The Anderton Boat Lift. The workings

In this video we visit the Anderton Boat lift one of the wonders of the canal world in the Canals of Britain. There is also a steam heritage day on that day. so we get to see some wonderful steam vehicles. The Anderton boat lift links the Trent and Mersey canal to the River Weaver navigation in Cheshire. The boat lift is a Iron beauty that was built for the cheshire salt industry in Northwich. The Anderton boat lift is a wonder of Victorian Engineering.

[@MartinZero]

Here is the link to future engineering to learn about the Boat lift canalrivertrust.org.uk/things-to-do/museums-and-attractions/anderton-boat-lift-and-visitor-centre-cheshire/anderton-boat-lift-engineering-the-future-project

[@johnstilljohn3181]

Fantastic - what a structure...! All those gears out in the weather need looking after....

[@MartinZero]

I think they aren’t in use anymore. They are part of the old system

[@NR23derek]

At the age of about 13 - 14 in 1967/8 I was a total canal-nut, thanks to a brilliant history teacher I had at school who taught us about the industrial revolution. So me and a couple of mates would cycle from Ellesmere Port on Wirral to Northwich to explore the Anderton lift. We did this several times (it was only 70 miles round trip) and on one occasion we got caught by the bloke in charge. But instead of chasing us off, he saw we were really interested in the lift, so he took us up to that cabin and showed us the control room and then he took us up onto the top bit where the gears are. It was very run-down back then and sadly no boats came through when we were there, the traffic had all but dried up by the late 60's. But those gears were covered in thick black grease and the whole thong had this wonderful mechanical smell. It was also very industrial, the factory on the other side of the river was much bigger then. As I've mentioned before, we also used to cycle to the pontcysyllte aqueduct on the Llangollen canal - but that was only around 60 mile return. Free range we were :)

[@markrobinson1458]

Nice one, made my day, i saw Fred Dibnah's old Land Rover today in Farnworth, beautiful restored vehicle. 👍

[@MartinZero]

Brilliant 👌

[@MrChrissy1r]

That machinery on the top level is amazing, The whole engineering pre electric was fantastic. I don't like heights but I love flying. I had to replace a door once on a tank room on the top of a 20 story tower block in London. I used the "contractors lift to the roof access and hoisted the door (which weighed around one CWT) onto my shoulder and started across the roof and the wind picked me up like a sail and tore me towards the edge. The roof was totally flat no retaining or dwarf wall, biggest scare of my life, I dropped that door like it was red hot. Never again!

[@Wedgedoow]

What a piece of engineering that was, bonus of a steam gala. Much better than TV. Thanks for posting. Pete& Lorraine

[@videolabguy]

This lift and the Falkirk Wheel in Scotland are engineering marvels. Amazing what the engineers of the steam age could accomplish. Thanks for the video, Martin.

[@MrAsBBB]

Really loved this video. I struggle with heights. What is weird some days I am fine and then suddenly I can’t even cope with being a few feet off the ground. Great history All the best Alex.

[@Calum_S]

My great great grandpa owned a fleet of steam lorries so I'm always excited to see them.

[@MartinZero]

Brilliant 👍👌

[@sputumtube]

That Foden steam lorry was almost certainly (partly) built my my grandfather Ralph Broad who worked an Fodens Elworth Works all his life (as did my father from the 50's until he retired).

[@Voting-does-nothing]

I absolutely love the way they look

[@marcomcdowell8861]

Hat tip to you for always going up for us when you struggle with heights. Another hat tip to the crew for understanding and not making it worse. I'm not petrified of heights, but I do have to work up to do them, and my pals always make it worse with the shaking of the structure or acting like they're pushing me off 😂Oddly, I never had issue jumping out of aircraft in the military 🤔

[@FaustoTheBoozehound]

Paratroopers are actually safer on the outside of military aircraft 😆

[@icewizzard666]

Cracking vid, and bloody hell Mart, I couldn't have gone up there, glad you did to show us all. How impressive to see all the workings etc

[@MartinZero]

It wasnt too bad in the end and worth it to see all that stuff

[@nickcaunt1769]

I was well pleased to go down and back up the lift in1980 on 70ft narrowboat Sycamore when twelve of us did a cruise of the Cheshire Ring and the Caldon Canal. Especially because it closed, seemingly forever, soon afterwards. It worked on the pully system then.

