http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Riding the canal en Thu, 21 May 2026 06:20:23 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202&page=2#post-340854 Fri, 27 Nov 2020 15:31:17 +0000 SRD 340854@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Another classic 10 year old thread. (click to the first post/page) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202&page=2#post-296779 Sat, 01 Dec 2018 01:14:04 +0000 Arellcat 296779@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>including a three mile channel from the River Almond at Mid Calder to the canal close to the Lin's Mill Aqueduct</em></p> <p>The canal feeder starts opposite the East Calder water treatment works and (obviously) takes its water from the Almond. But it's Cobbinshaw that is the compensation reservoir. It feeds the Bog Burn, which becomes Murieston Water at Harburn, and which then feeds Linhouse Water at Midcalder, which immediately feeds the Almond. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202&page=2#post-296778 Fri, 30 Nov 2018 23:49:25 +0000 chdot 296778@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.edinburghgreens.org.uk/site/blog/canal-champion/" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghgreens.org.uk/site/blog/canal-champion/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202&page=2#post-240067 Mon, 02 Jan 2017 17:20:57 +0000 chdot 240067@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Bit of a fountain -</p> <p>"</p> <p>properties in Fountainbridge were affected when construction work led to the Union Canal being breached in 2002</p> <p>"</p> <p><a href="http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/3268/soe_river_flow_and_flooding.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/3268/soe_river_flow_and_flooding.pdf</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202&page=2#post-240065 Mon, 02 Jan 2017 17:12:26 +0000 chdot 240065@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"</p> <p>the water level in the canal is maintained by a feeder system starting with a reservoir in the Pentland Hills to the south, but including a three mile channel from the River Almond at Mid Calder to the canal close to the Lin's Mill Aqueduct.</p> <p>"</p> <p><a href="http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/falkirk/unioncanal/" rel="nofollow">http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/falkirk/unioncanal/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202&page=2#post-240064 Mon, 02 Jan 2017 17:06:59 +0000 gembo 240064@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>i wonder how water from the pentland hills gets into the union canal?</p> <p>going the other way there is a big pipe at rose burn just after the bike chute that goes down rose burn cliff that often smells fragrantly of hops. i have always thought it was connected to fountain bridge. [as we know there was neither fountain nor bridge at fountain bridge, threads passim] </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202&page=2#post-240063 Mon, 02 Jan 2017 15:09:45 +0000 chdot 240063@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"The North British Distillery in Gorgie took water near the railway tunnel at Meggetland. I don't think it still does."</p> <p>Apparently still does!</p> <p>"</p> <p>“There are three things I would say were important about the location of the distillery,” says managing director Alan Kilpatrick. </p> <p>“Firstly the source of the water which comes from the Pentland Hills [via the Union Canal] and also being well served by the railway at the time was key.</p> <p>"</p> <p><a href="http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/capital-is-distilling-hot-spot-with-resurgence-of-craft-producers-1-4327634" rel="nofollow">http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/capital-is-distilling-hot-spot-with-resurgence-of-craft-producers-1-4327634</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202#post-17075 Sat, 20 Nov 2010 21:59:36 +0000 Claggy Cog 17075@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@holisticglint - interesting defence calling your client a numpty, was this supposed to make us feel better... that the chap is clearly a moron and a cretin, but a moron with a driving licence, yea gads, that is worrying. </p> <p>It's that old chestnut that if you are thick then you cannot be expected to know how to behave properly and get away with all sorts in the name of stupidity! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202#post-17073 Sat, 20 Nov 2010 21:34:09 +0000 Claggy Cog 17073@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Indeed, watch out in West Lothian. Might be a while before he can afford to buy another car though, if he is actually made to pay the costs. Having said that he could always "liberate" one... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202#post-17029 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 14:27:35 +0000 holisticglint 17029@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>From the Beeb article on our 406 driving friend:<em>Defence agent Raymond McMenamin said Nisbet, who was banned from driving in September for 15 months for driving without insurance and who had a list of previous convictions for other driving offences, was "the only person daft enough" to try such a stunt.</em></p> <p>So the convicted dangerous driver who's own defense described as one of the daftest people in the region will be back on the roads in about a year</p> <p>Let be careful out there people... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202#post-17020 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 11:58:03 +0000 SRD 17020@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>So it's the thermal mass of the stone - possibly maintained by tyre/tarmac friction - more than the sheltering from cooling air flow?</em></p> <p>well, I think so, but unlike the rest of my family I am neither an engineer nor a physicist. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202#post-17019 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 11:54:35 +0000 chdot 17019@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Because the ground never freezes here, and the bridge similarly maintains a higher temp."</p> <p>So it's the thermal mass of the stone - possibly maintained by tyre/tarmac friction - more than the sheltering from cooling air flow? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202#post-17018 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 11:48:45 +0000 SRD 17018@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>"under the bridges (where the water stays warmer - not sure why</em>"</p> <p>Because the ground never freezes here, and the bridge similarly maintains a higher temp. so edges of canal and under/near structures warmer and less solid. Exact reverse happens where ground freezes first, and you can take vehicles on ice once solid. In those cases, the middle is the last to freeze, here it tends to freeze first and solider than on edges. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202#post-17017 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 11:43:09 +0000 chdot 17017@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"If the canal was frozen and you sailed down the middle breaking the ice as you went then presumably the ice would stop any canal bank damage?"</p> <p>More likely to be more damage due to sideways pressure. Anyway progress would be slow.</p> <p>Much better to put heat pumps under the bridges (where the water stays warmer - not sure why) and keep the whole surface solid and run a high speed snowmobile service. </p> <p>Too much ice might affect the fish. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202#post-17016 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 11:38:26 +0000 cb 17016@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Doing more than 30mph - on the canal".