Falkirk, Scotland—Imagine a Ferris wheel with two gondolas. Picture the gondolas as water-filled boxes that move around a central axis like a two-chambered revolver. Together, these two images describe a radical new boat lock called the "Falkirk Wheel." More than two centuries ago, the east and west of Scotland were linked by the Forth and Clyde Canal. Later, the Union Canal was built to provide a connection to Edinburgh, Scotland's capital. The two canals met near here, but with a 35m difference in water levels, a flight of locks was needed to connect them. The canals fell into disuse a generation ago. Renewed as one of the British government's "Millennium Projects," the link between the canals is now being restored with the Falkirk Wheel replacing the original 11 locks. Falkirk Wheel bearing/gear arrangement The result is one of the most innovative engineering projects of the decade. The Falkirk Wheel's two gondolas each measure 22m long, and mount on wheels within steel rings supported by opposing arms 35m long. The arms rotate about a 3.8m diameter axle to carry the gondolas 180 degrees between the higher and lower levels. Each gondola accommodates a 4-boat, 300-ton payload, including the water.
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