Tuesday, July 12, 2005
How Does It Work??
Our friend, Ranger Brianna (in the blue shirt) explains how the lock works. If a canal boat is coming from upstream, the lockkeeper would open the wickets on the upstream gate, and allow water to enter the lock. When the water level was equal on both sides, the gates would open, and the canal boat would enter the lock. The gates would then close, and the wickets on the downstream gate would be opened, allowing the water to drain out of the lock, and lowering the boat. Once the water in the lock was the same level as the lower pool, the gates would open, and the canal boat would continue on its way to Washington. When the boats headed back to Cumberland, the process would be reversed. It took five to seven minutes for a canal boat to traverse the locks.
