Cohoes in Albany County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

How a Lock Works

Photographed by Steve Stoessel, August 3, 2025

1. How a Lock Works Marker

Inscription.

How a Lock Works. . , Cohoes had the greatest concentration of locks along the Erie Canal. Canal locks are like elevators that move barges from one level of water to another. Water flows into and out of the lock chamber by gravity. The high level of water flows into one end and is trapped between two sets of gates at the ends of the lock chamber. The chamber gates are angled towards the upper elevation on both sides of the chamber to let the pressure of the water seal them., Lock Gates , The key to "locking through" , The lock gates on the Erie Canal were designed using centuries old basic engineering principles. Shown here is a lock gate and its major components: A the balance beam, which used leverage from the lock tender to open and close the gate; the sluice gate B, opened and closed by C, which let water into or out of the lock chamber to raise or lower boats to the exit level; and the mitre sill D, against which the lock gate rested when closed sealed., [ Center Figure Captions, Left to Right: ] , - A barge at the upper elevation enter: the lock chamber wath the lower gates closed. , - A barge at the upper clevation enters the lock chamber with the lower gates closed. , - The upper lock gates are closed, confining the barge in the lock chamber. , - Water is let out of the lock chamber, lowering the bange to the same level as the water in the lower elevation. , - The lower lock gates are then fully opened and the barge exits the chamber., For travel in the opposite direction, a barge from the lower elevation enters the lock chamber with the upper gates closed. The lower lock gates are then closed and the bange is confined within the lock chamber Water is let into the lock chamber from the upper elevation. The water flowing into the lock chamber raises the barge to the same level as the upper elevation. The upper lock gates are opened and the barge exits the chamber. , [ Bottom Right Photo: ] The 5th grade students (2002-2003 school year) at Hewitt and Riverside Elementary School in Rockville Centre, NY presenting a check to the Spindle City Historic Society in support of the Erie Canal in Cohoes

Cohoes had the greatest concentration of locks along the Erie Canal. Canal locks are like elevators that move barges from one level of water to another. Water flows into and out of the lock chamber by gravity. The high level of water flows into one end and is trapped between two sets of gates at the ends of the lock chamber. The chamber gates are angled towards the upper elevation on both sides of the chamber to let the pressure of the water seal them.

Lock Gates
The key to "locking through"
The lock gates on the Erie Canal were designed using centuries old basic engineering principles. Shown here is a lock gate and its major components: A the balance beam, which used leverage from the lock tender to open and close the gate; the sluice gate B, opened and closed by C, which let water into or out of the lock chamber to raise or lower boats to the exit level; and the mitre sill D, against which the lock gate rested when closed sealed.

[ Center Figure Captions, Left to Right: ]
- A barge at the upper elevation enter: the lock chamber wath the lower gates closed.
- A barge at the upper clevation enters the lock chamber with the lower gates closed.
- The upper lock gates are closed, confining the barge in the lock chamber.
- Water

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is let out of the lock chamber, lowering the bange to the same level as the water in the lower elevation.
- The lower lock gates are then fully opened and the barge exits the chamber.

For travel in the opposite direction, a barge from the lower elevation enters the lock chamber with the upper gates closed. The lower lock gates are then closed and the bange is confined within the lock chamber Water is let into the lock chamber from the upper elevation. The water flowing into the lock chamber raises the barge to the same level as the upper elevation. The upper lock gates are opened and the barge exits the chamber.

[ Bottom Right Photo: ] The 5th grade students (2002-2003 school year) at Hewitt and Riverside Elementary School in Rockville Centre, NY presenting a check to the Spindle City Historic Society in support of the Erie Canal in Cohoes

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 42° 47.122′ N, 73° 42.679′ W. Marker is in Cohoes, New York, in Albany County. It can be reached from North Mohawk Street 0.1 miles north of Church Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cohoes NY 12047, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York,

in the Capital District,

and in the Albany Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Canals, Water Power and Industry (a few

Photographed by Steve Stoessel, August 3, 2025

2. How a Lock Works Marker

steps from this marker); Cohoes Falls / Lifeblood of Cohoes / Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor (within shouting distance of this marker); Haudenosaunee Confederacy (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Navigating Around Cohoes Falls (about 500 feet away); Sightseeing / Cataract House, Cohoes Falls, N.Y. (about 500 feet away); Deep Gorge - Big Waterfall (about 500 feet away); Fourth Ward, First District (about 700 feet away); Honor Roll (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cohoes.

Additional keywords. Canals

Credits. This page was last revised on August 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 5, 2025, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. This page has been viewed 93 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 5, 2025, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York.