The Abandoned Monster Vehicle of Fonseranes 

"It lubricated the slope and it all went downhill very quickly after that". I am creasing at that! Well played!

"Civil Overengineering", that's one to remember.

Today's 'Hellooo' was well-timed, sorely needed, tri-lingual, and only slightly over-engineered.

The multiple Gerry Anderson references make very happy

2:50 "You're going to need locks." *calls Lockpicking Lawyer*

Hey Tim, I recently found out about some strange ship tunnels in France. One is the Tunnel de Mauvages and the other the Souterrain de Riqueval. Both seem to have some sort of electrically propulsed chain guided towing ship through the tunnel. It seems very interesting and it stems from the Napoleon times,. Maybe an idea to look at those

Superb entertainment, Tim. I assume "more or less navigable" equates to alot of Gallic swearing whilst beached on a mudflat.

The new intro is a surprising but welcome feature

Ah, Béziers! The city known for its curves.

"There was no-one around to shout at me." The story of urban exploration.

"right from jerry anderson series" * thunderbirds film starts playing * the detail on this channel is incredible

There was no one around to shout at me 🤣🤣🤣

Great video Tim, and I love the Gerry Anderson references. One correction - we returned to the Midi in 1992, and it was already out of use then. We have visited it every third year since, but it never looked remotely operational again. As for the one at Montech, that, apparently, suffered a fire in one of the locomotives a few years back, and it's doubtful if that will ever work again either. There is however some good footage of it in the TV series 'Rick Stein's French Odyssey', which was filmed in 2004 and first broadcast a year later.

I’ve travelled the Canal du Midi twice. Once was in 2018 and the site looked very much as in the video, except it was warm and sunny. The other time was in 1983 and we had the experience of travelling down the water slope on what I think was its first day of operation. It was certainly very new. One of our party stood on top of our boat in his Speedos playing the bagpipes to celebrate the event. This was long before the advent of affordable video cameras so there’s no movie evidence, I’m afraid.

That thing is fallen out of time in so many ways... 18th century: "Let's improve our canal using _science_ and _engineering_ !" 19th century: "Let's do that by building a giant monster machine out of steel!" 20th century: "Let's design it with rubber wheels and the aesthetics of a Volvo!"

Similarly weird canal transportation can be found on Elbląg Canal, where ships are transported with inclined planes. And since we're talking about canals and we're around Mazury region, worth checking huge, never completed Masurian Canal with it's locks you can go inside.

Just discovered your channel yesterday and have gone on a binge of your videos. Your subjects are not only fun and original, but well researched and tightly packed without fillers. And then there are your script and delivery, perfect! I would watch you commenting on grass growth in real time. Great job!

Wow !!!!! AWESOME video and anxiously waiting for part 2 !!!

Tim, thank you SO much for posting this. I'm just home from a horrid shift nursing in an infectious diseases ward, and it a total delight to watch your video. Loved the Anderson references, and I'm excited to see the 2nd part!

There's a lot of great ouvrages on the French canals. You should visit "le plan incliné" in Arzviller in Grand Est. It bypasses a little less than 20 locks.

Fun episode!! Reminded me of the Ronquières inclined plane and the Strépy-Thieu boat lift. Very excited to see part deux! :)

Well done on including Occitan in the intro. Frédéric Mistral would be proud.

Let's make a petition to build a French Falkirk Wheel there!

“A little” to the east you have the Ouvrages du Libron. A crossing between a river and the Canal in a very special way.

The UK channel Yesterday featured this in their show Abandoned Engineering. Worth looking up.

I really appreciate the thunderbird music when you did the quick cuts to the monster of montesh. I knew it reminded me of a thunderbirds vehicle

Oooh!! As part of a family holiday in 1987 we took a house boat from Cap d'Agde (?) to Carcasonne and back and I vividly remember the canal staircase. I have no recollection of the water slide, though that may partly be due to the fact that my sister's and I were busy operating the lock gates, and again, and again. My sister's and I earned our keep that day 😆 A fabulous holiday - and a fabulous video from you as always. Merci!

I could not help but grin from ear to ear when I heard Rosie and Jim!!! And then kelt smiling from ear to ear when I heard all the Gerry Anderson piano jingles just fantastic!!! Great video, Tim.

During the whole video I was internally shouting "there is another one in Montech !!!!". OK, will have to wait for part 2.

Ooooh. I want to see part 2!

