Just Jack Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 (edited) So cool Jack... Thanks for posting it! Still doing it bascially the same way today, except things are electrically controlled along with "modern" hydraulics. We still use machinery from the 1930's! Our Oilgear equipment is literally tech from that era, 1930's... Still going strong after 50+ years! @ a Oilgear class, the tech was still amazed the stuff is in service! Called it the "Model T" of hydraulic systems! A few years ago, we lost a diver in a culvert like that in your video. Interesting, it happened @ Lockport, Illinois. That one lock chamber drops 40 feet. With the advent of electrical motors (capstans and winches) along w/hydraulics, flight locks were no longer needed. Interesting... Because Black Rock Lock was a double flight lock... Since mechancial conversion many years ago, it is now only one chamber. Middle gates are permanently pinned back making one approx. 600' chamber (I forget the exact chamber length). For many years it was controlled by capstan motors and cables, until coverted to hydraulics in the around 1980's. One of the reasons they had so many flights is that they couldn't operate them by hand, the pressure was too great w/heads (difference in water) generally over 5 feet or so. Look up the hand operated British locks on the Trent-Severn in Ontario... They are works of art, some are still cut stone (before portland cement was invented) almost 200 years old! Edited January 4, 2014 by ExiledInIllinois Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thirdborn Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 thanks for posting this ... pretty cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 (edited) Notice all the cut stone in the old locks. Same w/the brick and mortar work of the old race... All before portland cement was being used (modern concrete)... Probably why they dewater the old locks, so the ice doesn't do damage. Modern concrete would hold up better? Really cool. Edited January 4, 2014 by ExiledInIllinois Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanker Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 All those locks and no bagels! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloBill Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 Very cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jack Posted January 4, 2014 Author Share Posted January 4, 2014 So cool Jack... Thanks for posting it! I can't take all the credit. I saw it on Lancaster Steves facebook page. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerball Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 I can't take all the credit. I saw it on Lancaster Steves facebook page. Well then thanks to both of you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mead107 Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 That was cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outsidethebox Posted January 4, 2014 Share Posted January 4, 2014 I love that show! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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