Empathy List Archives

F

fred@tug44.org

Thu, Apr 5, 2012 5:33 PM

During our discussion of bridge clearances on the western Erie Canal, I had
stated that the western Erie had a clearance of 15'. But a private note
from John Gill got me thinking, so I researched. (Thanks, John)

The current Canal Corp Cruising Guide shows it as being 15.5' and that
surprised me as I clearly recall numbers like 15.1' and 15.2' on some guard
gates the last time I was that far west a few years ago. Does anybody
have a copy of the previous Cruising Guide, if so could you look up the
western numbers and tell me what's in there.

I'm trying to determine if either they changed the guard gates or if
Alzheimer's has set in which is also a possibility.

Also, last nite I contacted my friends at Canal Corp management, and got
this back:

"The only section in that area subject to any real fluctuation is the
Clyde River, and the RR bridge can be close to 15' in high water
conditions, but that's about it."

That would be bridge E-93. A recent rainstorm will reduce clearance to
that level of only 15'. I remember having to rotate down my anchor light
(about 15' 2") to get under it a few years ago.

So I suppose the real correct answer is in fact 15.5' but you may hit 15'
if it rained recently. And there you have it.

Fred
Tug 44

During our discussion of bridge clearances on the western Erie Canal, I had stated that the western Erie had a clearance of 15'. But a private note from John Gill got me thinking, so I researched. (Thanks, John) The current Canal Corp Cruising Guide shows it as being 15.5' and that surprised me as I clearly recall numbers like 15.1' and 15.2' on some guard gates the last time I was that far west a few years ago. Does anybody have a copy of the previous Cruising Guide, if so could you look up the western numbers and tell me what's in there. I'm trying to determine if either they changed the guard gates or if Alzheimer's has set in which is also a possibility. Also, last nite I contacted my friends at Canal Corp management, and got this back: "The only section in that area subject to any real fluctuation is the Clyde River, and the RR bridge can be close to 15' in high water conditions, but that's about it." That would be bridge E-93. A recent rainstorm will reduce clearance to that level of only 15'. I remember having to rotate down my anchor light (about 15' 2") to get under it a few years ago. So I suppose the real correct answer is in fact 15.5' but you may hit 15' if it rained recently. And there you have it. Fred Tug 44

RY

Ralph Yost

Thu, Apr 5, 2012 5:55 PM

Well sure...and you may hit 14.5' if it rains REALLY HARD !
R.

-----Original Message-----
From: great-loop-bounces@lists.trawlering.com
[mailto:great-loop-bounces@lists.trawlering.com] On Behalf Of fred@tug44.org
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2012 1:33 PM
To: Great Loop List
Subject: GL: Western Erie Canal

During our discussion of bridge clearances on the western Erie Canal, I had
stated that the western Erie had a clearance of 15'. But a private note
from John Gill got me thinking, so I researched. (Thanks, John)

The current Canal Corp Cruising Guide shows it as being 15.5' and that
surprised me as I clearly recall numbers like 15.1' and 15.2' on some guard
gates the last time I was that far west a few years ago. Does anybody
have a copy of the previous Cruising Guide, if so could you look up the
western numbers and tell me what's in there.

I'm trying to determine if either they changed the guard gates or if
Alzheimer's has set in which is also a possibility.

Also, last nite I contacted my friends at Canal Corp management, and got
this back:

"The only section in that area subject to any real fluctuation is the Clyde
River, and the RR bridge can be close to 15' in high water conditions, but
that's about it."

That would be bridge E-93. A recent rainstorm will reduce clearance to that
level of only 15'. I remember having to rotate down my anchor light (about
15' 2") to get under it a few years ago.

So I suppose the real correct answer is in fact 15.5' but you may hit 15'
if it rained recently. And there you have it.

Fred
Tug 44

Well sure...and you may hit 14.5' if it rains REALLY HARD ! R. -----Original Message----- From: great-loop-bounces@lists.trawlering.com [mailto:great-loop-bounces@lists.trawlering.com] On Behalf Of fred@tug44.org Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2012 1:33 PM To: Great Loop List Subject: GL: Western Erie Canal During our discussion of bridge clearances on the western Erie Canal, I had stated that the western Erie had a clearance of 15'. But a private note from John Gill got me thinking, so I researched. (Thanks, John) The current Canal Corp Cruising Guide shows it as being 15.5' and that surprised me as I clearly recall numbers like 15.1' and 15.2' on some guard gates the last time I was that far west a few years ago. Does anybody have a copy of the previous Cruising Guide, if so could you look up the western numbers and tell me what's in there. I'm trying to determine if either they changed the guard gates or if Alzheimer's has set in which is also a possibility. Also, last nite I contacted my friends at Canal Corp management, and got this back: "The only section in that area subject to any real fluctuation is the Clyde River, and the RR bridge can be close to 15' in high water conditions, but that's about it." That would be bridge E-93. A recent rainstorm will reduce clearance to that level of only 15'. I remember having to rotate down my anchor light (about 15' 2") to get under it a few years ago. So I suppose the real correct answer is in fact 15.5' but you may hit 15' if it rained recently. And there you have it. Fred Tug 44

DC

D C *Mac* Macdonald

Thu, Apr 5, 2012 7:25 PM

The bridge height table I downloaded and printed out shows
worst case (maximum pool of 446.7') clearance of 15.3 for
the Cayuga-Seneca Canal at the Lock 4 Guard Gate.

Similar worst case on the Western Erie Canal is 15.34 at
maximum pool of 463' at the railroad bridge near Lock 32.
Height at "normal" pool is shown as 15.94.

Data is that taken from Canal Corp table downloaded yesterday.

