Mel's Web Pages .................................................

Picture 1 - Approaching Thorne Lock Upstream (from Keadby)

Picture 7 - Thorne Lock Viewed Downstream (from Bramwith)

Picture 2 - The Lock Panel
NOTE THAT THE KEY 'FLOAT' is OBSTRUCTING the view of the
RED EMERGENCY SHUT DOWN BUTTON !
note: the panel mimics the view of the lock - i.e. 'head gates' to left, 'tail gates' to right
note also that each side sluices and gates have 'their own' control buttons

Picture 3 - A head gate Sluice Indicator (shown partially raised)

Picture 4 - The MANUALLY operated swing bridge and head gate sluice indicators

Picture 5 - The MANUAL road barriers

Picture 6 - The bridge release / lock mechanism
note that this mechanism is linked to the barriers & control panel
i.e. the bridge lock cannot be lifted until barriers are closed

Penning UP

Moor boat on bollards below lock.
If the lock is full, allow any craft heading downstream to use the lock.

Enter the BW Key into the control panel and turn on.
Raise BOTH tail gate sluices and allow the lock to empty.
Open BOTH tail gates, allow boat(s) to enter lock & set up bow & stern lines to or around bollards.
(note that, although narrow beam craft CAN manage with ONE gate, the vessel bottom plates can rub a groove in the gate mitres below the water line - this can result in premature leaking gates).
Close BOTH gates and lower BOTH sluices

Raise the head gate sluice on the boat side of the lock, this USUALLY keeps the boat to it's own side of lock.
When satisfied with boat safety, raise the opposite side sluice.
Open BOTH head gates in preparation for boat leaving the lock.

Close BOTH road barriers, lift the swing bridge lock mechanism and open the swing bridge (note that the bridge is swung MANUALLY).
Allow the boat(s) to leave the lock.
Close the swing bridge, ensuring that the locking mechanism 'falls'.
Open BOTH road barriers.

Close BOTH head gates and lower BOTH head gate sluices.
Remove BW key from panel.

Penning DOWN

Moor boat on bollards above lock.
If the lock is empty, allow any craft heading upstream to use the lock.

Enter the BW Key into the control panel and turn on.
Raise BOTH side sluices - allow the lock to fill.
Open BOTH gates, in preparation for boat entering lock.
(note that, although narrow beam craft CAN manage with ONE gate, the vessel bottom plates can rub a groove in the gate mitres below the water line - this can result in premature leaking gates).

Close BOTH road barriers, lift the swing bridge lock mechanism, and open the swing bridge (note that the bridge is swung MANUALLY).
Allow the boat(s) to enter the lock.
Close the swing bridge, ensuring that the locking mechanism 'falls'.
Open BOTH road barriers.

Close the head gates
Close the head gate sluices.

If desired, use ropes around the bollards to keep the boat under control.
DO NOT tie off the ropes and ensure that they do not get fast when descending the lock.

Raise BOTH tail gate sluices and allow the lock to empty - keep boat clear of sill.
Open BOTH tail gates and allow the boat(s) to exit the lock.
Close BOTH tail gates and lower BOTH tail gate sluices.
Remove BW key from panel.