</p> <p>That's an interesting thought. One of the reasons (<em>the</em> reason?) for the canal speed limit (for boats) is to avoid the wash from the boat damaging the banks.<br /> If the canal was frozen and you sailed down the middle breaking the ice as you went then presumably the ice would stop any canal bank damage? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202#post-17014 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 11:27:14 +0000 Min 17014@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>They were extremely close to winning a Darwin Award.. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202#post-17011 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 11:20:14 +0000 spitfire 17011@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Nisbet, 25, labelled "mad" by police, "stupid" by his own lawyer, and "possibly insane" by one sheriff<br /> "We must have been doing more than 30 miles an hour before we noticed the puddles up ahead.</p> <p>"We decided to go for it anyway and the front end just gave way on the ice.</p> <p>"It seemed like a good idea at the time."</p> <p>Doing more than 30mph - on the canal - do they win a world record? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202#post-16986 Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:21:18 +0000 recombodna 16986@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!! Priceless!! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202#post-16979 Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:46:20 +0000 chdot 16979@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<br /> Cycling on the canal? Tch, pathetic.</p> <p><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8454242.stm" rel="nofollow">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8454242.stm</a></p> <p>"</p> <p>Frozen Union Canal driver given community service</p> <p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-11790895" rel="nofollow">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-11790895</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202#post-1810 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:19:44 +0000 nearefare 1810@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>that is a crackin photo :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202#post-1796 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:47:45 +0000 chdot 1796@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Just thought you'd love to see this photo!</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/16nine/4286841445/"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4286841445_c918f65725.jpg"></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/16nine">Photo by [Zakka / Mikael]</a></p> <p>Seen at <a href="http://www.copenhagenize.com/2010/01/lakes-ice-and-reclaimed-spaces.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.copenhagenize.com/2010/01/lakes-ice-and-reclaimed-spaces.html</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202#post-1559 Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:25:24 +0000 cb 1559@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have to say the best I managed was walking out to the island on Blackford Pond and that was scary enough!<br /> Done on Saturday before the thaw started. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202#post-1557 Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:09:10 +0000 nearefare 1557@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>ha, you bet me to it<br /> lol </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202#post-1554 Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:31:26 +0000 steveo 1554@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yeah i read that and thought of you guys. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202#post-1544 Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:00:15 +0000 cb 1544@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Cycling on the canal? Tch, pathetic.</p> <p><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8454242.stm" rel="nofollow">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8454242.stm</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202#post-1526 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:54:37 +0000 Kim 1526@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Typical I go off for a spot of skiing in the Alps (it rained on Christmas day!) then come back to find Edinburgh has more snow and this... :-( </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202#post-1521 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:08:02 +0000 SRD 1521@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I just presumed storm sewer runoff because of how it froze. Even/esp at bridges -- eg yeaman place it froze faster on one side of the bridge than other, and I am almost positive there is a storm sewer run-off on the un-frozen side and the spot spytfyre mentions on the bridge opposite rowers sheds was also surprisingly slow to freeze, which made me suspect run-off/in there too. On water-of-leith run-off is often above water level so easier to see. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202#post-1520 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:46:08 +0000 chdot 1520@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"and there is the drain above the rail bridge opposite the rowers sheds on the other side of the canal between Ashley Terrace/meggetland."</p> <p>THAT is where NBD got/(gets?) its water.</p> <p><a href="http://www.northbritish.co.uk/history/index.asp" rel="nofollow">http://www.northbritish.co.uk/history/index.asp</a></p> <p>"I think SEPA will have sorted any sewage due to eu law"</p> <p>In general yes, just not sure if there are conditions of high (river) flow where it's allowed - plus the realities of pipe capacity to deal with all the urban run-off - like when lots of snow melts quite fast. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202#post-1519 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:43:14 +0000 spytfyre 1519@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>the canal drains into the water of leith from the aquaduct<br /> there are a few places you can see water pipes from road drains along nearer to wester hailes and there is the drain above the rail bridge opposite the rowers sheds on the other side of the canal between Ashley Terrace/meggetland.<br /> I think SEPA will have sorted any sewage due to eu law </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=202#post-1517 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:02:11 +0000 chdot 1517@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"and melting with astonishing quickness in some places - I presume where the storm sewers feed in. But it is hard to see where these are."</p> <p>Hadn't thought about that. </p> <p>Certainly the Union Canal isn't stagnant. One reason it still exists is that was used by various companies as a water source for industrial processes - notably <a href="http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_buildings_g/0_buildings_-_north_british_rubber_co.htm">The British Rubber Company</a> at Fountainbridge. </p> <p>This was replaced by Scottish and Newcastle - not sure if it used canal water either for cooling or beer. </p> <p>The North British Distillery in Gorgie took water near the railway tunnel at Meggetland. I don't think it still does. </p> <p>Obviously the water under the ice is above freezing so this could be melting the ice at a significant rate if there is runoff from roads. </p> <p>Though I'm not sure if there are m/any. There are definitely storm drains that flow into the Water of Leith which used to add sewage. I think the worst bits have been dealt with. </p> <p>Tell tale signs are things like cotton buds. </p>