** D C "Mac" Macdonald **

OKC & Grand Lake (OK) *
** AGLCA (#217) & USPS **
** USAF & FAA, Retired **
** Amateur Radio K2GKK **

From: ralph@alphacompservices.com
To: fred@tug44.org; great-loop@lists.trawlering.com
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2012 13:55:09 -0400
Subject: Re: GL: Western Erie Canal

Well sure...and you may hit 14.5' if it rains REALLY HARD !
R.

-----Original Message-----
From: great-loop-bounces@lists.trawlering.com
[mailto:great-loop-bounces@lists.trawlering.com] On Behalf Of fred@tug44.org
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2012 1:33 PM
To: Great Loop List
Subject: GL: Western Erie Canal

During our discussion of bridge clearances on the western Erie Canal, I had
stated that the western Erie had a clearance of 15'. But a private note
from John Gill got me thinking, so I researched. (Thanks, John)

The current Canal Corp Cruising Guide shows it as being 15.5' and that
surprised me as I clearly recall numbers like 15.1' and 15.2' on some guard
gates the last time I was that far west a few years ago. Does anybody
have a copy of the previous Cruising Guide, if so could you look up the
western numbers and tell me what's in there.

I'm trying to determine if either they changed the guard gates or if
Alzheimer's has set in which is also a possibility.

Also, last nite I contacted my friends at Canal Corp management, and got
this back:

"The only section in that area subject to any real fluctuation is the Clyde
River, and the RR bridge can be close to 15' in high water conditions, but
that's about it."

That would be bridge E-93. A recent rainstorm will reduce clearance to that
level of only 15'. I remember having to rotate down my anchor light (about
15' 2") to get under it a few years ago.

So I suppose the real correct answer is in fact 15.5' but you may hit 15'
if it rained recently. And there you have it.

Fred
Tug 44

The bridge height table I downloaded and printed out shows worst case (maximum pool of 446.7') clearance of 15.3 for the Cayuga-Seneca Canal at the Lock 4 Guard Gate. Similar worst case on the Western Erie Canal is 15.34 at maximum pool of 463' at the railroad bridge near Lock 32. Height at "normal" pool is shown as 15.94. Data is that taken from Canal Corp table downloaded yesterday. * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** D C "Mac" Macdonald ** * OKC & Grand Lake (OK) * ** AGLCA (#217) & USPS ** ** USAF & FAA, Retired ** ** Amateur Radio K2GKK ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * > From: ralph@alphacompservices.com > To: fred@tug44.org; great-loop@lists.trawlering.com > Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2012 13:55:09 -0400 > Subject: Re: GL: Western Erie Canal > > Well sure...and you may hit 14.5' if it rains REALLY HARD ! > R. > > -----Original Message----- > From: great-loop-bounces@lists.trawlering.com > [mailto:great-loop-bounces@lists.trawlering.com] On Behalf Of fred@tug44.org > Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2012 1:33 PM > To: Great Loop List > Subject: GL: Western Erie Canal > > During our discussion of bridge clearances on the western Erie Canal, I had > stated that the western Erie had a clearance of 15'. But a private note > from John Gill got me thinking, so I researched. (Thanks, John) > > The current Canal Corp Cruising Guide shows it as being 15.5' and that > surprised me as I clearly recall numbers like 15.1' and 15.2' on some guard > gates the last time I was that far west a few years ago. Does anybody > have a copy of the previous Cruising Guide, if so could you look up the > western numbers and tell me what's in there. > > I'm trying to determine if either they changed the guard gates or if > Alzheimer's has set in which is also a possibility. > > Also, last nite I contacted my friends at Canal Corp management, and got > this back: > > "The only section in that area subject to any real fluctuation is the Clyde > River, and the RR bridge can be close to 15' in high water conditions, but > that's about it." > > That would be bridge E-93. A recent rainstorm will reduce clearance to that > level of only 15'. I remember having to rotate down my anchor light (about > 15' 2") to get under it a few years ago. > > So I suppose the real correct answer is in fact 15.5' but you may hit 15' > if it rained recently. And there you have it. > > Fred > Tug 44

A

allen

Fri, Apr 6, 2012 1:08 AM

During our discussion of bridge clearances on the western Erie Canal,

I had

stated that the western Erie had a clearance of 15'.

As I recall, a few bridges have markers at the water line on their
bases with gradations showing how high the water is, but only a few.
That is unfortunate since it gives some clue what the risk of a hit
might be. Maybe those are the worst clearances?

Anyhow, knowing the current clearance is reassuring if the water is
normal or low, but it does not help much if the water is high, except to
suggest waiting.

I recall watching the boat in front of us go under the lowest bridge on
that section, and lucky for him, the three bladed prop on his wind
generator was parked with one blade straight down. He cleared by just a
hair. If the prop had been turned just a little, there would have been
sadness.

I'm hoping to do the canals again from Troy to North Tonawanda and on to
the Great Lakes at the beginning of next month, starting from the
Bahamas, but we'll see.

> During our discussion of bridge clearances on the western Erie Canal, I had > stated that the western Erie had a clearance of 15'. As I recall, a few bridges have markers at the water line on their bases with gradations showing how high the water is, but only a few. That is unfortunate since it gives some clue what the risk of a hit might be. Maybe those are the worst clearances? Anyhow, knowing the current clearance is reassuring if the water is normal or low, but it does not help much if the water is high, except to suggest waiting. I recall watching the boat in front of us go under the lowest bridge on that section, and lucky for him, the three bladed prop on his wind generator was parked with one blade straight down. He cleared by just a hair. If the prop had been turned just a little, there would have been sadness. I'm hoping to do the canals again from Troy to North Tonawanda and on to the Great Lakes at the beginning of next month, starting from the Bahamas, but we'll see.