Erie canal Videos - Rochester, NY
                                 


Lockport's Deep Cut


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Of the many difficulties posed by Lockport's Deep Cut, removing the chunks of excavated rock from the channel to these piles was one of the hardest to solve. The remedy was finally found when a series of cranes like this were built along both sides.
A channel dug by hand in solid rock for SEVEN MILES!


Of the many difficulties posed by Lockport's Deep Cut, removing the chunks of excavated rock from the channel to these piles was one of the hardest to solve. The remedy was finally found when a series of cranes like this were built along both sides.
Removing the excavated pieces of rock from the cut was one of the biggest problems of all. Finally someone had the idea of using a series of cranes like these, and the work was able to go on.  One source suggests that the smoke rising from the trench in the distance is from fires built to heat the rock face.  During cold weather, ice water poured from barrels above would crack the rock, aiding in its removal.   


A towpath had to be chiseled into the north (west) wall of the cut through this stretch.
A towpath had to be cut into the solid rock on the west side of the cut (see map above). These views show the same towpath: One being used a hundred years ago in the "Enlarged Erie", and the other abandoned today in the modern "NYS Barge Canal"  Learn More


This view of the deep cut from the towpath was taken just before work began on the modern NYS Barge Canal enlargement (1905-1918).
This photo of the deep cut looking south was taken from the towpath not long before work began on the modern NYS Barge Canal enlargement (1905-1918).  Because the canal had to remain open for business while construction was underway, all excavations in this stretch were made on the side opposite the towpath.


The Erie's Deep Cut today looking northeast.
The deep cut through the countryside south and west of Lockport would be difficult to excavate even with today's methods.  With the tools and technologies of 1825, it was a miraculous accomplishment. This view is looking northeast; and the ledge you see here is NOT the towpath. The picture with the red arrow above is of the opposite side that does include the towpath.  





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