The Fonseranes Water Slope () is a disused
inclined plane
An inclined plane, also known as a ramp, is a flat supporting surface tilted at an angle from the vertical direction, with one end higher than the other, used as an aid for raising or lowering a load. The inclined plane is one of the six clas ...
on the
Canal du Midi
The Canal du Midi (; ) is a long canal in Southern France (). Originally named the ''Canal Royal en Languedoc'' (Royal Canal in Languedoc) and renamed by French revolutionaries to ''Canal du Midi'' in 1789, the canal is considered one of the g ...
parallel to the
Fonseranes Locks. It has a rise of
and a slope of 5°.
This technique for a
water slope
A water slope () is a type of canal inclined plane built to carry boats from a canal or river at one elevation up or down to a canal or river at another elevation.
History
In 1885, German engineer Julius Greve published drafts for water slopes ...
was described by the French engineer
Jean Aubert in 1961.
It was designed to lift vessels of up to 350 tonnes displacement.
[
]
The slope, the second and last to be constructed in France, was built between 1980 and 1983 with the intent of augmenting the seven locks at the
Fonseranes Locks, allowing larger boats to pass without extensive rework of the existing locks; these would continue to serve smaller boats. Trial operations commenced in May 1984. However, within weeks a number of technical problems emerged as oil leaking from the hydraulic system lubricated the concrete tracks and the wheels on the lift were unable to gain sufficient traction to raise the chamber to the top of the slope. It took until 1986 to resolve the technical, contractual, and insurance issues.
This problem was never satisfactorily resolved and the slope was abandoned officially on 11 April 2001.
The first
water slope
A water slope () is a type of canal inclined plane built to carry boats from a canal or river at one elevation up or down to a canal or river at another elevation.
History
In 1885, German engineer Julius Greve published drafts for water slopes ...
in France was the
Montech water slope
The Montech water slope is a type of canal inclined plane built on the Canal de Garonne, in the commune of Montech, Tarn-et-Garonne, Southwest France. It is managed by the publicly owned Voies navigables de France and by-passes a series of five L ...
on the
Canal de Garonne in the commune of
Montech.
Gallery
Fonserannes water slide tractor 6 (Gloverepp).jpg, Fonseranes water slide tractor
Fonseranes water slide tractor 8 (Gloverepp).jpg, Fonseranes water slide tractor
Pente Eau Fonséranes.jpg, Device at its lowest point.
Pente Eau Fonséranes Canal du Midi.jpg
Fonseranes water slide trough 2 (Gloverepp).jpg, Fonseranes water slide trough
Fonserannes water slide trough 1 (Gloverepp).JPG, Fonseranes water slide trough
References
External links
YouTube video of the Fonserannes Water Slope in use
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fonseranes Water Slope
Canal inclined planes
Locks of France
Canal du Midi