Bizarre bridges

 




From the bottom photo up, the strange, one of the only 2 in the world, a sliding railway bridge. It retracts like a bent elbow to one side of the canal. At 9.30 sharp yesterday, the operator retracted the bridge, after 5 trains in 40 min had raced across it. Open at last, the assembled convoy moved west, with the first boat stopping at a swing bridge, key operated, allowing all in the line to proceed.  At the next bridge, maybe a lift one with a huge counterweight as pictured, the new first placed boat opened it. And so for most of the day, cooperative boating.

Dinner in the Pollington Kings Head, a club like atmosphere into which we were absorbed. Drinks on the house for the Capn's birthday. 

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