Kinsferry Bridge

[rakaaw]

We wanted to pass under the bridge yesterdayand when we spoke to the operator he said the bridge would be raised for us after the next train in about twenty minutes. When the train had passed he came back on the radio to tell us that due to the heat(weather) he could not raise the bridge as there was a risk the rails would not fall into place when the bridge was lowered.

The weather was pleasant but not exceptionally warm so I do not understand why there was a problem. Has anybody here had a similar experience?

 

[Ianqv]

Easy..... it was the wrong sort of sunshine on the line!!

 

[Cantata]

Yes, that happens.

 

[rakaaw]

Yes, that happens.

Thanks Cantata.Will give the Swale a miss in future.

 

[bluerm166]

Kingsferry bridge

It would be a shame for you and others to be put off using this pleasant route.The main problem is that the electric motors that raise the bridge are now pretty old and they overheat,limiting their operation.

Here's an explanatory 2009 statement by the Medway Yachting Association :

'Kingsferry Bridge (Posted 03.06.09)
We are still getting reports of craft being kept waiting for no apparent good reason, plus other incidents, at the bridge,

The bridge should operate as follows:
Monday to Saturday the bridge is able to open at 20 minutes past the hour and 10 to the hour.On Sundays it is able to open on the hour. It cannot lift more than three times in two hours as the motors overheat. So if you arrive for an opening and it has already opened on the last three published opening times you will have to wait at least an hour for the motors to cool down. It is therefore in your own best interests to contact the bridge keeper well in advance and let him know your expected time of arrival and he will do his best to give you a lift at the earliest opportunity. Having said that, he only has a handheld VHF so is limited by its range. Call him again when you are about ten minutes away. Do not call on Ch16 - he works on Ch10 only.
If you are unable to get a reply at all, call Medway VTS on Ch74 and they will endeavour to contact him by phone.

If you continue to have a problem at the bridge call Medway VTS on Ch74 and report the incident.The Ports and Police can only take action if incidents are reported! '

In our own experience frustration is added to what is an inevitable delay (this is a railway afterall) because the operator will not venture any kind of forecast of when he will open ( I will find you a slot ....) ,but wants you to rush through when he is ready.This deters anchoring and leads to a lot of milling about in a confined channel that at times the tide and wind whistle through.
If the bridge authority can't find the money to replace the motors then perhaps they could formalise the opening times ( HW/HW+2/HW+4 .....) so that yachts group together and in addition why not provide proper waiting moorings or pontoons so that the group can move thro efficiently after a relevant train has passed.

Overheated rails is a new one on me,but hopefully not an addition to our conversations with the inscrutable 'tower'.Despite the benefits of VHF I'm not sure that things are much different to when we used to hoist a kettle as a signal.

 

[Cantata]

Sorry, when I said 'it happens' I was referring to the OP's incident with the heat. In very hot weather there are occasional instances where the bridge operator's instructions are to not raise the bridge because expansion of the structure can prevent the lifting section slotting back down properly afterwards. A pilot book that I could mention does warn of this.
Please don't avoid the Swale in future! The vast majority of passages through here are trouble-free, and the hot-weather thing is very rare indeed.

 

[surekandoo]

I'm very cynical about the bridge and it's operators. Last time I attempted a passage (about a fortnight ago), I was told that the power supply had failed. The supply company had located the problem but couldn't give a time for completion of the repair. I was sailing east to west and had called the bridge up on the VHF as I approached the Lilies. I had to turn and retrace my steps.

It would be interesting to know what would happen if I'd have been a coaster trying to get to Ridham dock or Grovehurst jetty. Do ships get advanced warning by Medway Ports and have to anchor out in the Thames Estuary?

It also occurs to me that if it weren't for the above dock/jetty the bridge probably wouldn't open at all.

 

[rakaaw]

Thanks for all the comments.

I really do not think it is practical to include the bridge in a passage plan. It is obviously unpredictable in its operation and the refusal from the operator added four hours to our journey.

In extreme weather a problem might be expected but it was just a normal sunny afternoon.

Then again,the machinary may not be the sole issue.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Thanks for all the comments.

I really do not think it is practical to include the bridge in a passage plan. It is obviously unpredictable in its operation and the refusal from the operator added four hours to our journey.

In extreme weather a problem might be expected but it was just a normal sunny afternoon.

Then again,the machinary may not be the sole issue.

I have not been through the bridge for about five year's now.

On the VHF to the bridge,I was last told that the bridge only opens for ships and not for yachts and I could possibly go through then.

This followed previous occasions where it was all but impossible to get through. I suppose many of us have just lost heart. At the time, I think even the locals had given up too.

For many years we would come from the Blackwater and visit Conyer, or stay overnight at Harty and walk into Faversham. It was then a nice different route to Ramsgate. Such a shame.

Have things really changed now ?

 

[Cantata]

Really no need for all this doom and gloom.
There was a bad patch a few years ago, usually one particular bridge operator who we all knew as Mr.Grumpy, made life difficult.
We are under the impression that he has either been retired fully, or only works a shift occasionally. The others who man the bridge are usually helpful. Anyone being told that 'the bridge opens only for ships, not yachts', needs to respond informing the operator that unless he says something different, you will phone the Harbourmaster at Sheerness. Any further problem, then do so. That should do the trick. The Swale is a maritime right of way!
But honestly at present I have no hesitation at using the route. Been through 3 times this year, operators always polite and helpful. On one of the these occasions the bridge was lifted at only 10 minutes notice.
Sundays it is able to lift on the hour, weekdays and Saturdays every half hour, just after a train passes each way. But as mentioned before there is a limit to lifts possible within a short time period because the ancient machinery overheats.
There is also a temperature limit which can prevent the operator lifting and it sounds like the OP experienced this. But that is rare, even here on the Kentish Riviera.
So, in brief, you shouldn't get any trouble. Be courteous and reasonable, as you would like to be treated yourself. And if you get a problem, play the HM card. In 15 years of cruising round here I have only got close to doing this once.

 

[LeonF]

I agree with Cantata. The overheat thing must be a nuisance, but the weather is cooling down for the weekend. I have been through on numerous occasions with no problems, always try to be courteous and cheerful,but have heard others getting cantankerous with them. With a decent fixed VHF it should be able to call them from Queenborough to give you the option of going the long way round. Not sure what the range is from the other way.

 

[Cantata]

..........With a decent fixed VHF it should be able to call them from Queenborough to give you the option of going the long way round. Not sure what the range is from the other way.

I spoke to them from out by the Nore Swatch last week, so plenty of range possible, it seems.

 

[Leighb]

We were certainly able to call them from Stangate creek last year, very helpful and courteous. They did get somewhat testy with one of the 5 yachts that was waiting for a coaster to pass Westbound before we could then traverse Eastbound as he persisted in fannying around in the middle of the channel causing the coaster skipper to get anxious.