little Chute, avoiding the fast water in the Little Chute. However because of the post-war recession the scheme was put on hold once more, although remains of the beginning of the dams required to maintain the water levels can still be found in the surrounding forest. In 1923 the original railway at Big Chute was replaced, as the size and number of boats had increased, with the second carriage being able to carry boats up to 60 feet (18 m) long. The 1923 carriage was used up until around 2003, on days of extremely heavy traffic, or as a backup for the new carriage. Although the old carriage is no longer used, it remains on display.

In the 1960s surveys of the area were done yet again. The old, outdated Swift Rapids Marine Railway was replaced with a single conventional lock in 1964, and plans were made for a single lock at Big Chute.

Before construction began the sea lamprey, which had been devastating the fishing industry in the Great Lakes, was found in Gloucester Pool—at the bottom of the railway—and plans were put on hold. Several impractical ideas were suggested, but no practical solution could be found. By the end of the 1960s the old marine railway could not keep up with the amount of boating traffic in the area. Long lines formed at either end of the railway, with waits often being overnight. Research was done to find a way to prevent the migration of the sea lamprey into Lake Couchiching and Lake Simcoe, while still effectively increasing the flow of traffic. A biologist sat at the bottom of the railway for days, checking the bottom of boats that locked through, and finally saw a lamprey attached to the bottom of a boat. The lamprey fell off after less than 6 meters, so the railway was determined to be effective at preventing the sea lamprey's migration. In 1976 it was finally decided that a new, enlarged railway would be built. The current carriage was opened to the public in 1978, and can carry a boat up to 100 feet (30 m) long and 24 feet (7.3 m) beam.[1] It cost $3 million to build .

Operation

The vessels are floated into the cradle, which is approximately 80 feet (24 m) long by 26 feet (7.9 m) wide. Four 200 horsepower (150 kW) electric motors provide traction by cable. It can transport up to a combined total of 100 short tons (91 t) in weight.[1] In this enlarged version the increased weight is borne on a dual track which keeps the carriage level (the front and back wheels are on different tracks, with the front of the carriage on the upper tracks. The carriage is kept horizontal due to the relative profile of the tracks. Toward the end of travel, the carriage assumes a slight "nose down" attitude as it submerges into the water). Boats rest on the bottom of the carriage, and webbing slings are provided to support boats safely and prevent them from tipping. The old system has been decommissioned by Parks Canada, to conform with modern safety standards, although the old tracks and carriage still remain. The last operation of the old system was in 2003.

Entrées du journal: Trouvé 1x Non Trouvée 0x Note 0x Picture 5x Toutes les entrées Galerie