Chill
regular
Reged: 11/02/2007
Posts: 49
Loc: Windsor
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Since the yellow circle has been introduced I seem to be working the locks more than last season.
Friday 6pm Bray Yellow circle (at least its powered but the walk from the boat to lock up all those steps very inconvenient)
Sunday morning Cookham 9.30am Yellow Circle walking and a few steps guess what no power here better start winding...crawled back to boat. nice cruise down to Boulters guess what Yellow Circle longer walk but at least power at this one. Order restored at Bray Lockie and assistant in attendance. Glad to get to work for a rest.
Forgot to mention Saturday morning 9.20 at Boulters another boater had to open gates. While we were in the lock the stand in keeper turned up rubbing the sleep out of her eyes with one hand the other had the telephone firmly attched to her ear.
Edited by Chill (12/05/2008 09:54)
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JECuk
regular
Reged: 22/01/2008
Posts: 249
Loc: Mid-Thames
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It does seem that the lock manning hours are more a broad statement of intent rather than any sort of rule. Has it always been like that?
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Lady Gay
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Doolittle
regular
Reged: 13/04/2007
Posts: 263
Loc: Chertsey, Surrey, UK
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It seems that the lock keepers have had such a rough time from their employers for the last couple of years their morale is the lowest that it has ever been. Loosing their uniforms, being told not to waste time tending their gardens, being told not to keep dogs and finally loosing their homes. Is it any wonder that sickness leave is increasing? Agreed, there was a time that they would snatch a bite of their lunch from the hut every time they passed it whilst working the lock.
I can only suggest that when we do see them we give them our utmost support.
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JECuk
regular
Reged: 22/01/2008
Posts: 249
Loc: Mid-Thames
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I had assumed that was what was going on - wasn't a criticism (except of the system).
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Lady Gay
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TrueBlue
regular
Reged: 30/04/2004
Posts: 1120
Loc: Sussex
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Quote:
It seems that the lock keepers have had such a rough time from their employers for the last couple of years their morale is the lowest that it has ever been. Loosing their uniforms, being told not to waste time tending their gardens, being told not to keep dogs and finally loosing their homes. Is it any wonder that sickness leave is increasing? Agreed, there was a time that they would snatch a bite of their lunch from the hut every time they passed it whilst working the lock.
I can only suggest that when we do see them we give them our utmost support.
The difficulty is if we complain - in an effort to get EA to extract its corporate digit, and to "wise up" to reality, it will be the lockies who get a bollocking and not the management.
Bit of a catch 22 situation.
That said it's not normally until the end of May that the system gets into gear, as the weather and traffic is a bit iffy until then.
If EA want to keep us happy (do they??) could they be persuaded to tune up the manual hydraulics on the remaining clockwork locks so that they are not such a pig (pigs) to wind?
Either a matter of tweaking the manual pumps / valve gear, or pouring a ton of goose grease (would also solve the Canadian goose problem  ) down the gate pintles.
Marlow head and Shiplake tail gates are a case in point.
Marsh both ends used to be an expletive, but is now resolved as a result of being "electrisified"
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JECuk
regular
Reged: 22/01/2008
Posts: 249
Loc: Mid-Thames
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That said it's not normally until the end of May that the system gets into gear, as the weather and traffic is a bit iffy until then.
But they do charge an annual fee.....not June to September. No reason in my mind why the EA shouldn't have the locks manned during the reduced spring/autumn hours.
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Lady Gay
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Doolittle
regular
Reged: 13/04/2007
Posts: 263
Loc: Chertsey, Surrey, UK
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I've asked this a dozen times but I would dearly like to know the ratio of rivermen to admin staff, now, compared to say 10 years ago.
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Brayman
regular
Reged: 27/11/2006
Posts: 1132
Loc: Bucks
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It appears that a number of ex Summer Assistants have been employed from now until October to work as relief lock keepers, so there should be no excuse for having an unmanned lock except for meal breaks until May 15th when the summer assistants come on stream , assuming they have found some to employ.
