The plane was built to reduce the delays imposed by the 14 locks (already reduced from 16 in the 19th century) that had hitherto been needed for the canal to follow the local topography.
The Ronquières Inclined Plane is 1,432 metres (4,698 ft) long and lifts boats vertically through 67.73 metres (222.2 ft).[2] It consists of two large caissons mounted on rails. Each caisson measures 91 metres (299 ft) long by 12 metres (39 ft) wide and has a water depth between 3 and 3.70 metres (9.8 and 12.1 ft). It can carry one boat of 1,350 tonnes or many smaller boats within the same limits.
Each caisson has a 5,200-tonne counterweight running in the trough below the rails, which permits the caisson to be moved independently of the other.[2] Each caisson is pulled by eight cables wound by capstans at the top end of the inclined plane. Each cable is 1,480 metres (4,860 ft) long. Each caisson can be moved between the two canal levels at a speed of 1.2 metres per second (3.9 ft/s), taking about 22 minutes. It takes 50 minutes in total to pass through the 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) of the entire structure, including the raised canal bridge at the top end.[2]
In popular cultureedit
The film Brussels by Night (1983) takes place (in part) at the inclined plane of Ronquières.
Photo galleryedit
Boat waiting before the inclined plane
Lower control tower and machine hall
Caisson leaving lower lock
Caisson en route
The inclined plane
Caisson en route
Further readingedit
Gallez, Alfred (1998). Ronquieres: where boats go on rollers. Tourist Federation of Hainaut (Mons).
Tew, David (1984). Canal Inclines and Lifts. Sutton Books. ISBN0-86299-031-9.
Uhlemann, Hans-Joachim (2002). Canal lifts and inclines of the world (English Translation ed.). Internat. ISBN0-9543181-1-0.
ronquières, inclined, plane, ronquières, inclined, plane, canal, inclined, plane, brussels, charleroi, canal, province, hainaut, wallonia, belgium, opened, april, 1968, having, taken, years, build, municipality, braine, comte, takes, name, from, nearby, villag. The Ronquieres Inclined Plane is a canal inclined plane on the Brussels Charleroi Canal in the province of Hainaut in Wallonia Belgium It opened in April 1968 1 having taken six years to build It is in the municipality of Braine le Comte and takes its name from the nearby village of Ronquieres The inclined planeThe plane was built to reduce the delays imposed by the 14 locks already reduced from 16 in the 19th century that had hitherto been needed for the canal to follow the local topography Contents 1 Description 2 In popular culture 3 Photo gallery 4 Further reading 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksDescription editThe Ronquieres Inclined Plane is 1 432 metres 4 698 ft long and lifts boats vertically through 67 73 metres 222 2 ft 2 It consists of two large caissons mounted on rails Each caisson measures 91 metres 299 ft long by 12 metres 39 ft wide and has a water depth between 3 and 3 70 metres 9 8 and 12 1 ft It can carry one boat of 1 350 tonnes or many smaller boats within the same limits Each caisson has a 5 200 tonne counterweight running in the trough below the rails which permits the caisson to be moved independently of the other 2 Each caisson is pulled by eight cables wound by capstans at the top end of the inclined plane Each cable is 1 480 metres 4 860 ft long Each caisson can be moved between the two canal levels at a speed of 1 2 metres per second 3 9 ft s taking about 22 minutes It takes 50 minutes in total to pass through the 1 800 metres 5 900 ft of the entire structure including the raised canal bridge at the top end 2 In popular culture editThe film Brussels by Night 1983 takes place in part at the inclined plane of Ronquieres Photo gallery edit nbsp Boat waiting before the inclined plane nbsp Lower control tower and machine hall nbsp Caisson leaving lower lock nbsp Caisson en route nbsp The inclined plane nbsp Caisson en routeFurther reading editGallez Alfred 1998 Ronquieres where boats go on rollers Tourist Federation of Hainaut Mons Tew David 1984 Canal Inclines and Lifts Sutton Books ISBN 0 86299 031 9 Uhlemann Hans Joachim 2002 Canal lifts and inclines of the world English Translation ed Internat ISBN 0 9543181 1 0 See also editStrepy Thieu boat lift Article on the French language Wikipedia from which this article was translated Falkirk WheelReferences edit Travel Talk Autocar 128 nbr 3774 50 13 June 1968 a b c The inclined plane of Ronquieres Archived from the original on 2008 06 11 Retrieved 2008 06 03 External links editRonquieres the non official site Official Site Plan incline de Ronquieres at Structurae with photos50 35 52 N 4 13 18 E 50 597786 N 4 221582 E 50 597786 4 221582 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ronquieres inclined plane amp oldid 1171673091, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
