Notice the dry dock photo (above this one.) It is taken from the East side looking west and shows the lock gates as an inward-leaning V. This photo is taken from the west looking east and shows the same locks as an outward-leaning V. The area further to the east, before the second gate in this picture, was a sort of retention area. The oil tanks were situated here until a few years ago. Beyond the second gate is some equipment (looks like a dredge barge) parked. The ships are at the east approach wall most likely waiting to enter the main canal lock. The approach wall on the south side of the main east canal entrance can be seen at the very far right of the photo with what looks like a day mark on it (the white triangular posts. The ships would go north of this marker and enter the lock which cannot be seen here. (See map below) The gates were completely manual. There are no motors on top of the gates attached to the rack and pinions that open the drain valves below water at the very bottom of the gates. There does not appear to be any motorized main gate operating mechanisms. They were probably hand-cranked. You can see the gate cranking gear set up on both sides of the gates. Two for each side, one to pull gates open and one to pull gates shut (4 operating systems in all) There is also no long rack gear attached to the gates. It is likely the gates were operated by cable to pull the gates either way.

~ Notes: R. Amell