Imisele YaseBrithani—Isathakazelisa Namanje
NGUMLOBELI WE-PHAPHAMA! EBRITHANI
Ngasekuqaleni kwekhulu le-19, kwakunemisele engaba amakhilo- mitha angu-6 000 enqamula lonke elaseNgilandi, iScotland neWales. Yakhiwelani, futhi isetshenziswa ubani kuleli khulu lama-21?
NGESIKHATHI senguquko kwezezimboni eBrithani ngekhulu le-18 kwakufuneka indlela eshibhile nesheshayo yokuthutha izinto ezingakenziwa lutho nempahla esiqediwe. Ngaphambi kwaleso sikhathi, kwakusetshenziswa izipani zamahhashi ukuthwala impahla noma ukudonsa amakalishi emigwaqweni okwakuthi ebusika ibe nezikhisi nodaka kungahambeki kuyo. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, ihhashi elilodwa lalingadonsa kalula futhi ngokushesha isikebhe esihamba emseleni esingamathani angaba ngu-30.
Ngo-1761 iNkosana yaseBridgewater yayala ukuba kwakhiwe umsele wokuthutha amalahle ezimayini zayo ayiswe kumakhasimende eManchester, okuyibanga elingamakhilomitha angu-16. Lokhu akuzange kungenisele le nkosana inzuzo yemali nje kuphela kodwa kwanciphisa nentengo yamalahle ngesigamu eManchester. Ngo-1790 kwaba nesimiso semisele esiyinkimbinkimbi, iGrand Cross, esagcina sihlanganisa amachweba nemifula emine ebalulekile nesizinda sezimboni eNgilandi. Kwase kuqale inkathi yokusetshenziswa kwemisele eBrithani.
Ukwakhiwa Nokusetshenziswa Kwayo
Onjiniyela abanekhono, okwakubalwa phakathi kwabo uJames Brindley, indoda eyayizifundise ukwenza yonke imisebenzi ngaphandle kokusebenzisa izibalo nemidwebo, bavela nezindlela ezihlakaniphile zokwakha ezenza amanzi ahambe ibanga elide ngemisele ezindaweni ezihlukahlukene. Imisele, imihubhe, amasango amanzi namabhuloho akhiwa amaqembu ezisebenzi okuthiwa amatilosi, asabhekwa njengomsebenzi omkhulu owafinyelelwa.
Kwakhiwa izikebhe zokhuni ezivulekile, ezingaba amamitha angu-20 ubude namabili ububanzi, ukuze zithwale imithwalo emikhulu, njengamalahle, amatshe omcako nawokwenza usimende, i-kaolin, itshe-nsimbi, izitini nofulawa. Lezi zikebhe zazidonswa amahhashi emiseleni. “Izikebhe ezisheshayo” zazisetshenziselwa ukuthutha izinto eziphuthumayo noma impahla eyonakalayo futhi zazingami ndawo, nabasebenza kuzo babesebenza ubusuku bonke.
Kweminye imisele, izipani zamahhashi, ezazishintshwa njalo ngemva kwesikhathi esithile, zazidonsa izikebhe eziklelisiwe ezinabagibeli abangaba ngu-120 zihamba ngesivinini esingamakhilomitha angaba ngu-15 ngehora. Njengezikebhe ezisheshayo, nazo zazihamba kuqala kunezinye izikebhe, kanti eMseleni waseBridgewater, zaziba nensingo enkulu phambili yokunqamula indophi okwakudonswa ngayo ezinye izikebhe ezisendleleni! Ngenxa yokusetshenziswa kwale misele, ngokokuqala ngqa abantu abavamile baba nethuba lokuthatha uhambo olude benethezekile futhi bengakhokhi kakhulu.
Ukuphila Esikebheni Esincane
Ukuphila kwabantu abasebenza ezikebheni ezihamba emseleni kwakunzima. Babenza umsebenzi onzima futhi oyingozi. Njengoba babehlala besendleleni, sasingekho isikhathi sokuthola imfundo futhi babehlukaniswa kakhulu nabanye abantu.
Laba bantu ababehlala kulezi kebhe ezincane bathuthukisa ikhono lobuciko elingavamile, behlobisa izikebhe zabo ngemidwebo egqamile yendawo, yezimbali neyezinto ezisezweni, eyayidwetshwa kusukela ngaphandle kuya ngaphakathi egumbini lokuqondisa phambili. Kuleli gumbi, elalingaba amamitha amathathu ubude namabili ububanzi, kwakuhlala umqondisi wesikebhe, umkakhe nezingane zabo. Kodwa abantu abahlala ezikebheni babandisa ubukhulu bendawo ngefenisha eyakhiwe ngobuhlakani eyayifihla imibhede esongwayo nezindawo zokugcina impahla. Kwakunezindwangu zikaleyisi ezilengiswe emasholofini, futhi kunezitsha ezinhle nezinto zokuhlobisa zethusi ezicwebezelayo ngasesitofwini ezazibenyezela. Konke lokhu kwakubenza bazizwe benethezekile futhi kunemfudumalo. Umkamqondisi ozikhandlayo, nakuba ayenemisebenzi eminingi futhi kuthwalwa impahla engcolile, wayekwazi ukugcina umkhaya wakhe nesikebhe sabo kucocekile. Ngisho nendophi ehlotshisiwe okwakuqondiswa ngayo isikebhe yayikhuhlwa ngobunono ibe mhlophe qwa.
