Canal du Centre

In the summer of 2000 we visit in La Louvière in Wallony the lift-locks of the Canal du Centre. Four vast steel constructions at a distance of about 7 kilometers bridge over a difference in height of 68 meters. The Canal du Centre links the river basins of the Meuse and the Scheldt. The lift-locks are constructed between 1888 and 1917 just like the British lift-locks. The lift-locks created a great benefit of time. Before the construction of the lift-locks the shippers had to pass countless locks. The lift-locks of the Canal du Centre are still in use. They are situated nearby La Louvière, a village laying 30 kilometers south of Brussels.

By way of the boards Ascenceur no. 1 we find the first lift-lock. Later we discover that this one is the oldest. We can find it easily. Despite of the registration as cultural world-inheritance we see no other tourists. Despite the boards 'entrance prohibited' we climb up and look around. We take a risk and step on the giant construction of steel with wooden platforms until we get a direction of one of the service-men that we are not allowed to go further. We are lucky. A barge is arriving and slowly navigates in the steel tank. It navigates under a trap-door which is closing behind him The machinist of the lift-lock throws some scoops of sand in the junction between tank and trap-door. That's because there is to much water leaking away otherwise!?

When the tank sinks slowly, we go downstairs too (with the stairs) en watch the construction from under. The tank with the barge in it, is situated on a huge hydraulic column with is connected to the other tank. When one tank sinks, the other rises. Halfway the tanks stop. Then the machinist opens two slide-valves in the tank which is supposed to rise. Two giant jets squirt outside. It is very simple, they let some water out and slowly the two tanks are moving again.

Later I walk on the towpath to lift-lock number 2 which is only a couple of kilometers further on. On the way I see an old locomotive which towed the barges in earlier days from one lift-lock to the other.

When I am at the second left-lock I can see the third already. At the second lift-lock I descend a steep stone stair, at the third I follow the towpath under the trees which goes with two great meanders down. The horses which towed the barges in earlier days, could not climb stairs of course and used this path.

At the second and third I can't go to the other side of the canal. At lift-lock number one I could walk under the construction. These are of a different type. And besides that, thirty years younger. We meet a Dutch family traveling by boat. They offer us a lift and so we navigate with them two lift-locks up. We are navigating against a wall of 17 meters height. I don't notice anything particular special during the lift up, I don't feel anything. It's just the world sinking down.

Later that day, we take a look at the lift-lock of Strepy-Thieu. A huge building which replaces the four old lift-lock en is suitable for barges of 1350 ton. The size of the building is gigantic. I had seen the building on photographs and it appeared really dull to me. In reality it is very impressive and it's well considered. We go upstairs with the lift en see an enormous quantity of pulleys. A wall of glass makes it possible to look at the environment everywhere. On the small side of the building is the restaurant with a wonderful view. A new branch of the canal was made for the lift-lock. The lift-lock bridges a difference in height of 70 meter.

Canal du Centre (B)