Where have all the foghorns gone?

[kalessin]

I've just been watching Coast on BBC2 and they said that there are no longer any working lighthouse foghorns in Britain. Can this really be true?

I know there are buoys and lightships which make noises cos I've heard them, and we also heard several days of the foghorn in Vigo, Spain this summer...

Just to start you off - I don't like the sound of this - has anyone heard anything - haven't the foggiest idea - etc.

 

[rhumlady]

I've been watching them disappear from around Scotland through the NTM's in the magazines. I can quite believe they have all gone the way of the coast radio stations etc. Is it just this country?

 

[beneteau_305_553]

They have become redundant just like the lighthouses themselves. They just irritate the local residents.

 

[longjohnsadler]

Maybe partly a casualty of radar and GPS?
As someone said recently, before too long all navigation marks will become virtual....

 

[tcm]

Hm, i must say it sounds a bit off. Then a bit on, then off again...

 

[jimi]

Most of them have acquired mobile phones, bought season tickets and travel on SW Rail.

 

[BrendanS]

the fact that they've been phased out for years, and no one has really noticed or commented, really reinforces the point that electronic navigation has taken over, which was the point made in the program. Don't think they've all gone though, unless Trinity site is completely out of date (which might well be the case)

 

[longjohnsadler]

I'd heard some of the Scottish ones had been replaced by somebody playing the bagpipes...
Oo er is that what you mean?

 

[Frontier]

Just a matter of time before the Flying Dutchman runs aground then /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[spindrift_uk]

If the elder brethen's @ Tinity House would have thier way, all the
stations buoys etc... would all become virtual.

The fact is, most of the lighthouses are now crumbling from the inside out, as the have been stripped back to bare stone work inside, and all the accomodation areas ripped out and such.

I used to work for Trinity during the automation of a lot of these, my brother still works for them and has told me of the state they are in at present.
I remember the fog stack at St Annes being taken off quite some time ago now.

 

[tcm]

hm, i am trying to get hold of a bagpipe teacher at the moment actually. First off i need to establish why my bagpipes are apparently defective, ahem...

 

[jimi]

You do'nt need a bagpipe teacher yopu need an automatic wind generator. MaY I recommend Gales HSB, poisson et frites avec les pois mushy wired up tae yer erse presuming of course that the latter is in an unbunged state.

 

[Swanrad2]

Heard some going in to Port Saint Mary on the IOM two years ago, have they gone since then?

 

[Bergman]

Yes

And the rest are resident in the recesses of the Lounge

 

[owen]

there was still one on portland bill when I was there last week. not sure if it was working but still has large warning sign next to it

 

[oceanfroggie]

Foghorns are obsolete.

Radar and GPS render them a nuisance. Anyway they can't be heard inside the bridge of a ship, nor over the noise of a motor cruiser. Over time when 4th Generation augmented satellite system become the norm, buoys, lights and lighthouses will all become a waste of tax payers money, will be turned off and the buoys except for pilotage channels will all be removed. It's called efficiency. It costs too much to maintain all this redundant 18th century memorabilia. Many of the older light house towers though should be kept as heritage buildings (ie when retired). Some may be adaptable to new use. Hate to see them crumble to dust over the year.

 

[Bill1]

The one on St Anns Head at the enterance to Milford Haven was still working in August

 

[rickp]

The Portland Bill one was certainly working in April this year, and bloody loud it was too.

Rick

 

[mikefleetwood]

Lizard LH fog horn still fully functional. Lighthouse no longer manned (like all of them now?) but foghorn is automatic. Also light is on all the time so no-one has to switch it on when needed. There is a xenon flash for back-up if the main light fails. I'm not sure if it's automatic ot switched remotely.

 

[rhumlady]

Mull of Kintyre and Ardnamurchan Point had og signals working in the last couple of years that I know of. Virtual buoys would at least survive the people who use them as waypoints in there gps!