Trent-Severn Waterway
Unlike the Trent-Severn, the Eric Canal began with a purpose. A plan was made and after much effort the Eric Canal was completed in only 8 years. Such is not the history of the Trent-Severn Waterway. From beginning to end would require nearly 90 years.
The first lock for the proposed canal to connect Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay was in the middle of the proposed canal where at the time, only three people lived in 1833. By 1834 the lock was finished but was a disaster because it had been built at the wrong level and on porous rock.
Finally in 1857 a new limestone masonry lock 134 feet long and 33 feet wide was in place and remained in service until 1921 when the new concrete lock replaced it.
From 1896 to 1904 the government expanded the lock system to include five locks from Peterborough to Lakefield. The most impressive lock to that time was the 65-foot high Peterborough Lift Lock in 1904.
In 1907 a new player entered the scene. Hydroelectric power!!!!
Almost overnight the Trent-Severn Canal never looked back
By 1918 there was a complete water route from Trenton to Lake Ontario to Lake Couchiching 90% of the way to the Georgian Bay.
From 1913 to 1917 the push was on to complete the final 10%. The lock at Port Severn was added first and then Swift Rapid and Couchiching. Now all that remained was the lock at Big Chute. World War I was winding down, funds were tight and the two locks and canal at Big/Little Chute stopped. Instead in 1923 the marine railway at Big Chute was enlarged to handle larger vessels. The last two miles long canal was completed in June 1920.
The official opening of the canal came on July 6, 1920 at 1:30PM. Simultaneously the motor launch Irene left Trenton headed for Port Severn becoming the first vessel to complete the trip.
It had taken more than 90 years. The cost exceeded $19 million dollars. Today this marvelous waterway provides for wonderful boating, is a great tourist attraction, and generates electric power. Over the years some of the locks and dams have been rebuilt and modernized, but for the most part the canal still consists of locks and dams built more than 75 years ago that are operated manually.
Saddi's boardwalk
Our journey through the Trent-Severn Waterway begins.....
At Trenton we are 243 feet above sea level. For the first 35 locks we will be locking up and will reach the high point at Balsam Lake at 840 feet above sea level. From that point on it is a steady decline as we work our way to Port Severn.
The Waterway is made up of 44 locks, numbered 1 to 45. Lock 29 does not exist as it was combined with 28 into a double hydraulic lock. Lock 44, Big Chute, is not really a lock, but a marine railway. So we traverse 42 locks on this trip through the 240 miles on the Trent-Severn Waterway.
1. The controlled clearance is 22 feet
2. The controlled depth is 6 foot
3. The blue line means you are ready to proceed
4. Lock 1 is the only lock that responds to a VHF radio call
5. If you are planning on stopping or spending the night above a lock tell the
lockmaster....he'll make the reservation
6. Leave on Monday and find a community by Friday mid day (the first time you see someone with a rented houseboat attempt to enter and tie up at a lock you will understand why)
7. Speed limit 6 miles per hour....they do stop and fine you
8. Bridges...3 short blasts on your horn
9. In general ALL locks on the Trent-Severn Waterway are manually operated
10. Vessels tie up inside the lock to steel cable....12 feet apart
11. Have at least two large fenders that will be against the wall
12. Turn off your engine in a lock
13. From Trenton to Kirkfield Lock (mile 169.8) red is on starboard
14. From Kirkfield to Port Severn green is on starboard. You are returning to sea
We Can't Wait!!!!
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