The hydraulic motors generate the 1.5 kilowatt-hours of energy required to rotate the Falkirk Wheel through half a turn – around the same energy required to boil eight household kettles.
How does the Falkirk Wheel operate?
The wheel uses 2 gondolas which raise boats by 24m. As the Union Canal is 11m higher than the aqueduct at the top of the wheel, boats then go through 2 locks to reach the canal. The Falkirk Wheel is one of two boat lifts in the UK – the other is the Anderton boat lift in Cheshire, north west England.
How much power does the Falkirk Wheel use?
1.5kWh
The Wheel only uses 1.5kWh of energy to turn, the same amount as it would take to boil 8 household kettles.
What drives the Falkirk Wheel?
When one of the structure’s gondolas is lowered, the opposite one rises, keeping the vast, 1800 tonne boat lift in perfect balance as it carries canal barges 35 metres into the air in a matter of minutes.
Take a 360o tour of The Falkirk Wheel!
| ← | Move left |
|---|---|
| → | Move right |
| ↑ | Move up |
| ↓ | Move down |
| + | Zoom in |
How often does the Falkirk Wheel turn?
The Falkirk Wheel rotates at 1/8 of a revolution per minute, with one full rotation taking 4 minutes in total.
Is there a toilet on the Falkirk Wheel?
Are there toilets along the trail? There are toilets at The Helix 8am – 10pm and at The Falkirk Wheel open 10am-5.30pm.
How much does it cost to take a boat on the Falkirk Wheel?
Prices: Adult £13.50. Concession £12.00 (anyone over 60, holding an Access Card, full time Student or Falkirk Council Tax Payer.
How much did it cost to build the Falkirk Wheel?
£17.5 million
The Falkirk Wheel cost £17.5 million, and the restoration project as a whole cost £84.5 million (of which £32 million came from National Lottery funds).
Was Irn Bru invented in Falkirk?
Initially named Irn Brew, Scotland’s other national drink was jointly launched in 1899 by AG Barr & Co (Glasgow) and Robert Barr (Falkirk). The drink was produced in Falkirk, with a colourful image daubed on the gable wall of the Cockburn Street building, which is now covered up by a billboard.
How far apart are the Kelpies and the Falkirk Wheel?
about 4.5 miles
It’s about 4.5 miles.
Can any boat use the Falkirk Wheel?
Yes, use of the Wheel is free to all private pleasure boat licence holders. It is best to book your passage time ahead.
What did Gordon Ramsay say about Falkirk?
Ramsay called the town a “s***hole” when a contestant suggested Falkirk might be of the “five cities in Scotland”. He responded saying: “I was born in Scotland. Falkirk is not a city. It’s a s***hole, I swear to God.”
How many boats use the Falkirk Wheel?
The Falkirk Wheel is the only rotating boat lift of its kind in the world, and one of two working boat lifts in the United Kingdom, the other being the Anderton Boat Lift.
Do the Falkirk kelpies move?
No they don’t move but you can do a guided tour and go inside them.
Can you walk between the Kelpies to Falkirk Wheel?
Experience this 14.3-km out-and-back trail near Falkirk, Falkirk. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 8 min to complete. This is a popular trail for running and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day.
Does the Falkirk Wheel light up?
Naturally a dark space, the new design provides an immersive experience with dynamic and responsive lighting. The standard lighting mode is deliberately set to low and is activated to greater illumination when a person approaches (by boat, foot or cycle) – this is energy, safety and environmentally aware.
Can you stay overnight at the Falkirk Wheel?
Some overnight parking is available for a fee of £15 per night, with a £20 key deposit. Stays are limited to three nights per visit. The designated overnight area is not euqipped for power or lighting but 24 hours access is allowed to facilities in the New Port Downey Building.
Can you go inside The Kelpies?
The only way to get inside a Kelpie is on a Kelpies Tour!
The pinnacle of the tour is that you get to experience a Kelpie from the inside, and see for yourself the breathtaking engineering and design of The Kelpies.
Does it cost to see The Kelpies?
You can visit The Kelpies free of charge any time of the day, 365 days of the year due to their prime location in The Helix park. The area around the massive sculptures has been designed to give access for all, meaning everyone can come and see them up close.
How much weight can the Falkirk Wheel hold?
How does the Falkirk Wheel work? The wheel itself is 35 meters tall and raises boats by 24 meters. Since the Union Canal is 11 meters higher than the wheel, there are two locks that boats must pass through after the trip on the wheel. Each caisson or gondola holds 500 tons of water.
How boat is lifted on the Falkirk Wheel?
Boats needing to be lifted up enter the canal basin at the level of the Forth & Clyde Canal and then enter the lower gondola of the Wheel. Two hydraulic steel gates are raised, so as to seal the gondola off from the water in the canal basin. The water between the gates is then pumped out.