On Sun, 27 Jul 2008 09:16:59 +0100, johannes
siz368568508efitter.com> wrote:
>
>
>Brimstone wrote:
>>
>> johannes wrote:
>>> Knight Of The Road wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Can I just pin you down on this question I have been asking you for
>>>> ages, but which you don't seem to want to answer?
>>>>
>>>> Goods are delivered to your local supermarket- the one where *you*
>>>> shop- by motorists using motor vehicles. These motor vehicles are
>>>> among the most gas-guzzling on the road- mine averages less than 8
>>>> mpg.
>>>>
>>>> Do you approve or disapprove of your groceries being delivered by
>>>> motorists, and if you disapprove would you kindly explain how do you
>>>> think 200-300 tonnes of food should be delivered to your supermarket
>>>> each day?
>>>
>>> As it used to be, by horse and carriage...
>>
>> Carriages were not (routinely at least) used for the movement of goods and
>> supermarkets did not exist in the horsedrawn era.
>
>I was 'tongue-in-cheek'. But it is amazing how technology reacts to necessity,
>e.g. the canal transport system was highly developed for transporting goods
>from the Midlands to London.
Could never cope with current levels of trade. The problem is changes
in level requiring locks. Locks take time to go though, broad canal
lock about 70tons in 7min (600tons/hour = 15 lorries/hour) and will
use water. Make them bigger or put 2nd lock in to put more tonnage
though per hour and they will use more water in direct proportion to
tonnage.
Grand Union Canal which leaves the River Thames at Brentford and ends
in Birmingham. 137 miles and 166 locks, 4mph on canal and 7 min per
lock if it's at right level to go straight in, 34 + 19.4 = 53.4 hours
and that needs a crew working shifts not just one driver. If all the
locks are at wrong level it would be 73 hours. Supermarkets can't cope
with goods having a 19 hour variability in delivery, it equates to
nearly a day with empty shelves. Could try to flatten it out by making
more tunnels or embankments the whole way. London is about sea level
(locks to tidal Thames), Birmingham (airport) 100m, so still need at
least 22 locks = 36 hours and still a possible 2.5 hour variation.
Also still need a crew and shift working or pay for mooring and rests.
Very few canals are really adequate in size.
http://www.canals.com/canaldata.htm
How well would the M-way system work if every route had a low bridge
in it? Or weight and width restrictions? Or have to be shut
completely, as canals are while locks are drained for repair?
Someone managed to wedge a skip wagon under one of the 2 low railway
bridges at Willington a few months back. The tail back was huge (all
the way on to the A38), last I saw they were letting air out of the
tyres. It's a on B5008 at a junction with a minor 4 digit A road.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&safe=off&q=&ie=UTF8&ll=52.853095,-1.564924&spn...
>> Supermarkets are product of motorways and larger lorries. As an active
>> supporter of supermarkets I'm sure Doug will be pleased that he's making a
>> positive contribution to the road haulage industry.
>
>Yep, and the 'M4 corridor' effect on high-tech industries.
--
Peter Hill
Spamtrap reply domain as per NNTP-Posting-Host in header
Can of worms - what every fisherman wants.
Can of worms - what every PC owner gets
--
Peter Hill
Spamtrap reply domain as per NNTP-Posting-Host in header
Can of worms - what every fisherman wants.
Can of worms - what every PC owner gets!
