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Canal lock dimensions

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 2:52 pm
by steve howe
This is a bit outside of 'railway' modelling, but I am building an 'inglenook' project in P4 as a follow-on to Horsley Bank, which features a canal rising from a wharf served by the L&Y. There is room for one lock which I am basing on those on the Rochdale canal. The 'Rochy' locks were, I believe, originally designed to be all the same size and depth to make maintenance easier and limit the amount of water lost when boats passed through.

I have the linear dimensions for a typical Rochdale lock but I cannot find any reference to the fall. Does anyone have any information please?


Thanks

Steve

Re: Canal lock dimensions

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 4:56 pm
by Will L
steve howe wrote:This is a bit outside of 'railway' modelling, but I am building an 'inglenook' project in P4 as a follow-on to Horsley Bank, which features a canal rising from a wharf served by the L&Y. There is room for one lock which I am basing on those on the Rochdale canal. The 'Rochy' locks were, I believe, originally designed to be all the same size and depth to make maintenance easier and limit the amount of water lost when boats passed through.

I have the linear dimensions for a typical Rochdale lock but I cannot find any reference to the fall. Does anyone have any information please?


Rochdale locks were "standardised as far as possible between 9 and 10 feet rise" so Mayrode Mill is 7'9" and Longlees is 12'. I don't think your going to find a single definitive figure.

Will

(Dimension Corrected)

Re: Canal lock dimensions

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 6:10 pm
by steve howe
Great!

Thanks for that Will, I guess you mean 12 feet for Mayroyd Lock (not 12") I lived in Hebden Bridge for some years and spent many happy hours on the towpath, unfortunately I never measured any of the locks! I also noticed from photographs that the angle of meeting of the gates seems to be quite shallow, I think many model locks seem to have the angle too acute.

Any other gems of knowledge would be most welcome - I no longer live in the West Riding, and its a long way from Lands End to measure a few lock gates :D

S

Re: Canal lock dimensions

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 7:46 pm
by craig_whilding
I'll have to ask tomorrow in the club if anyone has the dimensions of the locks at Slattocks as we have at lead lock 54 on the canal to model for Slattocks Junction.

The lock is shown in the pictures below and is grade 2 listed along with its overbridge apparently. Dick Petter has already modelled the skew arch brick railway bridge shown in these shots too.
http://www.penninewaterways.co.uk/rochdale/rc8c.htm

Re: Canal lock dimensions

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 8:30 pm
by David B
Steve,

Are you sure you couldn't just squeeze another lock in? One lock on its own will be very lonely.

How about 16?

David

Caen Hill Locks.jpg

Re: Canal lock dimensions

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 1:45 pm
by Tim V

Re: Canal lock dimensions

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 2:59 pm
by Will L
steve howe wrote:Any other gems of knowledge would be most welcome


The Pennine Waterways site that both Craig and Tim have pointed you at has lots of info including a virtual cruise along the full length, lots of gems available from there. However it doesn't record lock depths for which I am "indepthed" to the Pearson Guide.

Will

Re: Canal lock dimensions

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 3:13 pm
by Tim V
The site says that Tuel Lane lock had a rise of 19'8" - made of two locks

Re: Canal lock dimensions

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 4:47 pm
by craig_whilding
Tim V wrote:The site says that Tuel Lane lock had a rise of 19'8" - made of two locks

Only built a few years ago though that one. I suppose you may be able to divide the height change by two but not 100% sure.

Re: Canal lock dimensions

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:21 pm
by Tim V
The rest of the site about the Rochdale Canal was fascinating, some serious money spent to reopen it. Thanks for posing the question Steve, much food for thought.

Re: Canal lock dimensions

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 10:41 pm
by steve howe
Are you sure you couldn't just squeeze another lock in? One lock on its own will be very lonely.

How about 16?



I was very tempted to make a two stage (ie. three gate) flight to get a bit more drama, but the only way to squeeze it in would be to model the Calder & Hebble which has very short locks (54 feet) and I wanted the option to include a 'proper' narrowboat alongside my Yorkshire Keel, the longer boats could only work over from Lancashire as far as Sowerby Bridge where the Rochdale Canal ended and the C&H started. Also, to the best of my knowledge, neither the 'Rochy' nor the C&H had two stage locks, unlike the much vaunted Leeds & Liverpool with its spectacular 3 and 5 rise flights at Bingley. Knowing the canal world has even more anoraks than railways, I decided to keep it simple and 'workaday' with a very typical broad lock, although I am including a 'roving bridge'....and I'm not sure the Rochdale Canal had those either..... :?