[@garethparr9482]

Brilliant boys. Martin your only short of a flat cap and your full on Fred dibnah ! 👍

[@warrenjohnknight.9831]

Well Well that's definitely a awesome visit 😀, truly amazing Martin mate 👍,

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Warren

[@TestEngineer1982]

My earliest memory was of the Anderton Boat Lift. I remember being on my Dads shoulders and seeing a very unloved structure with various parts laid out on an embankment. Mid 1986 at the latest.

[@brendanhart1065]

Great video. Really liked the photo of the gent operating the machinery dressed with tie and polished shoes. Here in Australia in the late 1800’s they built telegraph stations to send messages from Australia to Europe and other places. These stations were remote and I mean remote (😊look up Eyre in west Australia) I’ve seen photos of the workers dressed in suits with ties. Different time and places.

[@wacholder5690]

I really like this sort of engineering marvels from past times. Thanks for showing this one - even though I knew it already from a different KZbinr, who drove his boat through. That was more a "users look" on the thing rather than a historical / technical point of view. 🙂

[@MartinZero]

Thanks pal, hope your well 👍

[@elainemclelland]

Better late than never ... watching your video. It just beats me how these forefathers of engineering thought up these ideas. Absolutely incredible the cog system, like a massive interior of a clock. As always, brilliant to watch. Thanks for making and sharing x😊

[@MattBrownbill]

Great day out there, been a couple of times. Same as Elsemere port museum, lovely staff and very interesting. 😊

[@mikerogers5043]

Love the Anderton Boat lift. Not jealous at all that you got to go up top.... 😁 well timed visit with the steam heritage day.

[@pbartmess]

Very interesting! I liked James' comment that people were really proud of their work back in the old days.

[@simontay4851]

Absolutely. They built things properly.

[@LittleRuth0271]

Another great video Martin 👍 the boat lift is an incredible structure. The Victorians knew how to create masterpieces of engineering.

[@MartinZero]

Yeah amazing

[@peterkilvert2712]

Great video and great structure. I went down it in about 1967 on a round trip from Runcorn town centre/Bridgewater canal/Trent and Mersey Canal Anderton Boat Lift/ Weaver Navigation to Western Point Docks. Then a walk back to Runcorn.

[@martinmarsola6477]

Thank you for this day’s video. Always interesting to watch and hear. Been under the weather for the past weekend. But there is no time limit on the viewing. Will watch them as long physically possible, Martin. See you and crew on the next. Cheers Martin. 🇬🇧🙂👍🇺🇸

[@brick6347]

I had no idea steam lorries were a thing! I just assumed lorries sort of came about with the advent of internal combustion engines. So cool.

[@MartinZero]

Same here to be honest

[@ffrancrogowski2192]

Thanks for this presentation, Martin. A most unique type of structure anywhere to be seen in the world! It's great that it got saved rather than going into ruin. You did have some nerve to got to the top where all the old machinery is situated. I'd have to have some courage, too! You picked a very good day weatherwise, and nice to see all the old traction engines there. Once again, cheers Martin (not forgetting James & Roy, also).

[@bcoldgoalie]

How unique is that lift! Would love to see it. I see you are wearing a Thunderbirds shirt! Brings back memories from my childhood watching that show on CBC. Great video. 👍

[@Bender24k]

Excellent! The lift, the gears, the steamboats. Good crowd there - nice to see people appreciating History! Cheers from New York.

[@duncanhowarth9514]

The gears on the lift are known as herringbone gears. Citroen adopted this type of gear back in the early 20th century, hence the way the Citroen logo looks the way it does today. Regarding salt mining in Cheshire; the "wich" in such places as Nantwich, Middlewich, etc. indicates that it was/is a salt mining town. Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky mentions this point, amongst many other interesting points, of a commodity we take for granted. A cracking book that is well worth a read.

[@jeffjones6107]

Great insight into the lift and how it works. Thanks, Martin and the crew 👍

[@PW77788]

I remember in 1979 going on a school trip on the lift, and it making some scary noises. When it became abandoned we used to jump off it into the river as teens,and ride the water sluce that runs off the canal on a rubber ring.