It does seem that the yellow disks aren't being deployed properly if my trip up to Byron's is anything to go by.
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How come I am over the hill but I never made it to the top?
http://www.braycruiserclub.co.uk
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boatone
regular
Reged: 29/07/2001
Posts: 6650
Loc: Surrey uk
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Quote:
It does seem that the yellow disks aren't being deployed properly if my trip up to Byron's is anything to go by.
Totally agree - especially upstream of Caversham. I am sure they are occasionally forgetting to set them when they leave/return.
A couple of other things about the 'Yellow Disk' signs;
1. Yellow is not a very clever colour to see against a white background
2. In many cases the signs have been hung actually on the lock gates so are difficult if not impossible to see if the gates are open.
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"Don't tell me why not, tell me how..."
Photo Gallery, Burgees and MADonTheThames
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boatone
regular
Reged: 29/07/2001
Posts: 6650
Loc: Surrey uk
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Quote:
The difficulty is if we complain - in an effort to get EA to extract its corporate digit, and to "wise up" to reality, it will be the lockies who get a bollocking and not the management.
Bit of a catch 22 situation.
If there are issues affecting our use of the river then I don't see why we should be sensitive to individuals. The EA need to be made aware of specifics such as unreliable electrics or misleading signage. If Lock Keepers are supposed to be on duty we have a right to expect them to be there, subject to the reasonable absences for lunch and weir duties etc.
Actually, last week I did 21 locks in 2 and a half days and had few problems. The dodgy electrics at Marsh Lock did annoy me (and delay me) and the yellow discs need fine tuning or even siting in better positions but in the main it was a pleasurable trip especially in such good weather.
The lockies were generally in good humour although some disgruntlement was in evidence. Cant make an omellette without breaking a few eggs !
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"Don't tell me why not, tell me how..."
Photo Gallery, Burgees and MADonTheThames
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Brayman
regular
Reged: 27/11/2006
Posts: 1132
Loc: Bucks
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I agree, when Eileen was selling us the yelow disk plans she said they would be placed in prominent positions so they could be seen from a distance when approaching a lock, eg at Romney, they may be at the end of the lay-by! (I don't know where they ended up), to hang them on the gates is, as you say, ridiculous. But then if they aren't used.........
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How come I am over the hill but I never made it to the top?
http://www.braycruiserclub.co.uk
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Chris_d
regular
Reged: 15/06/2001
Posts: 1420
Loc: Oxfordshire
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I had lying yellow disks coming down as well, not sure why the lockies aren't using them as they seem like a good idea to me. Caught the flipping Benson shoal again as well, kicked up loads of sand and gravel, not sure where the best route is but it must be quite a narrow channel.
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No_Regrets
regular
Reged: 09/07/2007
Posts: 1230
Loc: Welwyn Garden City, Herts UK.
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I feel the lockies are, in some cases, resigned to the fact the end is nigh.
Morale is lower than usual, and it's apparent is a slight lowering of standards in some cases, IMHO.
And I'm not blaming them..... 
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Birchwood Owners Association (BOA) forum now open here -> http://birchwoodboats.aceboard.com/
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martin1001
regular
Reged: 08/11/2006
Posts: 422
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I was out at the weekend and I got the impression that a high proportion of boaters do not actually understand what the amber disc means. I share all above views about EA behaviour and bad treatment of lockies .. on a practical level l find that too many people have no idea what to do at an unmanned lock ... and I also get the impression that lockies are on a bit of a go slow. Also saw several people in difficulty; lockies just stood and watched .. not even words of advice. Sad state of affairs.
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DWT
regular
Reged: 16/05/2006
Posts: 124
Loc: Reading, Berkshire
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The lockkeepers all seemd as bright as always to me last weekend. The keeper at Mapledurham was on his tea break when we got there on Saturday and the people in the hire boat in front of us had no clue what to do. The skipper of the boat behind us did not see the disk because it was on the open gate and I only spotted it because I had a fair idea that it might be tea break time and could not see anyone around.
How about a nice big blue sign with "lock unmanned" on it. Oh - hang on a sec.......
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