There'll be more fresh canal stuff when we've done our next cruise, in not many weeks' time (hooray), but for now here's a picture of Bridge 53 at the tail of Woodend Lock on the Trent and Mersey, taken on our Easter cruise. What I want to know is, what are the niches in the bridge, either side of the arch, for?
4 comments:
Is this a sort of quiz question? I would guess that they might be there to give extra room for the handles (?) of the lock gates. Perhaps they're too long and hit the bridge otherwise?
Reckon that's spot on VallyP - the original beams would have been wooden.
And they may originally have been straight rather than angled. Difficult to see the distance from the gates in the picture.
VallyP, Martin and Steve - thanks! Yes, that must be it. The present iron balance beams must be less dense than the original wooden beams, and so need to be angled clear of the bridge.
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