Marine railway; only one in North America - GIF

**Jon** · Feb 2, 2019, 11:43 AM

The Big Chute Marine Railway in Ontario, Canada - the only one of its kind in North America.

More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Chute_Marine_Railway

Previously:

The Falkirk Wheel rotating boat lift - GIF and photos
Hook & Moor automatic boat hook - video and photo
Perfect boat beaching - GIF
Boat snaps cable during loading - GIF
Pulling a boat through locks GIF

**Frank S** · Feb 2, 2019, 06:47 PM

A lot faster and cheaper to travel from 1 lake to another than using the shipping locks

**Loose Ctrl** · Feb 3, 2019, 10:56 AM

I look forward to visiting that lift. It's on the plan when we do the Great Loop cruise. We're planning to spend most of the summer on the Candian canal system.

**Clockguy** · Feb 3, 2019, 11:59 AM

If I'm not mistaken, those are two entirely different boat lifts, the scenery is different, there is a long sidewalk on one side of the 1st ramp, and the ramp is much shorter on the second boat lift than the first one

Anyone else catch that??

**Toolmaker51** · Feb 3, 2019, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by Clockguy

If I'm not mistaken, those are two entirely different boat lifts, the scenery is different, there is a long sidewalk on one side of the 1st ramp, and the ramp is much shorter on the second boat lift than the first one

Anyone else catch that??

Possibly, though the uphill and depositing runs both carry a pontoon boat...and other leg with same cruiser apparently. GIF sped up too quick for distinct image.
IMNSHO thinking extreme variance between upper and lower waters, that otherwise would require a lock canal, unsuitable for actual distance needed.
But Wikipedia might prove my error.

**Frank S** · Feb 3, 2019, 11:21 PM

Originally Posted by Clockguy

If I'm not mistaken, those are two entirely different boat lifts, the scenery is different, there is a long sidewalk on one side of the 1st ramp, and the ramp is much shorter on the second boat lift than the first one

Anyone else catch that??

It's known as the big chute railway the only one in North America
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Chute_Marine_Railway

**PJs** · Feb 5, 2019, 10:18 AM

Brings a whole new meaning to Portage. Quite good engineering and thinking out of the box.

**payner47** · Feb 6, 2019, 10:13 AM

Hi all . I just have to comment on this . I live about an hour from this marine railway and it is the same scene on the Severn river . The long run is going down to the lower river and it comes up over the road which is just higher than the upper river water level . The vertical distance is 60 feet . Apparently they were originally going to put in 3 locks back in about 1914 and this was built as a temporary marine railway finished in 1917 . Notice the word " temporary " , I guess it is working out OK .

**cmarlow** · Jan 8, 2020, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by Clockguy

If I'm not mistaken, those are two entirely different boat lifts, the scenery is different, there is a long sidewalk on one side of the 1st ramp, and the ramp is much shorter on the second boat lift than the first one

Anyone else catch that??

It is a short railway between two different places. It lifts the boats from the water and puts them in the water again at the other end. You are seeing it move boats past the Big Chute rapids on the Trent River in Ontario Canada.