Turntable ferry

dunedin

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I have to admit that in my ignorance I have never heard of such a thing. My only excuse is that there is only one of them.

Yes an amazing ferry, and a great team that runs it.

Quite well known up here as pass it each time go through Kyle Rhea.
And it is one of the many reasons why Scots wonder why they make such a meal out of the Cowes ferry, which should be so simple by comparison in the much calmer waters!
 

ps1

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Not quiet the same thing, but the Aust ferry across the River Severn was a turntable ferry, in that the turntable was central to the boat. One drove on to the turntable which then rotated and one drove off into a parking space. Didn't hold that many vehicles, but one made quite a few friends and acquaintances while in the long queue to board. The opening of the first Severn Bridge was it's death nell.
 

penfold

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There was one at Kylesku I think.
There is a rumour the Community team that retained the ex- Ballachulish ferry are being asked to take over CMAL's role. Wonder what write-down period they have declared for the Glenachulish?
They could hardly make a worse job and they have a nice dog, which probably means they're much better equipped for dealing with politicians.
 

Gary Fox

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Yes an amazing ferry, and a great team that runs it.

Quite well known up here as pass it each time go through Kyle Rhea.
And it is one of the many reasons why Scots wonder why they make such a meal out of the Cowes ferry, which should be so simple by comparison in the much calmer waters!
Great ferry, how ingenious!
(The Cowes version is just a pontoon with an engine, which just needs to haul itself few yards back and forth, on a chain. Unbelievably , despite the new one having cost millions, it spends a lot of time broken down, with teams of specialist engineers working round the clock at enormous cost. How can something of such medieval simplicity be so unreliable, or ever need repairs?
The IoW Council refuse to tell us.)
 

penfold

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Did it not also ground itself at spring low tides because it's the wrong shape/too deep/some other witlessness? Utter nonsense that a chain ferry can be got wrong; it's a pontoon with swims at either end and a couple of windlasses, shipbuilding literally doesn't get simpler.
 

Gary Fox

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Did it not also ground itself at spring low tides because it's the wrong shape/too deep/some other witlessness? Utter nonsense that a chain ferry can be got wrong; it's a pontoon with swims at either end and a couple of windlasses, shipbuilding literally doesn't get simpler.
Yes it's a Monty Python skit...it went U/S by running aground, despite that being actually part of its job..and Cowes being the most surveyed harbour in existence..and a ferry running across the mouth of the river Medina since the ancient Romans were here..not to mention 2 million of ratepayers' cash..
 

westhinder

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I clearly remember going across the Ballachulish ferry in 1975 upon my first visit to Scotland. It was a wondrous sight for a boy from the continent. Being swung round over the water while underway was something you don’t forget. Seeing the Skye ferry when sailing past a few years ago brought back all the memories.
 

prv

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How can something of such medieval simplicity be so unreliable, or ever need repairs?

I understand that it's much bigger than the old one, so is pulled sideways more by the tide with the weight of the chains not enough to hold it in line, so ends up in the wrong place.

Pete
 

Tomahawk

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No shit Shearluck?
A bigger ferry having more draught and weighing more so pulled sidewise more by the tide.
Who would ever have thought that could possibly happen?

Probably everyone on here.
 
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