Crinan Canal operation

[Quandary]

The rain dance has worked so the drought restrictions are lifted from tomorrow, though hours are being curtailed as usual in Ocober, closing earlier, and of course they are still not operating on Tuesdays and Weds. The Canal closes for the winter at the end of the month hopefully they will get it open again before next summer.

 

[Martin&Rene]

When we went through earlier this year, we were told there was going to be a great deal of work done at the Crinan end in the winter 21/22, similar to what they had done at Ardrishaig. Is that still on?

 

[Quandary]

When we went through earlier this year, we were told there was going to be a great deal of work done at the Crinan end in the winter 21/22, similar to what they had done at Ardrishaig. Is that still on?

Yes, they are closing the Canal for the winter at the end of October,if it over runs like this year it will probably re-open by July. The safety barriers are still around Lock 4, six months after the original opening date.
The scale of this contract might be less, damming then draining the reach, replacing only two sets of gates rather than four. This time they might brief the contractor so that he does things correctly the first time rather than leaving him to repeat most tasks several times? The new gates are significantly harder to work than the old ones. But of course to do that they would have to find someone who understands the job, not rocket science, they managed in 1807.

 

[whaup]

Hi... does anyone have any update on when the locks at Crinan are likely to begin operating again this year, please?
I have seen that the winter closure was due to run to the 14th March but that's old news... I haven't seen any works underway on the gates, which I think was expected to be the case, with the replacement being postponed; that suggests that there might not be the delays experienced last year.

Thanks,
W.

 

[Bilgediver]

The new gates are significantly harder to work than the old ones. But of course to do that they would have to find someone who understands the job, not rocket science, they managed in 1807.

Maybe there is a forum somewhwere that covers canal artisans that we could send them for a wee bit of 1870 knowledge.

 

[wully1]

Quandry might know but if you phone the canal office they might have a more optimistic opinion.

Id put my money on Quandry being the more realistic guess...

 

[awol]

I wonder if they are still going to close Tuesdays and Wednesdays this year? Or maybe they'll take some more days off justifying it with the reduced traffic over the last couple of years.

 

[dunedin]

I wonder if they are still going to close Tuesdays and Wednesdays this year? Or maybe they'll take some more days off justifying it with the reduced traffic over the last couple of years.

I think I heard that they were only going to be open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays this year.
Oh and of course not if it is Spring tides.
Or if it is not raining,
Or if they simply couldn’t be bothered with the hassle of boats actually using a canal.

 

[awol]

That's great! Tuesdays and Wednesdays would suit me fine, perfect to get west for Fri/Sat starts and back again after a weekend race and a recovery day. Also avoids those charter boats, holidaying boats, etc. leaving the canal free (I wish!) for OAPs.

 

[cpedw]

I don't know if it's reassuring but Scottish Canals were advertising 2 Waterway Operatives posts in the Oban TImes at the end of January and start of February.

 

[ctva]

For opening this spring, contact the canal office, as to the operating days, should be 7days.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Not very reassuring for me. Navigator want to use that route to the isles and I have the Crinian canal song ready printed so I can chant as I bumble along.

Timings fairly uncertain as we are coming from S Cornwall, so expect to arrive maybe the 4th week after setting out and might not be Tuesday at Crinian

 

[penfold]

Not very reassuring for me. Navigator want to use that route to the isles and I have the Crinian canal song ready printed so I can chant as I bumble along.

Timings fairly uncertain as we are coming from S Cornwall, so expect to arrive maybe the 4th week after setting out and might not be Tuesday at Crinian

 

[Uricanejack]

Well that was awful but I quite enjoyed it.
Parahandy before he was promoted.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Well that was awful but I quite enjoyed it.
Parahandy before he was promoted.

Looked more like the guy who played the engineer, MacPhail, on the ancient BBC series!

 

[Uricanejack]

Looked more like the guy who played the engineer, MacPhail, on the ancient BBC series!

Looks like Macphail was just starting out, I think he was peeling spuds.

 

[awol]

John Grieve was the actor (and singer) who played McPhail in the Duncan Macrae "Para Handy", alas both long deid.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Looks like Macphail was just starting out, I think he was peeling spuds.

I've just re-read the original short stories - peeling potatoes was usually Sunny Jim's job!

 

[SaltIre]

 

[cherod]

Well that was awful but I quite enjoyed it.
Parahandy before he was promoted.

excellent stuff ,,, fair beats Howards Way