[@chrish5319]

Great video, loved the story telling. I am with you on the heights thing! Thank you all.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you

[@PeteGlyde]

Hello Martin and Team. Thank you so much for the vlog on the Anderton Boat Lift. I admire your courage Martin for ascending to great heights; I used to be okay with heights but those days are over; cage walks spook me completely nowadays. Pete Glyde

[@MartinZero]

It was just that see through floor grill that got me 😃

[@LarryHeagren]

A very nice followup video on the Anderton Boat Lift. The massive gear works is amazing. I worked once in a shipyard in Philadelphia and Mmsured the curvature of the Gantry Crane at Akers Shipyard with a theodolite. I waved to kiddoes as they passed by on airplanes that were landing at the Philadelphia airport. That crane was over a 60 foot dry dock that was part of the fall if you fell. Unlike the boat lift this crane has no safety railings (The British are famous for "Health and Safety). It gives you an appreciation of being at heights. The camerawork was excellent as ever and the shots at the top were superb. I enjoy structures like this thanks!

[@BigD63]

Great video martin, good to see the boys up and about. . Best regards from Chicago..

[@SeanTurnerDeeper6]

Awesome! love the steam, canal and history!

[@MartinZero]

Cheers Sean

[@davidflamee]

Great video Martin. I remember riding my bike around there in the 80s and seeing all those gears and cog wheels laid out in a field below the lift. Extraordinary sight. Awesome structure, and Northwich - where I lived at the time - has a fascinating history. Many thanks.

[@havingalook2]

Fantastic. Weren't you so lucky to get such a tour. I am most envious. Lovely always to see your James. Cheers and keep up the grand work.

[@whitelined2]

Well done for getting up there. I'm also not good with heights, so appreciate it, but you brought us another great video 👍

[@lindamccaughey6669]

What a fabulous video. Love the old stuff, history is wonderful. Hope it never stops going. Congratulations on climbing up there I would not have got one foot off the floor. My heart was in my mouth when you started climbing. Thanks for taking me along. Please take care

[@jacquelinetaylor8683]

Nice video and the knobbly knees contest at the end was a nice twist to an engineering video.

[@dieselmanmike]

Great video and a wonderful piece of engineering that should be preserved for the future and looks like it will. 👍

[@martinjames9250]

Wonderful. --- You could easily branch out to steam powered stuff. Ships, pumping engines, etc. 👍

[@binarydinosaurs]

Awesome. My pics of it when it was in hiatus in 1989-ish have never been scanned so I should perhaps do that. All the gear wheels from the top were lined up on the ground and quite a lot of it was accessible, so we did. No access to the control room though so it was great to see that. Nice one Martin Roy and James.

[@MartinZero]

Yeah be good to see those pics

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

Elite British engineering right there 🤩🤩, absolutely amazing! AND ! Steam Lorry’s win win 🙌🏽🙌🏽🧱👍🏼

[@MartinZero]

Great stuff 😄👍

[@chrisgraver2112]

Great tour - been up there myself as its my place of work. Very interesting.

[@shirleylynch7529]

Wow wow wow Martin. What a fabulous video. So well presented and explained. Thank you for telling us all about this masterpiece of invention.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Shirley 👍

[@brianaveriss7972]

Great video Martin, thank you to everybody in involved.

[@Peter-MH]

Thought this was the rotating one at first, wasn’t even aware of this one!

[@duncanhowarth9514]

I think you are thinking of the Falkirk Wheel.

[@nyles-u9r]

Best Video Ever from you. Short and concise full of facts x.

[@MartinZero]

Cheers

[@terryansell6641]

Thank you a for very interesting video thank you from NZ

[@fatimaali8645]

Thank u for a really interesting video … loved seeing those gears at the top ❤

[@andicog]

Thanks Martin, another great video, on a smaller scale you should come to Liverpool and find out what happened to the raising railway bridge that once crossed the dock road to feed the high level dock railway , a hint of the foundation is left not far from the new stadium they're building. Keep up the great work 👍

[@radio-ged4626]

I remember going on the Anderton boat lift on a school trip back in 1980, before it was moth-balled. What a day out that was. Our school PE teacher had just passed his test to drive coaches. We had a really old coach bought by raising money from various school fundraisers. Drove to near Northwich from Hyde and went on a narrow boat onto the lift. Like Martin I'm scared of heights but the experience was thrilling and one I'll never forget.

[@MrSteffen2020]

Thanks you for nice video see you next time

[@Hairnicks]

Fascinating day out Martin, thank you.

