Rural Ontario
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Severn Bridge is the first lock from Georgian Bay into the Trent Canal.
I spoke with the owner of this beautiful old barn and he told me that it was worth more for its timber value than it was for use. The vertical siding is cedar - he has some pieces 20 feet long and over 12 inches wide.
With four boats on the railway carrier, the lift makes its way out of the Severn River to the lower level leading to Georgia Bay. 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. 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). Boats rest on the bottom of the carriage, and webbing slings are provided to support boats safely and prevent them from tipping.
These winches are used to lift slouce gates in the lock. Trent Severn Waterway fast facts: Total length: 386 kilometres (210 miles) Number of locks 45, including 36 conventional, 2 flight locks and 1 marine railway Open for navigation from May to October Man made channels 32 kilometres (20 miles) Number of swing bridges 39 Water Depth (under normal conditions) Locks 1- 19 2.4 metres (8 feet) Locks 20 45 1.8 metres (6 feet) Lowest Bridge Clearance 6.7 metres (22 feet) Smallest lock # 45 at Port Severn 25.5 metres (84 feet) long by 7 metres (23 feet) wide. Highest Navigatable point 256.3 metres (841 feet) above sea level at Balsam Lake. Travel time (one way) 5 7 days
The "Big Shute" Marine Railway
Big Chute Marine Railway is a boat lift at lock 44 of the Trent-Severn Waterway in Ontario, Canada. 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. Completed in 1978, can carry a boat up to 100 feet (30 m) long and 24 feet (7.3 m) beam. It cost $3 million to build. Marine biologists also determined that the railway transfer was the most effective way to prevent the transfer of the sea lamprey, which had been devastating the fishing industry in the Great Lakes
This old barn is about 100 years old and still being used. It's located east of Georgian Bay on Upper BigShute Rd, Coldwater, Ontario.
I spotted this beautiful boat from Harbor Springs, Michigan. It was about to be towed away; I regret I didn't get some information about it from the owner.
