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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2018 10:35:25 GMT
Came off the river section of the south Oxford canal heading towards Thrupp, and saw that the lift bridge was in the open position (raised) albeit smothered in red and white hazard tape.
It was banging down with rain so I made a major misjudgement and assumed the bridge was faulty and stuck in the raised position, so under I went.
For some inexplicable reason, as we passed under, the bridge began to close slowly.
I was committed as half the boat was through, so had to crack on and duck.
Fortunately the bridge just caught my tiller pin and bent it slightly. Amazingly no other damage. It could have been MUCH worse.
The moral of the story I believe is, don't trust lift bridges. Make sure they're HELD open.
It's also a reminder to me not to make assumptions just for convenience.
Rog
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Post by naughtyfox on Aug 26, 2018 10:37:09 GMT
How did it close? The Thrupp Ghost?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2018 10:59:03 GMT
Foxy seems to be having difficulty understanding so I'll explain.
The bridge was open (raised).
It was raining.
Instead of getting off and ensuring the bridge remained open (raised) as I should, I just went through.
The bridge inexplicably (it means unable to be explained or accounted for) closed on me, and I wasn't there to prevent it.
Rain or not, open or not, I SHOULD HAVE DONE THE JOB RIGHT in the first place.
Rog
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Post by patty on Aug 26, 2018 11:04:28 GMT
These near misses are scary and glad u r ok . I think many of us are breaths away from disaster at tones due to assuming stuff. I get frequent wake up calls
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Post by Telemachus on Aug 26, 2018 11:10:25 GMT
Unfortunate. I have to say that bridge always seems to be open and I have in the past done just as you did, but the bridge remained open. That is what is commonly know as bad luck! Anyway, damage sounds minor, fortunately.
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Post by naughtyfox on Aug 26, 2018 11:36:52 GMT
I'm still looking for 'the right thread' with the detailed explanation as to how this actually happened.
Questions that arise are: - did another boat just go through and the bridge should automatically close behind them?
- how can that bridge be in the up position and then just suddenly start to come down, with no warnings?
- what is it that dogless should have done exactly? Nipped up to the control box... and... what exactly?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2018 11:51:42 GMT
I think you know what a south Oxford canal lift bridge looks like (you certainly know how to google).
A crew member should get off the boat, open (raise) the bridge and either hold it open, or lock it open if there is a facility to do so. There is no locking facility on this particular bridge. You either sit on the balance, or use the Oxford pole method (hold it up with a long shaft).
It was raining, and the bridge was open (raised) so foolishly I went through doing none of the above.
My laziness was the cause.
Inexplicably the bridge closed (I think I've explained that word already) as I wasn't holding it open.
Is that clear now.
Rog
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Post by Mr Stabby on Aug 26, 2018 12:04:26 GMT
I think you know what a south Oxford canal lift bridge looks like (you certainly know how to google). A crew member should get off the boat, open (raise) the bridge and either hold it open, or lock it open if there is a facility to do so. There is no locking facility on this particular bridge. You either sit on the balance, or use the Oxford pole method (hold it up with a long shaft). It was raining, and the bridge was open (raised) so foolishly I went through doing none of the above. My laziness was the cause. Inexplicably the bridge closed (I think I've explained that word already) as I wasn't holding it open. Is that clear now. Rog The logical explanation is that rainwater soaking into the raised section of the bridge had increased its weight until it outweighed the balance beams. |
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Post by naughtyfox on Aug 26, 2018 12:07:32 GMT
Ah - you mentioned Thrupp, and there be only Ye Olde Electric Bridge there in Thrupp. But now I see you said 'towards Thrupp'. So it's Shipton lift bridge No219 I'm guessing. Shipton Ghost, then.  Naughty Bridge. |
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Post by naughtyfox on Aug 26, 2018 12:09:38 GMT
ps - every time I open that photo that blue boat is still there - and they told us they were 'continuously cruising'! Yeah, right.
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Post by Jim on Aug 26, 2018 15:14:04 GMT
So, the Oxford pole method? Borrow a fruit picking migrant from an adjacent field?
Or where would your long shaft go, from the opposite side? Is there room for boat to go under if its a short long shaft? We are still waiting on Phylis's/Naughty Cals instructions. Perhaps you could document the process and share it on here and analworld.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2018 17:51:57 GMT
I think I've documented how not to do it  Rog |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2018 18:50:00 GMT
Went through that bridge last year, it was open both times and I presumed love caked open as I never checked.
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Post by Telemachus on Aug 26, 2018 19:02:15 GMT
Went through that bridge last year, it was open both times and I presumed love caked open as I never checked. “Love caked open”? What does that mean? Stuck open by sticky unmentionable byproducts of “love”? Yuk! |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2018 19:04:29 GMT
I know there's auto correct... but it makes you wonder the sort of things he's writing routinely Rog |
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