London region leaves the gates open, some lock cottages have cellars which fill with water if the lock is left full so are exceptions. When canals had commercial traffic we always left the gates open (but its a can of worms your question)
>John wrote: > > Caroline, who lives in on the Norfolk Broads where they don't have > > locks, would like to ask you experienced canal boaters a question > > please. Does anyone have an opinion? > > > > Thanks > > John & Caroline > > nb. Charlotte Rose presently at Abingdon > > > > I know the rule is 'drop the paddles and shut the gate when you > > leave' but I was wondering why we shut the gate ? On the lower > > stretches of the Grand Union coming into London there are notices > > asking the lock be left empty when leaving so all the locks we came > > to had a gate open. This is why I am asking. If you could drop the > > paddles and leave a gate open when leaving you wouldn't have to pick > > up your crew from the bank they could get on whilst the boat was > > still in the lock. When you arrive at a lock it is not normally ready > > to use, the leaking paddles/gates mean that you either have to top it > > up or let some water out. If there was an open gate there is a good > > chance you could just go right in. I must be missing something > > obvious, is it to do with saving water ? Personally I like the litt > > le thrill I get when I arrive at a lock that has open doors because > > someone has just left, feels like I got lucky ! Thanks if you know > > the answer. Caroline > ><Que Adrian> >In case he is not awake... Yes, it is a silly rule, but on the GU it does >have water saving properties, as a lock left empty with the bottom gates >shut and paddles down *should* eventualy fill if there is water going >through the top ground paddle (they can overspill and act as by-weirs) >Some say BWB started the rule as a water saving measure, as gates are so >leaky. > >In Ireland on the "canals" we adopt a different rule, locks always empty, >with one bottom paddle up and bottom gates open. > >-- >Neil Arlidge - NB Erne Nest > > This footnote confirms that this email message has been swept by McAfee ActiveShield for the absence of computer viruses. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
