THE FALKIRK WHEEL

Only 20 minutes from Glasgow is the feat of engineering known as the Falkirk Wheel. Constructed in 2002 as part of the larger Millenium Link Project, designed to restore canal navigability across central Scotland, the Falikirk Wheel connects the 2 main canals in central Scotland, the Forth & Clyde and the Union. Separated by a total height difference of 35 metres and originally connected by a flight of 11 locks (spread over a distance of 1.5kms) these 2 canals hadn't been connected since 1933 when the locks were dismantled.
So, on a sunny Sunday morning we jumped on the train to Falkirk to have a look for ourselves..

After disembarking the train we followed the Union Canal west from the station for a couple of miles until we came to this, the Roughcastle Tunnel. At 180 metres long it passes underneath the historic Antonie Wall and its Rough Castle Fort (hence the name). The wall was built by the Romans c.142 AD and stretched right across the central belt of Scotland, from The Firth of Clyde (west of Glasgow) to the Firth of Forth (NW of Edinburgh) and represents the most northely point reached by the Romans in Scotland..

Once through the tunnel we came to the top of the Falkirk Wheel and the aqueduct, and a view that belied the overall scale of the wheel itself..

As we walked down the hill the overall 'picture' of the wheel came into view..

The Falkirk Wheel, the world's first and only rotating boat lift, capable of moving boats 24 metres from the bottom basin to the aqueduct..

The method of transferring the boats is simple. They enter the basin at either the top or bottom, the gates close and the wheel completes a half-turn, transferring one boat up and one boat down..

The boats are in and the gates are closed..

And the rotation begins..

The wheel is able to move a total weight of 600 tons..

But only requires 1.5kwh to complete each half rotation, that's the equivalent power requirement of boiling 8 kettles!..

A couple of humans to add scale..

The desin is based on a Celtic inspired, double-headed axe..

Almost there. It takes just over 4 minutes to complete each half rotation

Once around the gates on each basin open..

And the boats can move out..

A slideshow! 4 minutes down to 30 seconds..

The view from the lock below the wheel. Although the wheel raises and lowers each boat 24 metres the 2 canals are actually separated by a height of 35 metres, so another 3 locks are required to complete the transition, this one plus another 2 on the other side of Roughcastle Tunnel. The wheel could not be constructed any taller because of the need to preserve the Antonine Wall and Rough Castle Fort..

That's all from Falkirk! Stay tuned for the next update - Culzean Castle in Ayrshire..