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Mark A
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« on: August 23, 2022, 10:14:02 » |
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The Kennet and Avon summit has closed ufn as an (unspecified) electric pump has failed. A reminder that, into the west country, it's not only the rail infrastructure that's fragile.
Mark
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ray951
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« Reply #1 on: August 23, 2022, 11:57:32 » |
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When this happened previously they bought the steam pumping station back into use, presumably they could do the same today although I guess it takes quite a few hours to get the steam up to pressure.
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Mark A
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« Reply #2 on: August 23, 2022, 12:19:01 » |
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A Canal and River Trust leaflet quotes the running costs for pumping the water supply for the K&A as £300,000 per annum. The impending rise in electricity prices has... implications though it would be an odd world in which there was a return to coal fired steam for that task.
Also, it's not stated as to which pump has failed. It may well be that the level of the 'reservoir' at Crofton is woeful, and the item that has failed may be in the chain of pumps that backpumps water from the Avon at Bath.
Mark
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grahame
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« Reply #3 on: August 23, 2022, 12:44:25 » |
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I would suspect that that number of boats going through the canal these days is far, far higher than it ever was in commercial days, and that the traffic concentrates on the warmest and driest months. Should the Canal remain open to boats that carry an onboard pump, and can empty a lock by pumping water back into the pound above rather that releasing it through paddles to the pound below?
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Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
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bradshaw
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« Reply #4 on: August 23, 2022, 19:06:28 » |
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We visited the Caen flight a couple of weeks ago, in the middle of the dry spell and they were only operating the locks between 10.00 and 13.00 daily.
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Clan Line
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« Reply #5 on: August 23, 2022, 19:14:50 » |
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We had a day boat two weeks ago today and were warned then that canal water levels were low. That was from Devizes to Allington and back......no locks.
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broadgage
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« Reply #6 on: August 24, 2022, 00:52:01 » |
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It should be possible to install solar powered pumps to lift water back to the upper reservoir. There is at least an approximate coincidence between maximum solar energy and maximum need for water.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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broadgage
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« Reply #7 on: August 24, 2022, 04:13:05 » |
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I would suspect that that number of boats going through the canal these days is far, far higher than it ever was in commercial days, and that the traffic concentrates on the warmest and driest months. Should the Canal remain open to boats that carry an onboard pump, and can empty a lock by pumping water back into the pound above rather that releasing it through paddles to the pound below?
I doubt that would be practical. A canal lock holds about 140,000 litres of water. A large portable fire pump can handle as much as 1,400 litres of water a minute, so about 100 minutes to pump the water from the lock into the upper pound. And that is for a large and expensive fire pump, many are of lower capacity. Needs petrol, dangerous on board a boat, expensive, polluting, noisy. OTOH▸ a fixed solar powered electric pump could in Summer work all day at appreciable capital cost but almost no running cost and almost zero carbon emissions, silent. I cant see any REGULAR return to coal burning steam power. If however such equipment remains in place, then OCCAISIONAL use in a drought might be worthwhile. Especially if vintage engine enthusiasts pay to watch it, and provide some free labour. |
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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CyclingSid
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« Reply #8 on: August 24, 2022, 07:38:35 » |
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If the K & A is low, I hate to think what state the Basingstoke Canal will be in.
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Bmblbzzz
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« Reply #9 on: August 24, 2022, 09:36:32 » |
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I would suspect that that number of boats going through the canal these days is far, far higher than it ever was in commercial days, and that the traffic concentrates on the warmest and driest months. Should the Canal remain open to boats that carry an onboard pump, and can empty a lock by pumping water back into the pound above rather that releasing it through paddles to the pound below?
I doubt that would be practical. A canal lock holds about 140,000 litres of water. A large portable fire pump can handle as much as 1,400 litres of water a minute, so about 100 minutes to pump the water from the lock into the upper pound. And that is for a large and expensive fire pump, many are of lower capacity. Needs petrol, dangerous on board a boat, expensive, polluting, noisy.Why couldn't the pump run on diesel, which the boat already has plenty of for its engine? |
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Waiting at Pilning for the midnight sleeper to Prague.
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broadgage
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« Reply #10 on: August 24, 2022, 10:30:53 » |
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A diesel pump could be used, but would be even larger and heavier than a petrol one of the same power. Unlikely to be portable. A gas turbine engine is possible, some fire brigades are trialing gas turbine portable pumps.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU▸ is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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Fourbee
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« Reply #12 on: August 24, 2022, 12:29:52 » |
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If the K & A is low, I hate to think what state the Basingstoke Canal will be in.
Mytchett pound (Ash Lock to the top of the Deepcut flight) is closed to powered craft. The way it's going when I saw it recently it will effectively be the same for unpowered craft, unless you just fancy sitting in your canoe going nowhere! |
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