We entered the Trent-Severn Waterway on July 21st and have enjoyed this portion immensely. The Peterborough Lift Lock, the worlds highest hydraulic lift lock
and the Kirkfield Lift Lock, the worlds second highest hydraulic lift lock were certainly highlights. Of special interest to us was that we transited up the 65 feet at Peterborough and down 49 feet at Kirkfield. We were fortunate to be in front on both occasions, as we entered Kirkfield it was a bit eerie to see nothing but space in front of us!
Along the way we enjoyed many small towns like Bobcaygeon and Cambellford and locks in rural forest settings like Youngs Point where we found a wonderful restaurant, The Old Bridge Inn, recommended by the lock tenders. We enjoyed the flight locks at Ranney Falls and Healey Falls and the highest conventional lock on the system, Swifts Rapids with its 47 foot drop was quite an experience as well. Once the water begins to discharge from this lock, they cannot stop it so it is important to tend ones lines attentively.
We wound our way through granite walls and fjord like coves,
across Lake Simcoe, the largest lake on the system which, it is said, can kick up 14 foot waves in a storm. We crossed it on a very calm day finding it was flat as glass! Gorgeous Balsam Lake with its heavily forested shores, the highest point on the system is absolutely stunning.
The highlight had to be the Big Chute Marine Railway. In order to keep the Lamprey away from the fisheries on Lake Simcoe, the decision was made not to cut through the land with a conventional lock in the area of the big chute rapids. The original marine railway was built at this location in 1917 as a method of opening this waterway to navigation and enable trade and shipment of supplies during wartime. The marine railway was rebuilt and enlarged between 1976 and 1978.
This large, specially designed railroad carriage, 80 feet in length and 36 feet high, is lowered into the water where a boat is driven forward over the opening, the operators direct the boat into position and straps are raised to hold the boat into place. On the day we arrived, there had been a mechanical repair needed and there were a number of boats waiting. The lock operators knew who had arrived first and took boats based on priority and the way they would fit onto the “rail car”. It was a very interesting operation, they were very professional and the boaters waiting were very patient. When our turn came, we were fortunate to be called in to the first position.
Once the boats were all in place and secure, the car was lifted out of the water by means of a large cable and pulley system
and transported up over the hill and down the other side
where the car again entered the water and the boats were able to float once again, each one continuing on its way.
The boats remain essentially level due to a unique double track system which allows the front wheels and the back wheels to travel at different heights. The maximum lift over the ground is 58 feet, the distance traveled is 748 feet. What an incredible experience. We traveled through the last lock at Port Severn on Wednesday, August 5th. This lock was one of the original and smallest locks on the system, still operated by hand. We truly enjoyed our trip along the Trent-Severn Waterway, it was a bittersweet realization that this portion of the journey was behind us. We have the adventure of the Georgian Bay ahead.
and the Kirkfield Lift Lock, the worlds second highest hydraulic lift lock were certainly highlights. Of special interest to us was that we transited up the 65 feet at Peterborough and down 49 feet at Kirkfield. We were fortunate to be in front on both occasions, as we entered Kirkfield it was a bit eerie to see nothing but space in front of us! 
Along the way we enjoyed many small towns like Bobcaygeon and Cambellford and locks in rural forest settings like Youngs Point where we found a wonderful restaurant, The Old Bridge Inn, recommended by the lock tenders. We enjoyed the flight locks at Ranney Falls and Healey Falls and the highest conventional lock on the system, Swifts Rapids with its 47 foot drop was quite an experience as well. Once the water begins to discharge from this lock, they cannot stop it so it is important to tend ones lines attentively.
We wound our way through granite walls and fjord like coves, 
across Lake Simcoe, the largest lake on the system which, it is said, can kick up 14 foot waves in a storm. We crossed it on a very calm day finding it was flat as glass! Gorgeous Balsam Lake with its heavily forested shores, the highest point on the system is absolutely stunning. 
The highlight had to be the Big Chute Marine Railway. In order to keep the Lamprey away from the fisheries on Lake Simcoe, the decision was made not to cut through the land with a conventional lock in the area of the big chute rapids. The original marine railway was built at this location in 1917 as a method of opening this waterway to navigation and enable trade and shipment of supplies during wartime. The marine railway was rebuilt and enlarged between 1976 and 1978. 
This large, specially designed railroad carriage, 80 feet in length and 36 feet high, is lowered into the water where a boat is driven forward over the opening, the operators direct the boat into position and straps are raised to hold the boat into place. On the day we arrived, there had been a mechanical repair needed and there were a number of boats waiting. The lock operators knew who had arrived first and took boats based on priority and the way they would fit onto the “rail car”. It was a very interesting operation, they were very professional and the boaters waiting were very patient. When our turn came, we were fortunate to be called in to the first position. 
Once the boats were all in place and secure, the car was lifted out of the water by means of a large cable and pulley system
and transported up over the hill and down the other side 
where the car again entered the water and the boats were able to float once again, each one continuing on its way. 
The boats remain essentially level due to a unique double track system which allows the front wheels and the back wheels to travel at different heights. The maximum lift over the ground is 58 feet, the distance traveled is 748 feet. What an incredible experience. We traveled through the last lock at Port Severn on Wednesday, August 5th. This lock was one of the original and smallest locks on the system, still operated by hand. We truly enjoyed our trip along the Trent-Severn Waterway, it was a bittersweet realization that this portion of the journey was behind us. We have the adventure of the Georgian Bay ahead.