Ukuncipha Kokusetshenziswa Kwemisele Nokusetshenziswa Kwayo Namuhla
Ngo-1825, njengoba umsebenzi wokwakha imisele uya ngasekupheleni, uGeorge Stephenson wavula uJantshi osuka eStockton uye eDarlington, ongomunye wojantshi bokuqala bomphakathi abahamba izitimela zamalahle. Phakathi neminyaka engu-20 eyalandela, izinto zazithuthwa ngojantshi esikhundleni sezikebhe ezihamba emiseleni, ezaqala ukuwohloka ngenxa yokungasetshenziswa. Ezinye zazithengwa ngisho nayizinkampani zikajantshi ukuze zinciphise ukuqhudelana kwezohwebo. Ngemva kweMpi Yezwe I, isimo saqhubeka siwohloka njengoba kwakwakhiwa imigwaqo emisha nengcono. Ngisho nabantu ababelindele okuhle babengacabangi ukuthi imisele isengaqhubeka isebenza.
Kodwa ngenxa yomsebenzi wabantu abathile namaqembu kule minyaka engu-50 edlule, akubanga njalo. Nakuba ezinye izikebhe ezihamba kule misele zisathwala impahla, ezinye ziye zaguqulwa zaba imizi noma izikebhe zeholidi. Manje umuntu angakwazi ukubona imisele ehlanganisa ibanga elingaphezu kwamakhilomitha angu-3 000, edlula kwezinye zezindawo zemvelo zaseBrithani ezinhle kakhulu ezingonakaliswe muntu. Abathanda izikebhe ezincane nabo baye bavuselela isiko lasendulo, elisakazwa emphakathini kabanzi ngemikhosi yasemanzini yasikhathi sonke. Ngempela, ngenxa yokuthandwa kwalezi zikebhe zokungcebeleka ezihlotshiswe kahle, manje kunezikebhe ezincane eziningi kule misele kunangesikhathi sokuthuthwa kwempahla yezentengiselwano, futhi imisele isivuselelwa ngezinga elifanayo neyakhiwa ngalo eminyakeni engu-200 edlule.
Noma kunjalo, ingxenye encane kakhulu yabantu abasebenzisa le misele namuhla abangabagwedli bezikebhe. Ngani? Ngoba ukuvuselelwa kwale misele kuvule inxanxathela “yamapaki okungcebeleka.” La mapaki anika abantu ithuba lokungcebeleka emadolobheni ayengaziwa ngaphambili nasemaphandleni abangahambahamba kuwo, bagibele amabhayisekili futhi badobe ezindaweni eziseduze kwemisele. Amadamu akhelwe ukugcina amanzi emisele aseyingxenye ebalulekile yezindawo okuhlala kuzo izilwane zasendle, futhi le misele ngokwayo inezimila, izinyoni nezilwane eziningi ezinhlobonhlobo.
Ukwakhiwa kwemisele yaseBrithani kwaletha inkathi yoshintsho oluphawulekayo—kodwa enezinguquko eziyinqaba. Le misele manje iyindawo yokushaywa umoya umuntu akhohlwe yizingcindezi zokuphila kwasemadolobheni aba khona ngosizo lwayo.
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UKUGWEDLA EMIHUBHENI YEMISELE
Imbalwa kakhulu imihubhe enomzila wokudonsa isikebhe. Ngakho ngaphambi kokuba kube nezikebhe ezinenjini, okuwukuphela kwendlela yokuqondisa isikebhe esincane emhubheni kwakuwumkhuba oyingozi wokugwedla ngemilenze (i-legging). Kwakufakwa amapulangwe amabili nhlangothi zombili zesikebhe phambili. Abaqondisi besikebhe belele ngomhlane kula mapulangwe, ababewabamba bawaqinise, babegwedla isikebhe emhubheni ngemilenze abayibeke odongeni. Ebumnyameni, bekhanyise ikhandlela kuphela, kwakulula ukuba ogwedlayo ashelele awele emanzini, ngezinye izikhathi abhangqeke phakathi kwesikebhe nodonga lomhubhe. Imisele yaseBrithani yake yaba nemihubhe engamakhilomitha angu-68, futhi kwakuqashwa abagwedli abangochwepheshe emihubheni emide. Umhubhe omude kunayo yonke, osanda kuvulwa futhi eStandedge, eYorkshire, ungamakhilomitha amahlanu ubude.
