OK...just as a break from KR's just thought I would add a bit of alternative interest......especially you technical and engineering types.

So what is it ?

Nothing to do with trucks, but transport, yes.

 

It's the ruins of the "Swiss Army War Monument" Designed in the striking style of a Swiss Army Pocket Survival Knife, the unfinished monument was originally intended to honor those who fought and died in all the conflicts that Switzerland has been involved in. Then they checked the records and decided that no one ever had, so funding was canceled.

 

Inventive...but incorrect !

 

Catapult? Some kind of ferris wheel or amusement park ride???Hell, I dunno. That one is pretty tough, hard to determine scale and details. I think we need a new name for you lenny, professor seems fitting

~DM~

 

Well, here's what I can see...

There's a person standing in front of the thing. Looks like a grown male.

In the background to on the right side looks like bleachers of some sort. Appears to be people sitting at the top. If so, the bleachers are not very large.

Just above the bleachers is some sort of road with cars on it. On the right side there appears to be a banner on the opposite side of the road. A race track?

On the left bottom there is a long pole framed canopy. This is probably to keep people in line dry while waiting their turn to see this object in question. It's pretty close to the object, so it probbly doesn't move, even though it appears to have a pivot point in the middle of it. Maybe it did move at one time.

In the center of the picture above and to the left of the pivot point there appears to be people standing on a platform of some sort.

On the upper right there appears to be a platform inside the upper circular part. Looking closely at the bottom of the platform there appears to be wheels connected to the circular area. That would say that it does or did move up and down.

That's all I got for now

 

VPG......
That's very perceptive of you....you obviously have very keen eyesight.
Yes, there were bleachers as you so fittingly call them ( I presume that name arose because people on them got bleached in the sun?) We would call them stands (Which actually is a pretty stupid name...cause you sit down on them.....isn't it strange how I have watched soccer matches for a large part of my life and yet never questioned until today why one would call something a stand when you actually sit down on it......sorry drifting off subject !)

They were erected as were others around the site for the formal opening a while ago by HM the Queen.

This is the only one in the world and to drag it out a short while longer is actually in Scotland......and no it's not an automatic caber tossing machine, or the world's largest haggis mincer.

 

"Can you see better with... 1 or 2? Again, 1 or 2."

 

Ho Ho....
For the Jolly Green Giant I presume !

 

It's a boat lift .... scoops up the water and up to 3 boats .
It's in this months issue of Popular Sicence Magazine I think , with a picture at a different angle

I know , I spend way too much time in Barns & Nobel thumbing through magazines ... but it's free

 

What you have there appears to be your standard issue Falkirk Wheel.

http://www.falkirk-wheel.com/wheel/f...heel/wheel.htm

Very innovative.

 

Cyberhiker and Screwed In NC...

Well done the both of you......Screwed, did you find out the same way as CH ?
I should have thought about it appearing in that mag.....like you say it's one I like to peruse in B &N as we waste our hours in Houston having put the truck back into store prior to us returning to the UK.
There is a great revival in canals in this country and many that fell into decay after the industrial revoultion are being restored mainly for the tourist trade but also a small percentage of non urgent cargo.


So....The answer is…….

Well it’s called the Falkirk Wheel because strangely enough it’s at Falkirk in Scotland.


The Falkirk Wheel
"Turning the canals full circle..."

The Falkirk Wheel is the world's only rotating boatlift and is used to connect the Forth & Clyde and Union canals in central Scotland.

This magnificent, mechanical marvel has been constructed to 21st Century, state-of-the-art engineering and it is already being recognised as an iconic landmark worthy of Scotland's traditional engineering expertise.


Go to
http://www.falkirk-wheel.com/wheel/f...heel/wheel.htm

or for a good set of photos…..

http://www.bennettmg.co.uk/index.html

Click on update, then photo archive.

 

Well blow me down, mate...

That's got to be the strangest machinery I've ever laid my eyes on before. It's a mechanical boat lift and a lock, very ingenious for sure. I'd assume they've designed the lift/lock to allow for changing water levels that could fall below normal levels or they'd have to dam it off shortly down stream to maintain a specific level as to not let it get too low.

Also, it appears that only smaller vessels are allowed access onto this Ferris wheel lift/lock.

Also, keep those gears lubed, don't want any broken teeth to cause a boat dump

There must be a scheduler and a planner to allow two way traffic such that not too big of a vessel is trying to go back up when one of an unequal size wants to go down.

Very odd device, but none the less ingenious and for sure an Engineering marvel.

Thanks for sharing that with us professer Lenticular (Lenny). Next question, is it made from stainless steel? I didn't read the article so I have no idea, but it looks like stainless from the pictures.

~DM~

 

 

Dave.....MMmmm....I think it is just the light that makes it look that way !

I haven't actually seen it myself but as a canal narrow boat enthusiast it would be an ambition to achieve a transition on it.
We sold our shares in a 60 footer earlier this year but we are planning to commission a new boat for 2004 just for ourselves to cruise the waterway system. It will still be a very long trip up to Scotland at 4 mph plus part has to be by land transportation.

The boat will be called "Lil Bit Of Texas" for fairly obvious reasons.

Our friend from South Padre who actually owned the store of the same name came across to visit 2 years ago and we took her over the famous aqueduct into Wales....200 feet high with absolutely nothing on one side bar a 2 " thick steel rail.....sealed over 200 years ago with a mixture of sugar and flannel.....and it has never leaked !
It is a very strange feeling crossing the highest part, not shown in the photo!

For abetter side view go to...

http://www.jim-shead.co.uk/

Search for "Aqueduct" then see the "Wonders of The Waterways"

 

Mike,

I'm sure Ford would say that one 4R70W is more than enough However, I know better, it'll take 200 truck loads of them as a good starting point

~DM~