280:—at the bottom of the railway—and plans were put on hold. Several impractical ideas were suggested, but no practical solution could be found. By the end of the 1960s, the old marine railway could not keep up with the amount of boating traffic in the area. Long lines formed at either end of the railway, with waits often being overnight. Research was done to find a way to prevent the migration of the sea lamprey into Lake Couchiching and Lake Simcoe, while still effectively increasing the flow of traffic. A biologist sat at the bottom of the railway for days, checking the bottom of boats that locked through, and finally saw a lamprey attached to the bottom of a boat. The lamprey fell off after less than 6 meters, so the railway was determined to be effective at preventing the sea lamprey's migration. In 1976, it was finally decided that a new, enlarged railway would be built. The current carriage was opened to the public in 1978, and can carry a boat up to 100 feet (30.48 m) long and 24 feet (7.32 m) beam. It cost $ 3 million to build .
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the scheme was put on hold once more, although remains of the beginning of the dams required to maintain the water levels can still be found in the surrounding forest. In 1923, the original railway at Big Chute was replaced, as the size and number of boats had increased, with the second carriage being able to carry boats up to 60 feet (18.29 m) long. The 1923 carriage was used up until around 2003, on days of extremely heavy traffic, or as a backup for the new carriage. Although the old carriage is no longer used, it remains on display.
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small, "temporary" lock. (It remains in use to this day.) The locks at Big Chute and Swift Rapids were not completed, with "temporary" marine railways being built instead. The original Big Chute Marine
Railway was completed in 1917, and could only carry boats up to 35 feet (10.67 m) long, preventing navigation by large commercial vessels. The
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In 1921, plans were once again made to build three locks at Big Chute, to be part of a new section of canal which would take boats from Big Chute and rejoin the existing waterway downstream from the Little Chute, avoiding the fast water in the Little Chute. However because of the post-war recession
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In 1914, contracts were let to have 3 locks built to connect the Severn River to
Georgian Bay at Port Severn, Big Chute, and Swift Rapids. With the start of World War I, however, there was a shortage of manpower and resources. Lock 45 at Port Severn was nearing completion, so it was finished as a
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The vessels are floated into the cradle, which is approximately 80 feet (24.38 m) long by 26 feet (7.92 m) wide. Four 200 horsepower (150 kW) electric motors provide traction by cable. It can transport up to a combined total of 100
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was replaced with a single conventional lock in 1964, and plans were made for a single lock at Big Chute.
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In the 1960s, surveys of the area were done yet again. The old, outdated
241:. This railway is vital for those cruising the 6,000-mile (9,700 km)
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was completed in 1919, using the same plans as the Big Chute railway.
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206:View from a vessel exiting the submerged carriage.
351:. Tarrytown NY: Marshall Cavendish. p. 376.
396:Only Marine Railway of Its Kind in North America
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398:, youtube video of boat lift in operation
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69:Learn how and when to remove this message
32:This article includes a list of general
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349:How It Works: Science and Technology
386:Lock 44 - Big Chute Marine Railway
38:it lacks sufficient corresponding
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391:Big Chute on www.ronquieres.org
217:at lock 44 (in the township of
272:Before construction began the
16:Patent slip in Ontario, Canada
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320:Swift Rapids Marine Railway
267:Swift Rapids Marine Railway
256:Swift Rapids Marine Railway
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211:Big Chute Marine Railway
196:18 m (59.1 ft)
95:Big Chute Marine Railway
84:Big Chute Marine Railway
420:44.884722°N 79.674139°W
347:Horobin, Wendy (2002).
123:44.884722°N 79.674139°W
53:more precise citations.
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425:44.884722; -79.674139
325:Trent-Severn Waterway
223:Trent-Severn Waterway
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143:Trent-Severn Waterway
128:44.884722; -79.674139
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274:sea lamprey
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51:introducing
444:Boat lifts
438:Categories
331:References
291:short tons
243:Great Loop
114:79°40′27″W
111:44°53′05″N
34:references
299:long tons
293:(91
284:Operation
221:) of the
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309:See also
245:route.
139:Waterway
249:History
227:Ontario
149:Country
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381:Photos
376:Photos
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153:Canada
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