1930s
The Forth & Clyde and Union Canals were linked by a staircase of 11 locks which took nearly a day to transit. These were dismantled in 1933.
1994
The concept of a wheel as a boat lift was first considered as a solution for Falkirk. Other ideas included rolling eggs, tilting tanks, a giant see-saw and overhead monorails!
Inspiration
The final design is claimed to have been inspired by a Celtic double headed spear, a vast turning propeller of a Clydebank built ship, the ribcage of a whale and the spine of a fish.
1998
Work started on the ambitious £84.5million Millennium Link projects to rejoin the two canals.
Building The Wheel
Parts were constructed and assembled, like one giant Meccano set, in Derbyshire, then dismantled and transported to Falkirk in 35 lorry loads before being bolted back together and craned into position.
Big Wheel, Big Numbers
1,200 tonnes of steel was used to create The Wheel and over 1,000 construction staff helped to build it.
Nuts and Bolts
The structure contains over 15,000 bolts which are matched with 45,000 bolts holes. Each of these bolts was hand tightened.
2002
The world’s first and only rotating boat lift was opened by Her Majesty, The Queen.
Double Decker Buses
The Falkirk Wheel is 35 metres tall, the equivalent of 8 double decker buses stacked on top of each other.
Waterway to Travel
The 600 tonne gondolas hold 500,000 litres of water, enough to fill an Olympic swimming pool.
Green Machine
The Wheel only uses 1.5kWh of energy to turn, the same amount as it would take to boil 8 household kettles.
A Wheely Good Time!
More than 5.5million visitors have taken a trip to visit The Wheel since it opened in 2002.
How Does It Work?
Watch this video to find out how The Falkirk Wheel works!