CHANNEL-ISLANDS-L Archives

Archiver > CHANNEL-ISLANDS > 1997-09 > 0874217755


From: patcarey< >
Subject: Re: CHANNEL-ISLANDS-D Digest V97 #96
Date: Sun, 14 Sep 1997 03:15:55 -0300


the swing bridge keeper was a man who used a long metal rod with a
wrench at one end which would fit on a large nut in the middle of
a bridge---small bridges could be turned 180 degree to allow ships
with masts to go through on larger bridges the keeper would use a horse
bridled up to the pole and this would open the bridge----there was an
gear reduction something like winding a clock so it took many turns
to open the swing bridge.hope this of help to you------hrharris

Regards,

Harold R. Harris
London, Ontario
Canada

The old swing bridge crossing Lennox Passage at Ile Madame in Cape Breton
was operated by a horse until the 1960's. The horse became so well trained
that when a boat approached he would saunter down, slip into the horse
collar and open the bridge on his own. After the boat had passed he would
reverse direction and close the bridge. The keeper would be reduced to the
role of directing vehicular traffic, if he was sober. If not the local
people would understand and look after themselves while the horse looked
after the bridge. This cost efficient system was relaced by a bascule bridge
with trained operaters around the clock. Being federal civil servants they
demand holidays and time off and will not work for daily oats rations.

Pat Carey

This thread: