THE ARZVILLER INCLINED PLANE

Well, this was amazing. We'd seen photos of it but they were nothing like the real thing. The Arzviller inclined plane was built in 1969 to replace 17 locks over 4km with a total drop of 44.5m. The 17 locks were a problem for the canal traffic as they were so close together, which made navigating very difficult for 38m peniches. It was also too narrow for the barges to pass. It would take a day to navigate these locks and the barges coming the other way would have to wait. This became such a problem for the bargees that a solution had to be found. 

The Arzviller Inclined Plane.

The mechanism consists of a moving tank like a huge bath tub (caisson) that you drive into. It is balanced by counterweights which are connected by cables drawn by electric winches. The tank moves sideways up or down the inclined plane and is sealed at each end, so completely watertight. It uses very little power as the counterweights balance the caisson which is always the same weight with or without boats in it. (Displacement of water, Archimedes Principle etc.......) You then just drive out into the canal. 

Here we go into the caisson, ready to go down.

We were going to go down the inclined plane two years ago when we left Nancy but had to completely reroute as it was out of action for nearly 2 years. The caisson jammed, trapping a boat and releasing a hugewamount of water down the valley. This was repaired over a few months and then the caisson twisted and was damaged badly a second time. Now it seems to run well and efficiently. It was a great experience.

Boats in the caisson.