3:33 lovely thunderbirds call, it really does look like a guest vehicle

I hate cliffhangers 😭

Love the Thunderbirds/Stingray/Captain Scarlet themes in this episode. Keep it up Tim :)

Hi Tim, we visited the canal locks two days ago. It was wonderful weather and we walked from Béziers along the canal. While approaching the locks I saw the the giant beast and remembered this video so I could tell the story to my partner. We took pictures but did not get close, you have to be aware with monsters.... Had a great time watching the boats and see how unprepared some are when entering locks. I got respect for the staff at the locks, their patience dealing with these I-know-better-than-you people, especially at the lock in Béziers it became hilarious.

"Le plan incliné" in Arzviller in Moselle. A brillant pièce of engineering on a canal (there is even rails and wagons on it) And next to it you could walk along the old abandonned succession of locks. If it is not planned yet, you might be interested ;D

They should have used a rack railway, like those trains that go up steep mountains.

More Rosie and Jim music. I like it.

Ruddy love you Tim. Glad to see you able to be out and about again!

I love your videos / history lessons Tim. Every one makes me chuckle. Spot on 👍 glad to see your still able to get about (safely of course) and doing well.

I was not expecting all the Anderson references but they made me very happy

I should be sleeping. Instead i fell into the rabbit hole called "The Tim Traveler". What a great channel!

Excellent. I love the piano version of the Thunderbirds theme. I visited Montech ten years ago (and spent this video confused, going 'that doesn't look right...'), so am really looking forward to part 2...

The cliffhanger is outstanding. I want part 2.

Fantastic, crazy engineering, canals and a medley of Andersen-esque music. Thank you.

Tried my absolute best to listen to you explaining the canal buuuut my brain was singing along to Rosie & Jim. Apart from that, bloody fantastic as always thank you very much Mr T!

Tim Traveler- 2022 Goals should include the Falkirk Wheel in Scotland and the Peterborough, Ontario Lift Lock! I have ridden them both! Man I love these sort of things!

I was there a couple of years ago and wondered what the hell it was supposed to be. Thanks for the info!

I have always wondered why Beziers might be twinned with Stockport (as indeed it is). Now I understand: the locks at Fonserannes are obviously a match for the longer and higher lock flight at Marple (a reluctant part of Stockport): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marple_Lock_Flight

Quite enjoyed the rosie and Jim ditty. Very apt.

Thank you for the backing music to the second half of this. Brought back SO MANY MEMORIES

"You're telling me there's another one of these?!" Sounds like Tim's gonna have to do some...travelling.

Can t wait for the next 50 episodes of the world of mister Tim... :D

Love the editing with/right after the reveal of the second water slope. Also, new intro!

Tim, great new intro! The water puns made me groan but I guess I can let it slide

Tim, I say this on every video, but your musical Easter eggs are total highlight of your videos. Rosie and Jim didn't go unnoticed.

Thank you for your warm cozy channel

Thanks for the nice video. I was using the locks in both directions with a boat in the early 1990s The monster was looking much better at that time, but nevertheless was out of service. I wished to see it in operation, wondering how the construction would avoid loosing the water during travel. I also have some video shots of the sleeping monster. You helped me get more information now after 30 years. Greetings !

Hahaa! I live just next to Beziers, funny to see you do a video about it! When everything is open, there's a really fascinating immersive-video-cinema kind of thing in the information office about the history of the canal that is worth checking. And the highest point on the canal between Toulouse and Beziers in the Montagne Noire is really nice as well with a dam and all the information on "how to feed water to this massive artificial river so it doesn't empty everytime you use the locks along the way." Near Carcassonne, it is worth a visit.

I see your Canal Du Midi Monster and raise you a Big Chute Marine Railway, aka Lock 44 on the Trent-Severn Waterway. Still works, still runs in the summer, and solved the whole strange powerplant issues by operating as a giant cable car. Good fun to watch if you're bored in Ontario and allowed out of the house.

My (non-engineer) suggestions for this invention: 1) Grind a small trough down the center of each concrete "rail", then attach a toothed rack along each trough so that the teeth are slightly below the original height of the trough. Then, replace the 2nd rearmost set of wheels with toothed gears to match the rack in each trough. This way, the only set of wheels that need to be powered are the gear-wheels. This would increase the tractive force potential greatly, provide more precise and predictable movement, and also eliminate the catastrophic potential of a hydraulic leak. (hydraulic leaks can be eliminated by the below suggestion) 2) swap the complicated powertrain with a 3rd rail or caternary system, along with simple electric motors. This would also likely make the power re-generation process much simpler, and also eliminate the hydraulic fluid issues

"It probably would have worked if it wasn't for several catastrophic flaws" is going to be on my gravestone.