[@MartinZero]

Cheers

[@waynebrooder5591]

Hi Martin, I spent today at the National coal museum, you get your go down 140m into the mines, see all the machinery, water works, pulley systems etc. a fantastic place to visit, give it a go 👍

[@MartinZero]

I went to the one in Yorkshire

[@j.miller5565]

Wish we had something like this on the canal system here in the states Some surviving locks but that’s just for tourist and not pleasure or trade. Great video as always

[@MartinZero]

Thank you 👍

[@valerielongmore5040]

Really interesting, great video well presented and researched. Well done guys. These videos capture so much of the industrial history of our forefathers. Brilliant.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you Valerie 👍

[@jonathanchalk2507]

I can smell the coal and steam, almost. More please 🙏

[@joegall7591]

Any sign of James making a KZbin channel. Brew review with James an instant hit.

[@MartinZero]

He's too lazy, you'd get 2 videos a year 😄

[@bobjackson6524]

Eagerly awaiting a new adventure Martin and team. Hope all is well in Zeroland. 💖🙏💖

[@MartinZero]

This Sunday 👍

[@bobjackson6524]

@@MartinZero Brill mate. Tagged you in something on fb tother day. Its relating to the underhand sale of Baguley Hall, the oldest building in Mcr, By MCC and Historic England, via Colliers est-ag in Scotland. Likely to be turned into a pub, like Timperley 'Old' Hall, or buldozed, like Longford Hall in Stretford, (the home of John Ryland) Doubtful itll be saved and used as a museum like Ordsal Hall, But weve created a commitee, First meating is this monday at 7 at the community ctr next to the hall on Hall Lane. Ive tagged Ant in it too, And Paul Wtwk, and others. Mat which has organised it has invited reps from local council and historic england plus national lotto.

[@douglasthompson296]

No, No, No my little guys were pulling in tightttttt when you were up a height, more so on the mesh flooring. In my early working years i was in a woolen mill where the carding machines were started by a transformer thing. Turn it on, the carding engine started slowly then needed the handle to be moved to increase the speed until the cards were at full speed. It was scary, the creaking/groaning as this monster came into life 😮 I think that transformer/speed regulator was like in a loco cab. Cheers DougT

[@Jimyjames73]

Fantastic Martin 😊🚂🚂🚂

[@MartinZero]

Many thanks!

[@daviespaulaann8913]

As. Ever great video ...xxx

[@RichardWatt]

This was amazing, Martin, Roy and James, thank you! When I worked for Severn Trent Water, one of my coworkers bought and restored a traction engine.

[@jetsons101]

Perfect timing I just made a pot of Coffee... Time to watch.....

[@MartinZero]

Brilliant 👍

[@jetsons101]

@@MartinZero You should change your name to "MartinZero the Historian."

[@Charstring]

I'd forgotten that they have salt mines in Cheshire, from that point of view it's England's Siberia. Also, epic tee shirt by the way.

[@sputumtube]

When I was at college in the 70's part of my photographic tuition involved a trip here including the control room. There was a guest book at that time (which I signed) and on the same page were Roger Moore and Michael Aspel.

[@MartinZero]

Nice one 👍

[@Christians-hu1pk]

very interesting video as usual ❤ an incredible structure

[@malalexander3515]

Fantastic!

[@johncarold]

Hi Martin and guys, I simply love these old works of art. I used to wait a KZbinr who had a conal boat that had a video on the Anderton Boat lift. Was Fred Bibnah Jr. at the steam show ? I hope that they can save the gears system at the top, such a beautiful system. Thanks for the video and information about this work of art.

[@alanlake5220]

Very interesting thanks, and a short video about the Daniel Adamson would be good .

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

Mind boggling piece of engineering. Hopefully the repainting and control system upgrade will keep it working for many years to come. Thank you for a very interesting video.

[@craigsphilhower8505]

Fantastic as always!!! Instead of Where’s Waldo? How’s about, Where’s James.

[@barbhenderson4867]

Very interesting xx

[@missmerrily4830]

I'd so love to do that! What a feat of engineering and it's been going all these years. And all those other steam engines too. Loved the high tech swan remover! This was a terrific video and thanks for taking us along! Big, big shout out for the Canals and River Trust for restoring this and for all the other terrific work they do to keep our waterways usable.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much

[@Polysixchick]

7:20 I use to work on a Speedway funfair ride, we had the exact same control for the speed of the ride, lol!

