Several narrowboats trapped by a canal collapse have finally been lifted out so that they can rejoin the canal network.
A large hole appeared in the bank of the Llangollen Canal near Whitchurch, Shropshire, on 22 December, causing its water to drain into a nearby field.
Two boats fell into the breach and others were trapped when sections of the canal had to be closed off.
In a highly anticipated operation, a 90ft (27.4m) crane and several haulage teams worked to remove eight boats from Whitchurch marina so they could be transported by lorry to the Aqueduct Marina near Crewe on Wednesday.
Lots more photographs on Taylors Aboard Facebook page.
Here's one I moved earlier. 😁😜😆 Intercity carriages are a similar length. Forty foot trailer extended to 60 feet, with a ten foot overhang on the back. 95 feet long in total.
A job well done methinks.
We just want to thank everyone involved in helping us escape the Llangollen canal! Thank you to Whitchurch Marina for organising everything and lifting us out. Thank you to Steve Foster Cranes for lifting us out with the 100-tonne crane! Thank you to Ray Bowren and A S Taylor for the haulage, and thank you to Aqueduct Marina for lifting us back in! Thank you all so much!
Catch ya tomorrow. Toodle pip. ilona
What a huge undertaking. And your load on your truck is again impressive. Thanks for sharing the saga. I would think some owners are breathing a little easier.
ReplyDeleteI think the lessons to be learnt here are that the owners of eight boats don't want to be confined to 30 miles of the same canal, with no way out. The main reason for living in a boat is that you can cast off and move to a new area. Yes there are permanent moorings if one should wish to belong to a community and have everything close by, but by and large the attraction of a life on the water is the feeling of freedom to move anywhere.
DeleteMy friend lives on a boat on a perminent mooring near Uxbridge. However she has to move it up the canal every few weeks to get to the water and do the toilet waste disposal at a special site at the next cancal turning point. Also she takes it down to the boat yard for repairs , and as its very old, that is quite often. She last took it down to the boat yard to get it into a dry dock to re-paint/coat the bottom,... I remember her says how funny it was to see the underneath of her home for the first time. Great fun, it's just like camping but the condensation and mud really got to me when I stayed,... alot of hard work everyday, but I suppose worth it to be on the canal path (so quiet at night).
DeleteGreat pictures ilona, thanks for sharing that. Norma in Stafford.
ReplyDeleteI would rather have been watching on site, but it's a long way to drive to Cheshire. There are enough people with cameras these days. It makes sense to watch from afar.
DeleteWhat a huge 👏 task .. hope everyone are OK and there boats are insured well.. many people living on barges. Seems a gentle way of life..that Leicester lorry brings memories back for you ilona .I bet..
ReplyDeleteRgards" Levi xx ♥️ 😘 💕