The Anderson Boat Lift, near Northwich, was built in 1875. It lifts barges fifty feet from the River Weaver up to the Trent and Mersey canal.
It works in a very simple way, basically two giant boxes, large enough for long barges to sail into.
They can be sealed at each end, and then more water is slowly added to the upper box. As the upper box gets heavier, it gradually drops down, and as the boxes are connected by cables, it draws up the the lower lighter box, complete with the boat. Once it get to the top the box is unsealed and the boat sails off along the raised canal on the right.
Barges can also travel down from the Trent and Mersey canal to the Weaver.
Still don’t quite understand how this works. I can’t quite figure out where the upper box is. Also I think I am having trouble with the scale. I think a return trip and more photos are needed. ;)
@gardencat Thanks Joanne, just to confuse matters, they had both boxes down at the bottom today !
If you look at the other front on image, the two gates, ( each with the three bars on), at water level are where the boats enter the boxes. On the same image, you can see image you can see white safety railings, these are about four feet high. Hope that helps. I will look at some other of today’s images to see if I can make it clearer. Hopefully I will be re-visiting soon.
If you look at the other front on image, the two gates, ( each with the three bars on), at water level are where the boats enter the boxes. On the same image, you can see image you can see white safety railings, these are about four feet high. Hope that helps. I will look at some other of today’s images to see if I can make it clearer. Hopefully I will be re-visiting soon.