Kirkfield Lift Lock Resumes 'Restricted' Operations

Lock #36 - the Kirkfield Lift Lock - of the Trent Severn Waterway (TSW) holds a unique distinction as being the 2nd highest lock of its type in the world, only surpassed by the Peterborough Lift Lock (Lock #21 of the TSW).

 Unfortunately, this lock suffered an unexpected and serious mechanical failure back on September 2/22 and had been out of service since that time. Although there's no details as to what the failure might have been, there is a short video taken by an on-land visitor during the event. The clip is less than 30 seconds in duration, but one can clearly see water rushing over the sides of the north chamber while the cruise boat 'Kawartha Voyageur' was being lifted up. 

 Here's the video from the incident;

 

 

Clearly, there was water entering that chamber when it wasn't supposed to be!

 When one passes through this lock (as well as the Peterborough Lift Lock), the chambers are made water tight by way of gates that open or close at the top and bottom sides of both chambers, so that excess water doesn't enter, nor escape from the chambers during transit. When the lift or lowering has been completed, the appropriate gate is opened to allow for the boats to exit or enter the chambers. A pretty straightforward practice that we've experienced many times over the past 15 years, all without incident. Seemed to be a very safe and well though out approach on the engineering side, but on this day something went very wrong.

Here's a video from our own up-bound passage (filmed July/22) through the lock that should illustrate how the system works. Note the gate dropping down toward the end of the video. That allows us (the boat) to exit the chamber - and relieving that watertight seal;

Now this is purely speculation on my part, but I'd hazard a guess that perhaps some debris got stuck in the upper gate which allowed the water to go through. Either that, or there was a loss of control for the mechanism that holds/locks that gate in place.
Luckily, the lock staff were able to lower the chamber so that the Kawartha Voyageur could be safely brought down and allow the passengers to exit the boat. Fortunately there were no injuries or damage to the boat immediately reported.

Here's an overhead view of the lock I took when visiting back in 2018;

Now that the Parks Canada crews have been able to do some preliminary repairs, it has been announced that 'modified lockages' will resume on September 26th. Parks Canada announced the following:
" . . .the Lift Lock has been approved to offer limited, single-chamber lockages to vessels returning to their home ports that cannot be trailered. These modified lockages will be conducted beginning on Monday, September 26, 2022, and delays experienced by boaters will vary depending on the position of the Lift Lock chambers when the boater arrives. Boaters (and pets) will be asked to disembark their vessels while the transfer is underway. Still, access to washroom facilities and shelter (in the case of inclement weather) will be made available. Vessels going up will experience a lockage time of approximately six (6) hours, while downbound vessels will experience a lockage time of approximately 30 minutes. . ."
The full article can be found HERE.

Hopefully the full repairs can be completed before the start of the 2023 navigation season. Will be nice to visit this spot again next year;

Boat Cruise on The Trent Severn Waterway 2013, Part Two

This part of our summer holidays voyage takes us through the hamlet of Bolsover to Canal Lake, up the Kirkfield Lift Lock and on to Rosedale. Not as sunny and warm as the day before, but a good day to travel, with no wind and the rain held off.

One of the many locks to pass through in this stretch;

Heading up through one of the locks.

The first of two swing bridges in Bolsover, this one had been operating by the staff from the Bolsover Lock. As a result, when we left the lock, we had to hang around at the bridge, waiting for the lockmaster to drive over by car to swing the bridge for us. Coming the other way, we had to wait for the same thing. This is something new that started in the 2013 navigation season as part of Parks Canada's cost saving measures. I will have more to say about that in the future;

One of the swing bridges at Bolsover, along the Trent Severn Waterway.

Passing by the gas dock at Sunset Cove Marina. A nice spot to spend a night.

Sunset Cove Marina in Bolsover.

 Midway through Canal Lake is this old bridge, commonly referred to as 'the hole in the wall bridge';

Hole In The Wall bridge on Canal Lake.

When initially built on 1905, the location was nothing more than a field. There is a really good book about the building of the TSW called ''A Work Unfinished : The Making of the Trent-Severn Waterway by James T. Angus' that includes the whole history of how it came to be and is full of many period photos. Included in that collection is a neat shot of this bridge under construction - in the middle of a dry field.
 Here's a close up shot of the build date for the bridge;

Hole in the wall bridge, Trent Severn Waterway

More healthy eating, even while travelling. This is my daily fruit intake. Lots of FRESH fruits and veggies every day. Good for the body!

Healthy fruit bowl snacks.

 Crossing Canal Lake we encountered this family of White Swans. A first for us to see the little young ones;

White Swans with babies on Canal Lake

 This sign sits at the easternmost part of Canal Lake, right at the beginning of the man made Kirkfield Cut, advising bigger boats that they must call a Sécurité, warning other boaters of their transiting this area. Reason being is that it is very narrow in spots and for two large boats to pass would be difficult & downright impossible in some areas.
 Trouble with this plan is that sometimes the signal may not reach boaters entering the cut, way over at Mitchell or Balsam Lakes (where there is the same sign for boats heading in the other direction). As well, many boats travel with their radios off (which it down right irresponsible) and wouldn't get the message any ways. My advice? How about if Parks Canada staff were to simply cut back the severely overgrown trees along this stretch? Too simple, I know. . . .

Warning sign for larger boats at Kirkfield

 There is a tangle of weeds as one enters into the Kirkfield Cut and one must stay within the more travelled middle of the channel, or risk becoming completely entangled in them. Right after this shot was taken, we clunked something (I'm thinking it was a bigger branch) at this spot. Fortunately, there was no damage. In a subsequent post, I'll share a video of a couple of scuba divers inspecting the running gear for damage, taken a few days after this incident.

Lots of Weeds

 A closer view of the weeds.

More weeds on the waterway.

 Here we are, just about at the top of the ride up the Kirkfield Lift Lock. This point marks the summit (highest point over sea level) for the entire Trent Severn Waterway. From this point, one is heading downstream in either direction. It's with this in mind that the navigation buoys change - green on the right from here!

Kirkfield Lift Lock

  After exiting the lock, I heard one of the aforementioned Sécurité calls from this boat. Unfortunately when I tried to hail them to discover their position or ETA for arriving at Kirkfield, there was no reply. To be prudent, I decided to tie off to the lock wall and wait for whatever was heading towards us to arrive at the lock. Good thing, too, as by the looks of the beam on this thing, we would have had a lot of fun trying to pass each other in the cut.

Wide beam boat in the Kirkfield Cut

 The lady on this boat was VERY grateful that we held back and waited for them to transit the cut.

A grateful boater

 This is what I am talking about - a very overgrown canal. Apart from a break at tiny Mitchel Lake, this man made cut runs all the way from Kirkfield to Balsam Lake - a transit of about an hour. It is pretty, though.

Narrow Kirkfield Cut.

 This is the tightest spot, with no more than 20' of clearance.

Approaching Balsam Lake

  Coming off of Balsam Lake and approaching the hamlet of Rosedale, at the south east part of the lake.

Rosedale on Balsam Lake

Next stop - Rosedale Lock, but that's gonna take up an entire post to share the beauty of the place, so c'mon back for lots more :-)