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FORTH & CLYDE CANAL
This photograph of the Falkirk Wheel was taken by Ann Street. I suggest you vist Ann's site, she has photos of the opening day, just click the box below.
Thirty-seven miles long with 39 locks, originally the canal was a coast to coast route for fishing boats and small coasters. The canal as recently been restored, at a cost of £78 million. Unfortunatly it has not been restored to its original dimenssions, its air passage is now only 3 meters, orginally it was unlimited, allowing yachts and steamers to operate from the Forth to the Clyde.
It was stupid to close this important waterway in 1962, to say it was short sighted is an understatement, canal enthusiasts have been agitating for its restoration for years, I don't think they have got what they wanted.
They were up against professional negotiators and in desperation took what they thought was the best deal, not knowing that millions of pounds were at stake if the contractors and their agents could not get their acceptance of the plans. The agitation should continue until they get the proper restoration, the contractors will help them, it's in their interest.
Billy, Lady and Kevin,
lads on the canal at Falkirk
Lock 16, originally passengers would embark at this lock for their journey to Glasgow on the 'swift' boats. So named because they did the journey from Edinburgh to Glasgow in just 7 hours. This is a good pub sign quite unique.
Trip boats at the Union Canal, Falkirk.
Falkirk Wheel from the Forth & Clyde Canal
Kirkintillock Bridge, a fixed bridge built on the old swing bridge abutments, a great chance lost to put a swing bridge in and thereby giving maximum air space. Should never have been passed,  the town planners should have resigned.
At this point the Segull Trust has a boat house which houses two of its boats that are used to give disabled people a taste of canal cruising.
This commerative plaque is made of cast iron, no galvanising, its fixed under the bridge on the opposite side to the towpath, making it difficult to maintain and almost impossible to see, who was the engineer responsible for all this.
Some very good pubs on the canal, this is one of them. 'The Stables'  it's at Glasgow Bridge, it's about half way along the canal making an ideal place for a cyclist stop.
These boats belong to the Forth & Clyde Canal Society.
I note that most boats on these canals are built with National Lottery funding, there seems to be very few privately owned boats.
Lockburn Road Aqueduct, at this point the canal junction takes the canal into the Glasgow City Centre basin, worth the diversion. Note the towpath, they are made for cycling and they are excellent cycleways making for safe riding across the country, this is one thing they planned right, Probably a condition of the funding
Maryhill Locks, a flight of five locks with oval shaped basins between them, a very attractive feature, they lead down to the Kelin Aqueduct
Looking from Maryhill Locks to the kelvin Aqueduct. Robert Whitworth was the engineer, it is 400 feet long carrying the canal over the Kelvin valley, it is carried on four arches.
The infamous Dalmuir Drop Lock, a valiant attempt at replacing a lift bridge by a device that lowers the water level from a mere 50 cm. to 3 meters by pumping out the water, it takes twenty minutes for this operation and fails to give clearance to anything but small boats. It passes under the Dumbarton Road, this is a busy road, but a lift bridge could have been operated at quiet times, there really is no excuse not to put in lift bridges on the whole of this waterway.
The Erskin Swing bridge opening, note the Erskin Suspension bridge above.
Old original bascule bridge gear, this pattern of the toothed wheel has been chosen as design to decorate the new bridges with. Whilst this bridge works I doubt if the old railway bridge next to it has been opened for years. There is a cycle hire shop on the opposte side of this bridge.
Bowling Basin, the original basins, locks, bridges and Custom House all survive, a very pleasant area a proper end to what must be a frustrating passage to some navigators.
Bowling Basin Sea Lock, this is the original lock and it locks the canal down to the River Clyde.
Drop Lock, upstream.
Drop Lock, downside.
Seagull Trust
FORTH & CLYDE CANAL SOCIETY