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Courtesy of British Waterways
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AMA-LOCK EMISELE NENDLELA YOBUHLAKANI YOKUPHAKAMISA ISIKEBHE
Njengoba amanzi engakwazi ukuhamba endaweni ekhuphukayo, kwenzekani lapho umsele ufika endaweni ewumqansa? Amanzi angalandela indawo ephakeme ngokulinganayo, okungenza umzila ujikeleze, noma agelezele emhubheni onqamula kuleyo ndawo. Okwesithathu okungase kwenziwe ukuphakamisa umzila ngama-lock. Lezi zindawo zinomzila ohlanganisa izindawo ezimbili ezingalingani, onesango ohlangothini ngalunye. Ngemva kokuba isikebhe sesingene kule ndawo, kuvalwa womabili amasango. Le ndawo ibe isigcwaliswa ngamanzi ukuze isikebhe siphakanyiswe, noma akhishwe ukuze sehliswe—kuye ngesidingo.
Kuthiwani uma lezi zindawo ezazinamasango zingasenakuvuselelwa? Kwabhekwana naleyo nselele eScotland, lapho kwenziwa umsebenzi omkhulu wokuhlanganisa imisele emibili eyayisinesikhathi eside ingasetshenziswa phakathi kweGlasgow ne-Edinburgh. Kwakungenandlela yokwakha kabusha izindawo ezingu-11 ezinamasango amanzi eFalkirk ezazihlanganisa uMsele i-Union nomsele omdala kunayo yonke emhlabeni osuka olwandle uye kolunye, iForth and Clyde. Ikhambi elihlakaniphile yiFalkirk Wheel ewumklamo ongakaze ubonwe ngaphambili, eyikheshi lezikebhe elijikelezayo elinobukhulu obungamamitha angu-35. Ingathwala izikebhe ezingu-8, ezine ngesikhathi ngamakheshi amabili, izikhuphule noma izehlise, futhi uhambo ngalunye luthatha imizuzu engu-15 kuphela.
Umfanekiso waleli kheshi elachazwa i-Times yaseLondon ngokuthi “isimangaliso sobunjiniyela,” ubonakala emanzini echibi elikhulu eliyindilinga, elinesikhumulo sezikebhe ezingaphezu kwezingu-20.
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Courtesy of British Waterways
[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 16, 17]
OKWENZA SIKUJABULELE UKUHAMBA KULE MISELE
Eminyakeni yamuva nje mina nomkami, nakuba sesikhulile, siye sajabulela iholidi elinokuthula sihamba ngesikebhe kule misele. Kungani sithi iholidi elinokuthula? Okokuqala, sisuke sikude nesiphithiphithi sezimoto ezihamba ngejubane emigwaqweni emikhulu. Ngesikebhe esincane, singantweza kancane ngesivinini esingaphansi kwamakhilomitha amahlanu ngehora. Kungani sihamba kancane kangaka? Ukuze singabangeli imisinga engase yone usebe lomsele. Ngenxa yalokho, abantu abahamba nezinja zabo endleleni eseceleni komsele bangadlula basishiye!
Enye inzuzo yokuhamba kwesikebhe kancane ukuthi kusinika ithuba lokubuka ubuhle bendawo nokubingelela abadlulayo. Le ndawo yinhle ngempela. Sivame ukuqasha isikebhe eNingizimu Wales eMseleni waseMonmouthshire naseBrecon. Uhamba ibanga elingaba amakhilomitha angu-50 ukusuka emngceleni waseWales uze uyofika ezintabeni zaseBrecon ezingamamitha angu-886 ukuphakama. Kancane kancane, siyajabula lapho sifika ezindaweni ezinamasango amanzi futhi kudingeke ukuba isikebhe sikhushulelwe noma sehliselwe endaweni ehlukile.—Bheka ibhokisi ekhasini 15.
Lezi zikebhe zinakho konke futhi zinethezeke ngempela. Ezinye zize zinamakamelo amabili okulala, ngalinye elinesisefo sokugeza nendlu yangasese. Kukhona nezinto zokufudumeza uma kwenzeka kubanda kusihlwa. Sivame ukuziphekela, kodwa uma sifuna ukuhlaba ikhefu, singama futhi sijabulele ukudla okwehl’ esiphundu kwenye yezindawo zokudlela eziseceleni komsele.
Kunokuthula okukhulu, ikakhulukazi ekuseni lapho umsele ufana nesibuko okubonakala kuso izihlahla namagquma. Kuthulé kangangokuba uwuzwa kahle umculo wezinyoni. Izindwandwe zihlala zigadile osebeni njengoba zihamba kancane ngokuthula phambi kwethu.—Inikelwe.
[Imithombo]
Courtesy of British Waterways
Top right: By kind permission of Chris & Stelle on Belle (www.railwaybraking.com/belle)
[Umthombo Wesithombe ekhasini 13]
Courtesy of British Waterways