And all of a sudden, I am binge watching your channel.

A day on this part of the Canal du Midi is the best experience. Multiple locks, an aqueduct and great scenery.

We went up the locks on holiday in 1979 before the lift. By the time we went back with the kids in 2002, the life was already bust. Great Anderson music.

The musical Easter eggs in your videos are sublime! And the content is great too!

Love the bit of the Captain Scarlet theme at the end, there. Thanks!

Very interesting Tim. Can't wait for part 2.

Mr. Tim, thank you very much for your films on the South West of France! This made us go on holiday in Occitania. And we did visit Beziers today and did see this amazing machine. Which was in somewhat better shape than you filmed it in. I am just really surprised that you failed to report on the most famous train of Beziers.. the Petit Train Touristique 😉 Keep on the good and fun work and keep us entertained!

*I HAVE SAILED THROUGH THESE LOCKS* as well as about 300 others across France - one of the best times of my life...

I lived in beziers for 2 years (and on the canal du midi for 1). Always wondered what this machine was for and the slope! Thanks for the informative video 👍

Thanks for continuing to do these videos even though the lockdown in France must be serious limiting your trips. Know that your work is very much appreciated. xoxo

"There was no one around to shout at me" Lolz! Stay safe out there Tim!

Nice new intro, feels like a season 2!

thanks for showing us that thing. hopefully it gets restored/fixed one day

Hearing the Rosie and Jim theme triggered a memory I didn't realise I had. Very subtle.

I spent a month in Béziers in 2012 working and no-one told me about the transporter vehicle! I even visited the neuf écluses! I can't believe I missed it!

Love your videos! Greetings from Palaiseau, Île de France.

Tim, thank you very much for this. I live in Toulouse -- when my work allows me to go home, that is -- and I am very familiar with the thing, and even more so with the Montech one. Looking forward to your next video! :-D

Your cheeky cover music is always appreciated but I loved them in this episode

I like the new opening credit sequence. I love the piano Thunderbirds theme. 😁

In Belgium, you have two examples of overengineering namely the "Ronquières inclined plane" and the "Strepy Thieu boat lift". But my absolute favorite is the "Falkirk Wheel" in Scotland.

She's no Falkirk Wheel haha. Love the Rosie and Jim music, that was a flashback to my childhood.

Nice video - Spending most of the 90s working in broadcast tv seems to mean I'm the only one who got the Rosie and Jim theme tune :P

Only one vid of this thing in action? That is both strange and sad It faced oil leaks and other issues? Well that’s a bummer. It looks like an interesting concept

I really enjoyed a trip down memory lane,i worked on a barge summer1980,and we went on the slope.An amazing monster contraption!

Warm and fuzzies returning, thanks to you and your videos being able to return to a sort of pre-covid energy and ambience.

"I'll put a link in the description in case you want to go and see the whole video." Well yes, yes I do.

Actually, the Fonserannes Monster was built because of the enlarging problems of the Canal du Midi. The locks in the canal were planned to be enlarged from 30 to 39 metres, the Standard Freycinet-Peniche-dimensions. For obvious reasons, enlarging a staircaselock is quite impossible, and that's why the experimental 'Pente d'eau' was built :)

Standby for action. Anything can happen in the next six minutes!

Your opening credits aren't the same without your signature wail whilst jumping off a wall! Still all good content, looking forward to when the world's madness is over for more videos of your travels 😃

I didn't expect Rosie and Jim's theme song but I'm glad it came

Over six minutes of joy to brighten a lockdown evening. Gerry Anderson promised 'anything can happen in the next half hour', so I'm going to fill the rest of the half hour with other joyful Tim vids. 👍🏻

Impressive vehicle and piece of engineering. Thanks for showing us.

Yeah, I have to say that a boat lift seems like a lot easier solution. Tried and tested too.

Class. Thoroughly enjoyed watching thank you. Very well put together documentary and delightful puns for good measure! 🙂

Just have to love how you had to stop yourself from dropping the f bomb

gotta say you're making me really excited to go explore France when we're allowed to travel freely again

Nice to see he is out there making videos. It is like a little light when the clouds start breaking after a storm.

The "bonne année" shot without any comment ... priceless!

we have something similar in Canada on the Trent-Severn waterway, the Big Chute Marine Railway. It actually still operates regularly