3-078-129 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Progress of the Manchester Ship Canal works: Mode-Wheel locks, 1890. 'After the cutting itself, probably the most important work is the construction of the various locks. Of these, besides the tidal locks at Eastham, there are four series: at Latchford, Irlam, Barton, and Mode-Wheel. It should be observed that the total rise of level, between Eastham and Manchester, is 60 ft. 6 in. It has been estimated that steamers will require about a quarter of an hour to pass through each lock. This would bring up the time occupied in steaming from end to end of the canal to about eight hours. The locks at Mode-Wheel are the last to be encountered by a vessel passing up the canal: immediately on clearing them she would find herself in the Salford Docks. Our View of these locks is taken from one of the concrete-mixing platforms above them. These platforms, several of which may be seen in the Illustration, are on the original ground level, and present good points of view from which to watch, the progress of the work in the cutting below'. From "Illustrated London News", 1890.