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The Falkirk Wheel will feature on the new Scottish £50
banknote. The Bank of Scotland will begin issuing a new series of banknotes in
the Autumn. The series, which is the first new complete set of notes issued by
Bank of Scotland since 1995, will feature the common theme of Scottish bridges,
including the magnificent Falkirk Wheel.
The notes celebrate some of Scotland's major and most recognisable
engineering achievements and also symbolise solidity, stability and continuity.
Bridges provide strong links to Scottish heritage and culture. They are the
means by which people can unite and highlight strong connections between the
modern and historical.
The bridges for the new series of notes have been selected because
they are all well known and are from across Scotland. The new notes have been
designed by De La Rue in partnership with Bank of Scotland.
The Falkirk Wheel, the world's only rotating boat-lift, is a
unique engineering and architectural wonder. The centrepiece of the
multi-million pound Millennium Link Project, the Wheel reconnects the Forth &
Clyde Canal with the Union Canal – thus restoring waterway navigation between
Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The huge wheel, 35 metres across, is made up of two diametrically opposed arms.
At the end of each is a giant, water-tight caisson with a capacity of 80,000
gallons. Despite the fact that it can lift over 600 tonnes, relatively little
energy is required to rotate the wheel. As each side is perfectly
counter-balanced, when one caisson full of water and boats is lifted, the other
is simultaneously lowered.
Having been involved in the design of the Falkirk Wheel, Bennett
Associates produced the general arrangement drawings of the wheel to enable the
other parties to proceed with the detailed design. Bennett Associates is also
responsible for the detailed design of the operating and rotating mechanism of
the complex wheel structure and the mechanical interfaces.
For more information, contact us on
01709-373782.
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