Out of Hours Power

boatone

boatone

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 Jul 2001
Messages
12,845
Location
Just a few cables from Boulters Lock
www.tmba.org.uk
Thanks to angelaq for providing the following. As it was at the end of another thread I hope she wont mind me repeating it here so that it doesnt get missed:

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OoHP (as I call it) should be available at the locks that have it (which is nearly all of the hydraulic ones now and most of the remainder are being done this winter hopefully) from 0700 until the lockkeeper comes on duty, lunchtime if there's no assistant, and from when they go off duty until 2200. This should be regardless of the time of year. As we have had to retro-fit the OoHP - some of the timers are inside the pedestals and because of the live wires/risk of shock etc, we only want the contractors to deal with them. Others are not inside the pedestals and the lockkeepers can check and change them themselves. I will ask whether the timings can be checked on a regular basis to make sure the timers are keeping time and the settings are correct. We set it to go off at 2200 as while people can navigate at night, we don't want to encourage it as there's often no lights and is can cause a disturbance for whoever lives there. There are some sites where we might get people messing with the gates for the 'fun' of it (there are others on here who might know which sites are common targets for things like this).

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Heading up to Windsor the other week, went through Chertsey at just before 2100 and no power, then got to Penton Hook, and no power their either and that was about 2130, so something definitely needs looking at there...
 
I always find 2200 is too early as it means you have to wind locks when going home form the pub.

I accept there may be mischievous use. For the money the river licence will cost me if I come back to the Thames, why can't I have a smart card to operate the locks at any time?
 
"I always find 2200 is too early as it means you have to wind locks when going home form the pub."
If there is any argument that will successfully extend the 2200 limit, I seriously doubt it will be that one !!

"I accept there may be mischievous use."
I also accept that there is that risk, but I would be interested to know exactly what the scale is of vandal activity relating to locks etc. I am only aware of anecdotal incidents.

"For the money the river licence will cost me if I come back to the Thames, why can't I have a smart card to operate the locks at any time?"

1.Apart from forward thinking, that would neeed a whole bundle of cash that the EA doesnt have (unless, of course, they ramp the licence fees up again).
2.Some prat will succeed in breaking the swipe card off in the machine and render the lock unuseable
3.Ingenious river gipsies will start cloning swipe cards and selling them to all and sundry.
 
Still waiting for a response from Angela on Boulters.......... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
Quote from angelas response above:
"I will ask whether the timings can be checked on a regular basis to make sure the timers are keeping time and the settings are correct."

Seems to me that applies to all locks, so presumably any issues at Boulters should get resolved? Mind you, she only said she would ask....... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
That\'s very dangerous -

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I always find 2200 is too early as it means you have to wind locks when going home form the pub.

I accept there may be mischievous use. For the money the river licence will cost me if I come back to the Thames, why can't I have a smart card to operate the locks at any time?

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It could mean that EA could introduce a "pay for use scheme", which of course would be on top of the existing license.

OK for folks who don't go far, but for folks who like to cruise the whole length, it would be very expensive indeed.....
 
Please put your request in writing and I'll get back to you in 10 days

Actually - I've asked the Ops people to check the timings on the specific locks you mentioned. As I said, some of them are inaccessible to the lockkeepers so we're planning to get our electrical people to check them asap. I'll pick up Boulters with the manager for that site tomorrow in case it's one that we can access easily. Watch this space....
 
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...some of them are inaccessible to the lockkeepers so we're planning to get our electrical people to check them asap...

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If the clocks are inaccessible to the lockkeepers, presumably this means they are not checked on a regular basis? This does seem to be verging on 'management by complaint' as the first you will know of a problem is when a boater draws it to your attention.

Given the emphasis that is being put on OoHP as a benefit to users, shouldnt regular checks of these clocks be on some sort of key issues priority list?
 
If the EA put the beams back on and the old winding gear we wouldn't have to worry about clocks (not that you should have to on the river) power or lock keepers cecking the time, we could return to the nice sedate pace that we used to enjoy
 
For those with short memories this what a lock looks like complete with some neat original big handle thingies.Appearently it took 14 ancient lockies to work it,4 to wind paddles,10 to push various bits and 2 to stand around and shout a bit and one more to make the tea,.
This was taken on the upper reaches of the Limpopo or might have been the Amazon circa 1859.
yaldinglock-1.jpg

Later versions were gas powered at the insistance of some ex Thames boaters who could not manage to work out which direction the gates had to be pushed and wasted 3 days pushing in the wrong direction.
 
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which direction the gates had to be pushed

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You have to push? Damn I have been pulling all this time!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
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