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Big Chute Marine Railway is a
patent slip The patent slip or marine railway is an inclined plane extending from shoreline into water, featuring a "cradle" onto which a ship is first floated, and a mechanism to haul the ship, attached to the cradle, out of the water onto a slip. The m ...
at lock 44 (in the township of
Georgian Bay Georgian Bay (french: Baie Georgienne) is a large bay of Lake Huron, in the Laurentia bioregion. It is located entirely within the borders of Ontario, Canada. The main body of the bay lies east of the Bruce Peninsula and Manitoulin Island. To ...
) of the Trent-Severn Waterway in
Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
, Canada. It works on an inclined plane to carry boats in individual cradles over a change of height of about . It is the only
marine railway The patent slip or marine railway is an inclined plane extending from shoreline into water, featuring a "cradle" onto which a ship is first floated, and a mechanism to haul the ship, attached to the cradle, out of the water onto a slip. The m ...
(or
canal inclined plane An inclined plane is a type of cable railway used on some canals for raising boats between different water levels. Boats may be conveyed afloat, in caissons, or may be carried in cradles or slings. History Inclined planes have evolved over the ...
) of its kind in North America still in use, and is overseen by federally operated
Parks Canada Parks Canada (PC; french: Parcs Canada),Parks Canada is the applied title under the Federal Identity Program; the legal title is Parks Canada Agency (). is the agency of the Government of Canada which manages the country's 48 National Parks, th ...
. This railway is vital for those cruising the
Great Loop The Great Loop is a system of waterways that encompasses the eastern portion of the United States and part of Canada. It is made up of both natural and man-made waterways, including the Atlantic and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways, the Great Lakes, t ...
route.


History

In 1914, contracts were let to have 3 locks built to connect the Severn River to Georgian Bay at Port Severn, Big Chute, and Swift Rapids. With the start of World War I, however, there was a shortage of manpower and resources. Lock 45 at Port Severn was nearing completion, so it was finished as a small, "temporary" lock. (It remains in use to this day.) The locks at Big Chute and Swift Rapids were not completed, with "temporary" marine railways being built instead. The original Big Chute Marine Railway was completed in 1917, and could only carry boats up to long, preventing navigation by large commercial vessels. The
Swift Rapids Marine Railway Swift Rapids Marine Railway was one of two patent slips used on the Trent-Severn Waterway using the same plan design. Built in 1919 as temporary solution by Orillia Water Light and Power Commission next to their hydro dam (the slip foundation wa ...
was completed in 1919, using the same plans as the Big Chute railway. In 1921, plans were once again made to build three locks at Big Chute, to be part of a new section of canal which would take boats from Big Chute and rejoin the existing waterway downstream from the Little Chute, avoiding the fast water in the Little Chute. However because of the post-war recession the scheme was put on hold once more, although remains of the beginning of the dams required to maintain the water levels can still be found in the surrounding forest. In 1923, the original railway at Big Chute was replaced, as the size and number of boats had increased, with the second carriage being able to carry boats up to long. The 1923 carriage was used up until around 2003, on days of extremely heavy traffic, or as a backup for the new carriage. Although the old carriage is no longer used, it remains on display. In the 1960s, surveys of the area were done yet again. The old, outdated
Swift Rapids Marine Railway Swift Rapids Marine Railway was one of two patent slips used on the Trent-Severn Waterway using the same plan design. Built in 1919 as temporary solution by Orillia Water Light and Power Commission next to their hydro dam (the slip foundation wa ...
was replaced with a single conventional lock in 1964, and plans were made for a single lock at Big Chute. Before construction began the
sea lamprey The sea lamprey (''Petromyzon marinus'') is a parasitic lamprey native to the Northern Hemisphere. It is sometimes referred to as the "vampire fish". Description The sea lamprey has an eel-like body without paired fins. Its mouth is jawless, ro ...
, which had been devastating the fishing industry in the Great Lakes, was found in
Gloucester Pool Gloucester Pool is a lake in Georgian Bay Township, District of Muskoka, Ontario, Canada. It is approximately 5 kms northeast of the town of Port Severn. See also *List of lakes in Ontario This is an incomplete list of lakes in Ontario, a pro ...
—at the bottom of the railway—and plans were put on hold. Several impractical ideas were suggested, but no practical solution could be found. By the end of the 1960s, the old marine railway could not keep up with the amount of boating traffic in the area. Long lines formed at either end of the railway, with waits often being overnight. Research was done to find a way to prevent the migration of the sea lamprey into Lake Couchiching and Lake Simcoe, while still effectively increasing the flow of traffic. A biologist sat at the bottom of the railway for days, checking the bottom of boats that locked through, and finally saw a lamprey attached to the bottom of a boat. The lamprey fell off after less than 6 meters, so the railway was determined to be effective at preventing the sea lamprey's migration. In 1976, it was finally decided that a new, enlarged railway would be built. The current carriage was opened to the public in 1978, and can carry a boat up to long and beam. It cost $3 million to build .


Operation

The vessels are floated into the cradle, which is approximately long by wide. Four electric motors provide traction by cable. It can transport up to a combined total of in weight. In this enlarged version the increased weight is borne on a dual track which keeps the carriage level (the front and back wheels are on different tracks, with the front of the carriage on the upper tracks. The carriage is kept horizontal due to the relative profile of the tracks. Toward the end of travel, the carriage assumes a slight "nose down" attitude as it submerges into the water. Boats rest on the bottom of the carriage, and webbing slings are provided to support boats safely and prevent them from tipping. The old system has been decommissioned by
Parks Canada Parks Canada (PC; french: Parcs Canada),Parks Canada is the applied title under the Federal Identity Program; the legal title is Parks Canada Agency (). is the agency of the Government of Canada which manages the country's 48 National Parks, th ...
, to conform with modern safety standards, although the old tracks and carriage still remain. The last operation of the old system was in 2003.


See also

*
Patent slip The patent slip or marine railway is an inclined plane extending from shoreline into water, featuring a "cradle" onto which a ship is first floated, and a mechanism to haul the ship, attached to the cradle, out of the water onto a slip. The m ...
*
Swift Rapids Marine Railway Swift Rapids Marine Railway was one of two patent slips used on the Trent-Severn Waterway using the same plan design. Built in 1919 as temporary solution by Orillia Water Light and Power Commission next to their hydro dam (the slip foundation wa ...
* Trent-Severn Waterway
Big Chute on www.ronquieres.org


References


External links


Photos





Lock 44 - Big Chute Marine Railway
{{coord, 44, 53, 05.0, N, 79, 40, 26.9, W, region:CA-ON_type:landmark, display=title Boat lifts Canals in Ontario