Lockmastering

Watch Brenda learning Lockmastering:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEKsxt2K2eE&feature=youtu.be

"Hey, isn't this the lock that if we say we're Loopers, we'll get a tour?" Brenda asked Mike.  Within the half hour after tying up to the wall on the upper side of Peterborough Lift Lock, Lockmaster Ed informed us that our tour of the world's highest hydraulic lift lock would begin at our ready.

Yesterday, we continued cruising on Canada's Historic Trent-Severn Canal.  We went through 3 locks cruising through Peterborough--the largest city we'll see on the canal.  One of them is the Peterborough Lift Lock #21, the world's highest  hydraulic lift lock, rising 65 feet.  In this picture, we are approaching the lock wondering what we're supposed to do.
There are two canals for boats to enter.  The center light indicated we were to enter with the other boat on the starboard side.

Here we are the basin with a tour boat.  Mike has tied our boat to the railing on the port side. 
Notice the windows and markings on the wall in front of us.

Our boats are in a basin (filled with water and boats) that is being lifted up by the pressure created by another basin (filled with a bit more water and boats) that is lowering boats down the canal.
(Those markings on the wall in the previous photo are now below us.)

We've been lifted up and the boats below have been lifted down.

This is Locktender Ron (2nd in command) and Lockmaster Ed.  Ed and Ron helped Velsignet into her docking space along the Peterborough wall on the upper side of the lift lock.  We met them in the office to begin a fantastic tour of the Lift Lock.
These two are in charge of this lock, several dams, and oversee many part-time employees.  They're fun, funny, and VERY knowledgeable about every aspect of what they do.

The Peterborough Hydraulic Lift Lock raises and lowers boats in two water-filled chambers or basins a distance of 65 feet in about 2.5 minutes.  This is a photo looking down into one of the chambers.  There's a gate that opens to let boats in and it shuts to hold the water and boats within the chamber.  The weight of the higher chamber (holds a foot more of water, an extra 130 tons of weight) being lowered provides the pressure to lift the lower chamber as it ascends higher.

On the tour, we were taken to the bottom of the lock. Looking up, the ceiling above us is actually a chamber being lowered over us...1,300 tons of weight descending right over our heads!

The Peterborough Lift Lock was built between 1896 and 1904.  When completed, over 26,000 cubic yards of concrete had been poured--without a single piece of reinforcing steel. 

Ron explained to us that this cylinder helped in controlling the water level to an exact level within a chamber

This photo was taken from a portico in the lock where, when we came through the lock, we saw faces of kids with their parents watching as the chambers were lifted and lowered.
Each chamber measures 140 feet long, 33 feet wide and 9 feet 10 inches deep.

Richard B Rogers was the engineer who constructed the Peterborough Lift Lock. In more techy terms, "Two massive chamber rams are connected in a closed water hydraulic lift system.  Any movement of one chamber must force an equal and opposite movement of the other chamber.  The hydraulic interconnection is controlled by the crossover."

To raise boats, the upper chamber is over-balanced with an extra foot of water (130 tons of extra weight).  When the valve connecting the hydraulic rams is opened, the heavier upper chamber travels downward, forcing the opposite chamber an equal distance upward.

This is Ryan and Brenda in the control room at the top of the locks.  The lock tenders are in constant communication with tenders at other locks.  They know who's coming up and down the canal and ensure the safe passage of boats and people.  In between, they are responsible for keeping the 25-acres of buildings and grounds maintained to a high standards and equipment in top notch running order. 

In the 19th century, the river was the principal line of communication with settlers and influenced the location of Peterborough.  For many years, it was the chief channel for passage of manufactured goods and ag produce, as well as for logging and milling operations.

Some improvements have been made to the lift lock, but all in all, very few.  The concrete structure has lasted.  The operating systems are basically the same. 

This is one of two "rams," the key part of the hydraulic system. Granite blocks, some weighing over 10 tons, sit at the bottom of each of the ram as footings.

We were taken throughout the lift lock into its several rooms.  This room is one where, 4 times a year, "Underwater Dining at Lock 21" takes place.  Food is catered from a well-respected restaurant in town and a limited number of folks (for a steep ticket fee) can enjoy a unique dining and educational experience.

As we began our day's journey towards Peterborough, there was a bit of fog over the water.  We had to meander Velsignet through the gate of a closed railroad bridge.

And....like home....we enjoyed the call of the Loon along the way!

Today we will take our bikes off the boat and explore Peterborough.  We have a biking trail map and look forward to getting our legs a-moving and our minds on something other than locks and canals and water depths and weather forecasts.