Boat Lift - Tumblr Posts
Three waterways meet directly south of the city of Datteln: the Rhine-Herne Canal from Duisburg, the Datteln-Hamm Canal from Hamm and the Dortmund-Ems Canal from Meppen and Dortmund. A few kilometers north, the Wesel-Datteln Canal branches off towards Wesel.
The approximately 15-kilometer-long section of canal to the port of Dortmund starts here, it´s almost 15 meters higher than the other three canals. Together with this section, the Henrichenburg boat lift necessary to bridge the height difference was opened personally by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1899.
The propulsion of the mighty trough, in which the ships were transported like an elevator between the levels, was a technical innovation of its time. It was a key construction of the Dortmund-Ems Canal, because only when it was completed could the Canal be navigated to the port of Dortmund. This boat lift is the largest and most spectacular building of the first construction period of the Dortmund-Ems Canal.
Instead of a cable or hydraulic main driving force, the 68-meter-long trough rests on floating bodies in 5 water-filled cylinders. Little force was required to lower or raise the trough by ship. A complete lowering or lifting process, including entry and exit, took about 45 minutes.
In 1969, the aging boat lift was shut down and initially fell into ruins before the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL) took over the facility in 1979, renovated it and later operates the industrial museum, which is set up here today, as one of eight LWL locations in North Rhine-Westphalia.
After restoration and reconstruction, the old boat lift is - without restoration of its original function - together with its lower outer harbor (underwater), the upper outer harbor and a piece of canal (upper water) the museum. The lower outer harbor is also used as a marina.
The two striking towers of the lift with their characteristic spheres on the top are stairwells, which a bridge on the scaffold can be climbed over. From here there is a good view of the steel frame and the surrounding area.
The trough in which the ships were moved up and down is also accessible. In the outdoor area around the old boat lift, visitors getting deep insight into the ship lifting technology.
The area around the old boat lift was converted into an open-air museum. It will be presented with some special steamships, a shipyard, a replica loading system and an old lift bridge. Information boards explain the respective objects, including QR codes for audio guides.
Control devices and illustrations relating to the principle of lift technology can be viewed in the building (former boiler and machine house) next to the monumental steel frame.
The police and fire-fighting boat Cerberus from 1930 is in the upper port and the motor cargo ship MS Franz-Christian from 1929 - with the exhibition “A working life on board” in the cargo store - hold in the lower port.
On a 400 m long section of canal following the upper outer harbor, the museum shows a collection of historical ships that is unique in Europe, including the steam tug Fortuna and the only steam tank ship in Europe that still exists, Phenol.
There are also floating tools, a docking and loading point for freight ships, a slipway for ship repairs with a historic slewing crane from 1906 and the channel opening with an old folding gate from 1914 as well as a historic lift bridge from 1897. Unfortunately, a certain renovation backlog of the objects is obvious.
Changing special exhibitions can be seen in the reconstructed harbor building. The city of Waltrop also runs a branch of the registry office here.
The Gastrobus - a London double-decker from 1959 - offers a small selection of food and drinks. When the weather is nice, you sit outside and enjoy the view of the lift and the canal bank. Open: Tue - Sun 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
The “Schatzinsel” café is also waiting on the upper water near the water playground. Open from April 30th to September 1st: Sat, Sun from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Opening times and admission prices:
Adults € 4.00 Groups of 16 people or more € 3.50 per person Children, adolescents (6 - 17 years) and pupils 2.00 € Students with guided tours € 1.10 (2 companions free), reduced ticket € 2.50 Family day ticket € 9.00 Combo card available for the industrial museum and exhibition hall at the new sluice gate
The LWL industrial museum at the Henrichenburg boat lift is open all year round, from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Last admission 5:30 p.m. Closed: Mondays (except public holidays) and from December 23rd. until January 1st.
Large beach style backyard dock photo
