The Surreal Appeal of the Falkirk Wheel
On how a remarkable piece of engineering bridges the eight story gap between two waterways. The only rotating boat lift of this type in the world, the Falkirk Wheel must be seen to be believed.
Connecting two separate water ways may seem, on paper, and easy objective to achieve. What happens, though, when the two systems are twenty four meters apart? Plus, the word apart here means in terms of height. The solution? An incredible rotating boat lift that looks like something from a steampunk movie.
So, what did the Victorians do for you? For the inhabitants of the United Kingdom, one of their legacies was a huge network of canals. The motorways of their age, they were the major transport arteries of the early industrial revolution but by the mid part of the twentieth century their days were numbered as a method of industrial transport. So it was for the people of Falkirk, in Scotland. The system of eleven locks between the Union and the Forth and Clyde Canals were, by the nineteen thirties, unused, unloved and irreparable. Eventually they were filled in and the land upon which they once raised and lowered countless thousands of people was built upon.
This sad state of affairs meant the Scottish capital city, Edinburgh and its second city, Glasgow, had no water based connection for seventy years. It wasn’t until almost the dawn of the new century that this situation was reconsidered and the idea of the Falkirk Wheel was taken seriously and put in to action. Now the wheel, as well as a connector between the two cities, is a remarkable and awe-inspiring tourist destination in its own right. However, if it wasn’t for the prodigious gambling habits of the British people this amazing structure would never have been built.
Gambling? At the end of the twentieth century the Millennium Commission was established to help communities with projects both large and small. It was an independent body whose commissioners were appointed by Queen Elizabeth – no doubt in pursuit of a Golden Age akin to that of her eponymous predecessor. Of course, Betty Britain did not sit down and come up with the names herself; she was advised by the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair, himself advised by cohort after cohort of Whitehall civil servants. The money for these projects was provided by the income generated by the UK National Lottery. All in all over two billion pounds was invested in projects before the Commission wound down in 2006. The self evidently expensive Falkirk Wheel took thirty two million pounds from the National Lottery, about half the price of its construction. So, if you consider gambling a sin, then remember that out of every evil some good must come!
Liked it
39 Comments
Francois Hagnere, posted this comment on Jun 28th, 2009
Very interesting and quite amazing! Thank you RJ,
Take care,
François
Glynis Smy, posted this comment on Jun 28th, 2009
Gosh what a piece of engineering, interesting about the gamblers.
Hein Marais, posted this comment on Jun 28th, 2009
Wow! Engineering at its best.
Dartman, posted this comment on Jun 28th, 2009
Pretty cool! Had not seen or heard of this ingenious lift previously. Great idea for an article.
Joe Dorish, posted this comment on Jun 28th, 2009
Great piece of engineering!
Anne Lyken Garner, posted this comment on Jun 28th, 2009
I really like these new articles you’re doing. I like to sink my teeth into something informative that teaches me something I wouldn’t have otherwise had reason to learn. Thank you.
Janet Meyer, posted this comment on Jun 28th, 2009
Another giant to contend with. Great article, and photos. This one looks like a monster of a job. Thanks for sharing,
Janet
Mr Ghaz, posted this comment on Jun 28th, 2009
Wonderful piece..this is really well written article with a great engineering pics..stunning too..well done and thanx for sharing.
clay hurtubise, posted this comment on Jun 28th, 2009
WOW! I’d love to see that!
Great piece.
Thanks,
Clay
DA Cournean, posted this comment on Jun 28th, 2009
Amazing! Thanks for sharing.
Cynthia Bartlett, posted this comment on Jun 28th, 2009
Wow! that was awesome.
thanks for sharing.
Juancav, posted this comment on Jun 28th, 2009
Another engineering marvel in the world.Great pic.
george, posted this comment on Jun 29th, 2009
This is great, I have been there a few times, there is a great cycle route along the two canals, between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Wanted to clear up something in the story, there is no back of Scotland. There is the Halifax Bank of Scotland, and the Royal Bank of Scotland, two private banks which each print their own currency. Tried to find out which one was printing the note, but couldn’t. A lot of people seem to make the same mistake.
Lucas Dié, posted this comment on Jun 29th, 2009
What a great article!
