The Ronquières inclined plane
The Ronquières inclined plane is a boat lift near Ronquières (Braine-le-Comte), in the province of Hainaut (Belgium). Located on the course of the Brussels-Charleroi canal, it allows you to slide a ferry containing one or more barges in order to make them cross a significant drop. The inclined plane was put into service in 1968.
Descriptif
Description
The Ronquières inclined plane compensates for a drop of 68 m by 1,432 m in length.
It consists of two trays mounted on rails (mobile airlock) each equipped with a 5,200-ton counterweight. Each bin is 91 m long, 12 m wide, 600 wheels and can hold a water height of 3 to 3.70 m.
Its maximum capacity is a 1350-ton barge or several smaller boats.
Each bin is towed by a winch located in the upstream head, at the foot of the tower. Each bin is connected to its counterweight by eight cables. Each bin operates completely independently
The 1,432 m course between the two reaches takes approximately 22 minutes at a speed of 1.20 m/s.