The world's last turntable ferry has a really clever design
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- Опубліковано 12 вер 2024
- In Glenelg, on the west coast of Scotland, there's the Skye Ferry: the last turntable ferry in the world. And the reason for that turntable is a lot more clever than I initially thought.
Thanks to all the team at the Skye Ferry! skyeferry.co.uk
Editor: Michelle Martin / @onthecrux
Graphics: William Marler wmad.co.uk
Location fixer: Vikki McCraw from Locations 365 locations365.co.uk
Filmed safely: www.tomscott.c...
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I hope you'll forgive the stereotypical red arrows in the thumbnail. They seemed appropriate, at least this once!
Sus
thanks tom scott very cool
I hope you’ll forgive the stereotypical red arrows in the thumbnail. They seemed appropriate, at least this once!
w
Yes
Very appropriate for somewhere called Glenelg to have a symmetrical ferry ;-)
You should've said reversible, though. 🙂
Ooooooh
A palindromic ferry....
@@donna30044 Some say it's a feyrryef.
@@Kenionatus I reckon that would be the Welsh
The DJ's choice of transportation
Underrated.
@@nickkohlmann Overrated.
@@caveking6287 Correctly rated.
@Gísiu Wulf slightly berated
@ExDeeXD Music properly evaluated
"There's only one place in the world where you can drive a turntable like this."
*Walks*
...and cuts the video just before the van uses it. 😄
He's driving himself. His legs are just his tires.
Can't use a bicycle, it's _two tired._
Noticed ... and noticed.
Ach, ye're a cheeky one.
"not having the ferry is a social experiment we don't want to be involved in"
is the strongest take i've ever heard for something where "we just like it and want it" was fully compelling enough
"The ferry is very seldom pointing in the direction it is actually going" - sounds a lot like my life.
I share your Payne.
But this one at least gets destination eventually
@@MouseGoat as we all do someday
Same
I should get a turntable.
I thought I knew some obscure, specialised watercraft, but this is a completely new one to me, and I love every part of it: the lateral thinking of the design (no pun intended), the refusal to _not_ have a ferry, and the fact they've kept it in community ownership.
It's kind of like a heritage railway in a way.
@@HolyKhaaaaan That's actually a really good analogy!
Same.
What other watercraft do you know?
@@TaylerJDust I didn't know this watercraft exiisted,did you?
I've known and used the Glenelg Ferry for over 30 years during holidays and absolutely love it!
Hey! What fun ! Lucky you ! Cheers 6721
@@orchidorio I have to ask what does 6721 mean
@@andrewstanley7300 The date that I post something. I may see it again. YT provides "4 hours ago" or something. May help later. 6721
@@orchidorio ahh thanks
That beats me… think I’ve only been doing it for 18 or so years, maybe more like 20.
“Not having the ferry is a social experiment we don’t want to be involved in”. There’s a lot of wisdom in this seemingly simple sentiment, and you have to admire it. Well done to this community for protecting what’s important to you. ❤️ from Ireland.
Not having any money is another life experiment I don't want to be involved in...🤔😏😷
On the other hand, "X is a social experiment we don't want to be involved in" is a structure ruined by anti-vaxxers
Seems an odd choice of words to me but, whatever floats your boat I suppose....
@Flatpancake2 Puns fired!
It's always cheering to hear stories of small towns working to keep a part of their history, and fabric of their community, alive. Doubly so when it's for utility more than historical tourism.
That landscape is absolutely stunning
Nope 👎 YES 🙌!!!!!!!
Reminds me of Norway
@@ragnkja Slartibartfast also had a hand in it
@@andybrown4284 nice crinkly edges
@@ragnkja And Appalachia
I mean there's nothing quite like Scottish people saying the word 'ferry'.
When I holidayed there a while ago, I loved the accent so much that I'd 100% adopted it.
HitchensImmortal, also 'burglar alarm'. 😁
You just wait until they start talking about the murder of thirteen purple turtles :P
@@gkw9882 Buerijgsrglar alsagragsegrm
Or "murder"
A.I. generated story idea "Why Turntable Ferries Don't Spin at 78 RPM"
78 RPM turntable ferries equals floating car launcher and I for one really wish that was a reality.
You spin my car 'round, baby, right 'round
Like a record, baby, right 'round, 'round, 'round
@@roguishpaladin At 78 RPMs, wouldn't "you spin my car _off"_ be more appropriate?
@@drops2cents260 They seem like good Scottish blokes who'd chain your car down for you.
I've got a 78rpm record player. Put a toy car on it and boom. I have a video.
"Not having the ferry is a social experiment we don't want to be involved in."
I don't know why, but I love that line.
3:27 I can see Tom on the boat deck controlling his Drone shot. Nice!
The solution to this same problem I experienced with a ferry in the Strait of Magellan, was the ferry keeping their engines on (what I assume) full thrust with the rudder maximum sideways. And even with that the ferry was at roughly a 30 degree angle with the slipway.
Following the tradition of space being nautical, "maximum sideways" would be a *hilarious* phrase on something like Star Trek.
"Captain! The shields are doon, we'll need tae dodge!"
"SET THRUSTERS TO MAXIMUM SIDEWAYS"
@@clockworkkirlia7475 I have never in my life seen any episode from Star trek or -wars (there seems to be a difference between those two). The reference is unknown to me.
@@clockworkkirlia7475 I appreciate your joke, good work.
@@clockworkkirlia7475 Ah, but there's no up or down in space! And no sideways!
@@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721 that is where you are wrong! The ships have artificial gravity and thus an up and down!