And I always knew that physics and gambling were linked (at least my physics tests in school were all gambles)
Lucas Dié, posted this comment on Jun 29th, 2009
oh! – twittered it
(and my twitter automatically pushes everything into Technorati … practical)
Phil, posted this comment on Jun 29th, 2009
@george
Hi George. There is indeed a “Bank of Scotland” and a “Royal Bank of Scotland” (I have accounts with both). The “Bank of Scotland” amalgamated with the Halifax bank a few years ago and therefore goes under the name “Halifax Bank of Scotland”. In Scotland where I’m from, we just refer to it as Bank of Scotland, and on the notes which are printed by the bank, they only state “Bank of Scotland”.
Halifax only gets a look-in in England, where the brand “Bank of Scotland” is not really used. In addition, only the “Bank of England” print bank notes in England and so Halifax cannot.
I believe the Falkirk Wheel is printed on the Bank of Scotland £50 bank notes, however I’ve not seen it as I now live in London, where we rarely come across Scottish bank notes, let alone the rarity of finding a £50 note (about $75 USD).
Hope that helps,
Phil
tomaltham, posted this comment on Jun 29th, 2009
I have been on the falkirk wheel and it is spectacular!
Drake Harlem, posted this comment on Jun 29th, 2009
That monstrosity is absolutely brilliant. It does have a very steam punk aesthetic to it and that right there is the bulk of it’s appeal to me.
efftee, posted this comment on Jun 29th, 2009
This is great! I wonder if it would be possible to generate the power required to complete the rotation in the form of water pressure built up by a ram pump or something that captures and utilizes the energy inherent in the height difference between the two water bodies?
Athlyn Green, posted this comment on Jun 29th, 2009
Awesome content, as per usual, R.J. I will bookmark this.
Momma Tells, posted this comment on Jun 29th, 2009
You are right, you need to see it to believe it. Pretty amazing!
Lostash, posted this comment on Jun 29th, 2009
I’ve never heard of this wonderful device! If I get up that way in the future, I will check it out for sure!
fishfry aka Elizabeth Figueroa, posted this comment on Jun 29th, 2009
That was total mind melding, I did not know such a device existed. The age of engineering is just beginning.
Great Article, Thanx for sharing
Goodselfme, posted this comment on Jun 30th, 2009
amazing composition, pics and sharing to me.TX
Neil, posted this comment on Jun 30th, 2009
It’s amazing to think that black African immigrants engineered and built such a captivating manifestation of genius.
CherylVenanDias, posted this comment on Jun 30th, 2009
Good one saw its construction on National Geographic. The pictures are really clean and looking good.
xr3xzx, posted this comment on Jun 30th, 2009
http://webupon.com/video/tips-to-making-a-good-internet-video/
Lumpen Doodle, posted this comment on Jun 30th, 2009
A very well put together article, and yes, the Bank of Scotland still holds its independant status when it comes to printing money. The same way that you will still find seperately badged Bank of Scotland and Halifax branches in Scotland.
NRX, posted this comment on Jun 30th, 2009
Nice one, very interesting object. 
Alistair Briggs, posted this comment on Jun 30th, 2009
Of all the subjects I thought I would never see from a Triond writer, The Falkirk Wheel was one of them.
I often go past it when cycling from Glasgow to Edinburgh.
Lauren Axelrod, posted this comment on Jun 30th, 2009
Wow, I would never know this existed without your research RJ. Awesome find and fab technology.
Ogweno Ogweno, posted this comment on Jul 1st, 2009
Your research is very informative, i’m geting to know this for the first time, thanks RJ
Aleksandar Radojicic, posted this comment on Jul 2nd, 2009
This is amazing.Really shows what the human mind is capable of.The photos are good, too.Interesting read.Great Work, RJ.
RS Wing, posted this comment on Jul 2nd, 2009
very incredible apparatus…very well put together piece of historical info and quite a wonder…also the century old pics of that russian photographer…another great piece of material and really cool pics….were they enhanced in any way by others along the way?
Dr Robert Brignall, posted this comment on Jul 2nd, 2009
And I thought the Soo Locks were cool. I wish I could see this myself. Great piece. RB
Mark Gordon Brown, posted this comment on Aug 4th, 2009
The Future is now. If all the stuff like this was in one place the world might look like all those sci fi shows I watched and Saturday afternoons.
Anne McNew, posted this comment on Aug 13th, 2009
truly amazing. wonderful…
Edward Porter, posted this comment on Dec 10th, 2009
This is so wonderful….. This piece if equal to ancient Roman engineering….
chris73, posted this comment on Jun 28th, 2009
Hey! This is grea! Thanks.