[@JonWhitton]

Fantastic

[@sharonstuebi8181]

MARTIN! ❤ from Sharon in 🇵🇪 Peru

[@MartinZero]

Hell Sharon how are you x

[@sharonstuebi8181]

@@MartinZero hey Martin! I have left the farm and moved to the city in the North with my sons family. Better medical care and accessibility for me in my wheelchair. Enjoying my grandkids. How is your Mom?

[@JohnHennessey-l5i]

Awesome

[@paulbowler2760]

In south-eastern Ontario, Canada, there is a canal - the Trent-Severn Waterway- which connects Lake Ontario (at Trenton) with Georgian Bay (near Midland) About one-third the way along from Trenton there is the city of Peterborough, and a considerable rise in elevation (going north) is required. This is accomplished by the Peterborough Lift Lock, which is similar in operation to the original (and current) Anderton boat lifts. There are two identical watertight chambers, raised and lowered by large (and interconnected) hydraulic rams. Actual motion is started by adding a little extra water to the upper chamber, making it heavier than the lower chamber! The hydraulic medium is the (fresh) canal water, which causes minimum corrosion. A visit to this engineering marvel is highly recommended!

[@davidberlanny3308]

Hi Martin, Well done for going right to the top, you know I thought you were happy at heights, but that walkway allows you to see right down. Amazing machinery At the top. All in all a marvel of Victorian engineering (or was it Edwardian?). Thanks too to the lady who explained the history and working. Perfect timing with all the steam motive power on display. A great day out. All the best!!

[@jetsons101]

Martin, you are so blessed to be surrounded by so much history. It is so varied, complex and dynamic to say the least. It's impressive how the Boat Lift, and other industrial revolution infrastructures were built "With Out" computers. Would be nice if we had the backstories of the workers at 8:37 they are lost to time but what they built lives on.

[@MartinZero]

I must admit we are blessed with interesting stuff 👌

[@jetsons101]

@@MartinZero A perfect example of a "Under Statement." lol

[@robertrosicki9290]

I had the opportunity to briefly operate a steam powered train locomotive in Cuba that had been converted to burn fuel oil . About 1/8 mile back and forth on the track was more than enough for me . The heat was unbelievable . I couldn't imagine operation a steam powered lorry ( truck ) all day in the summer .

[@MartinZero]

They were very hot inside

[@dilwyn1]

@Martin ... Thanks for the upload, to quote another U-Tuber, that was "Frickin, sweet, awesome! !! To actually get on top and see all the workings is amazing.

[@MartinZero]

Yeah it was brilliant 😃

[@chrish5319]

Thanks

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Chris , much appreciated 👍

[@theenginemanfromthepast.]

Another Great video. You need to get down to Norfolk and make a video of the ex fenland pumping engines I've saved over the last 40 years 👍

[@MartinZero]

That sounds good

[@anthonygiglio9860]

Fantastic Video I Enjoyed it😊

[@moonbear1st]

wow those gears what a marvel...

[@Dan23_7]

What an amazing structure that is Martin. All that iron 😍 Those gears at the top reminded me of Lego. Chipping steam fair next week 💪🏼

[@smalcolmbrown]

Thanks :)

[@mpower695jg]

André Citroën was the guy who designed the double helical gear (teeth) u see on the gear wheels, and that is where the logo u see on the badge of Citroen Cars 👍

[@freddykrueger5159]

5 mins from house. Wish I had known you were down there

[@hornet1068]

That is an awesome piece of industrial engineering and architecture, love it. I did however have one random thought whilst watching. As all the lifting gears at the top are now defunct and disconnected, if someone where to attach and electric motor to the main input shaft, would they still all turn? now that would be something to see.

[@ShawnD1027]

The heat inside the tractor during a hot day would be one thing, but at 13:19 you can see there's an unguarded flywheel right next to the operator!

[@familylife3624]

Nice little different video there martin , james and roy loved the old steam trucks as well

[@MartinZero]

They were amazing

[@KGIV]

Awesome bit of history. Thanks for sharing.

[@barney2051]

Love that sort of thing Martin, absolute quality!

[@MartinZero]

Great isn’t it 👍

[@lescampbell4196]

I see you met a fellow old Flixtonian on top, Craig Hughes. You may recognise him from doing upholstery for Drew Pritchard on salvage hunter