Pat and Cindy's Great Loop Adventure

The Big Chute!

The only marine railway in North America

Here we are – aboard Sunshine, on the sling awaiting to go down the chute!
Thanks to David on Blueshift (the boat just behind us) for the photo.
Here we are going down to the water.
Welcome sign to the Big Chute!

Finally – on Monday, August 1, Sunshine made her way down the Chute. She was the first in line at 9:00 a.m. that morning. The Big Chute is 100 feet long and 24 feet wide. It works like a big cradle on railroad tracks to carry boats up and over a land mass. Many tourists and spectators gather to watch the boats as they are taken across the Big Chute.

The Chute railway car, going down to Port Severn. This steel carrier is 80 feet high and 36 feet wide.

Originally built in 1914, renovations were added in 2003. Boats enter the cradle into waiting straps like those on a travel lift. Once loaded the cradle carries the boat out of the water and over land. The boat goes forward 600 feet and is then lowered down 27 feet to the water on the other side.

The entire operation takes about ten minutes! The captain and crew stay on the boat.

Ominous sign at the Blue Line, where boats line up to enter the Chute.

As mentioned in our previous blog post, Sunday afternoon we were waiting to move over to the Blue Line as soon as the Chute closed operations for the day – around 6 p.m. The boat captains were jockeying for positions. They were walking the docks and discussing with each other. -:) They decided that Sunshine and Blueshift (the Sabre) should be first in line, as we arrived first at the waiting docks.

After all were docked we were surprised to hear over the loud speaker that we were not supposed to be docking just yet! We were early. They let us stay, though, so all good.

Sunshine docked at the Blue Line.
The blue line dock accommodated six boats. Sunshine is in the lead.
Dusk at the Blue Line of the Big Chute – Captain Pat at our bow.

Over the loud speaker they announce what order you will be going in. Depending on the size of the boat, they may place two boats in one carrier. Both Sunshine and Blueshift were placed in the first carrier of the day.

Captain Pat preparing Sunshine to make the entry into the Big Chute.

In the sling – ready to descend!

Going down on the tracks.

cmclaughlin80outlookcom

9 responses to “The Big Chute!”

    • Hi Cam! Hope all is well with you and Steph. Love following your travels on Facebook. Pat is a little self-conscious about his smile. Thinks he needs some caps. -:) He wasn’t too nervous – it only lasted ten minutes! He did take a video from the bow of the boat. So more courageous than me!

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  2. “Saving the best for last!” What a unique contraption. And what irregular land levels.
    Whose idea? God’s or the Iroquois? It would take all five gods of the Iroquois Confederacy to get this kind of earthen imbalance.
    It just may be #1 of the 45. Thanks!

    Good news/Bad news! Your neighbors were able to sign a petition and prevent your tenants from building a large carrier pigeon coop on your roof.. They were not able to get the city to help remove the long leashed anteater that has continually been digging in their lawns looking for food, Big body and big claws he is also a very aggressive. Anyone parking in their driveway has to really hustle to get safely in their car. The kids think it’s funny.

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