I was on this ferry 5 years ago and only now have I learned how unique it is
same here ;)
200 years ago many people travelled by ship and horses were used for short-term travel when they got to their destination
Today, many people have a car and we need ships to move our cars
How the stables have turned
**Turn-table**
Pun intended?
Haha I see what you did there
Oh how the turn tables....
Hahahaha did you write this thing especially for the pun?
yep
"A social experiment we dont want to be involved in" is as brilliant phrase.
A Gammon elitist reactionary
Remember that time that University got banned from suggesting commits to one of the open source linux projects because they made a paper on submitting security issues to open source projects LMAO
A sentence composed 100% of vitriolic buzzwords. You sound nice.
@@Murderdogs ???
@@sheepcommander_ sorry, that was supposed to be in response to tbe person calling everyone gammon...
This is fascinating! Where I live, on the island of Lefkada, Greece, we have a long ferry connecting us to the mainland. Every hour on the dot, it folds upwards and turns around, parallel to the waterway that has been built, to allow boats and other ferries to enter the island through our Marina. I've always found it one of the most special things about my town, although we're all so used to it! Every four years (last time was last year, 2020), the ferry-bridge drives off for maintenance and it's temporarily replaced by a big boat that fits neatly on the space between the island and the mainland. Look it up, it's very fun!
Tom should pay a visit there, preferably 2 times in 2024
I'm convinced that Tom doesn't own a car and just walks everywhere
Why do you think there's so long between each video?
The alternate version of the million to a billion comparison video is still uploading...
I briefly encountered Tom walking on a London street, a couple of years ago. So the maths checks out.
@@SportyMabamba to be fair: anyone who drives in london by choice is a lunatic.
@@angee9996 tbh anyone who goes to London in general by choice is a lunatic
Can we appreciate him for never making us bored
I love things like this. Genius engineering solutions for individual problems. And its essential simplicity of design makes it even more on the genius scale!
The community ownership part amazed me at least as much as the clever design of the ferry. Well done, Glenelg!
It's funny how few people would have seen a story like this before UA-cam channels like yours came around, now probably around a million people worldwide will
I've been across this on numerous occasions - almost always come back that way when in Skye because the a) the wildlife is fantastic, seen otters regularly and more than once the ferryman has halted in mid-crossing to watch the porpoise/dolphin swim past, and b) Glenelg on the mainland side has the tallest Broch in Scotland outside Shetland and always worth the stop. The only downside is you miss the drive past Eilean Donan castle (the classic shortbread box castle), but seeing it on the way to Skye is better and the drive over the pass and down to Ratagan is also very fine.
The drive over Mam Ratagan is just so much better East to West.... :o)
The Mousa broch up here (Shetland) is spectacular!
“Because there’s only one place in the world that you can drive off a turntable like this”
*walks off*
Great video as always Tom!!!
Haha yes! I was expecting him to at least get on a bike!
I know, right? My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined.
Also known as foot-driving
@@SteelSkin667 or driving a 11 numbered car...
@@phs125 u wot
I read the title as “the worlds last turnable ferry has an interesting design” and thought to myself “ships can’t turn??”
That's why one got stuck in the Suez Canal a couple months back. It went in at _just_ the wrong angle, and they couldn't turn it once they realized.
@@timothymclean I mean also
it maybe wasn't the brightest idea to construct a dummy thick ship that's longer than the canal is wide
@@user6122 What's your moderately rational critique doing with my joke about ships not being able to turn?
@@user6122 *dummy thicc
Same
Spent many holidays around the west coast of Scotland and island hopping. I always loved crossing over on the turntable ferries and I am very happy to see that this one is still operating.
I love it when old technology survives because it is a better solution than any of its modern counterparts.
A bridge would save a lot of time
@@Jabberwockybird Who said saving time was their prime objective?
Yet another reason to visit Scotland... and look, it's even a "sunny" day. ;)
hahaha. Reminds me of the GTA3 cheat code, typing in 'SCOTLAND' gets it perpetually raining
@@DrRiq yes, I remember I think. 😂
:)))))
I've visited Scotland, 12/10 do recommend!
I've been to Scotland 3 times. 13/10, highly recommend.
lmao "Not having the ferry is a social experiment we don't want to be involved in" omg I was laughing so hard at that one, so typical.
And so the bonnie boat still speeds over the sea to Skye. How lovely.
Skye Boat Song ♥️
It has to go at least 9 knots...
I'm glad someone else noticed his quotation!
Ive taken this ferry while riding the North Coast 500! That light house has a gift shop with coffee, no body there, just price tags and the money box. I randomly ended up there. One of my fondest memories from my trip.
So much clever engineering in Scotland.
Loved going on the Glenelg ferry. Glad to see it is still running.
The story about the local community banding together to save the ferry is so heartwarming, I love it
The equivalent road trip is thirty-six miles and takes over an hour. The ferry is twenty minutes and free to locals.
"The Scottish road that is also a boat"
Ba dum tsss
that'd be pontoon bridges...
And it's a spinny boat so when you're going back to Skye after a weekend in Glasgow the world actually looks normal for a bit!
That applies to many Ferries. The Vogelfluglinie Ferry connecting Puttgarden in Germany to Rødby in Denmark over the Fehmarn Belt even carries a Highway and used to carry Trains as well, until the Tracks to the Ferry Terminals were abandoned in 2019. It was the only Ferry Line (four Ships to be precise) in the World to carry High Speed Rail Trains, until these Trains were retired in 2017.
And also "the sanity-defying crossroads on the Isle of Skye".
03:26 When I look over and realize someone is actually filming me.
That’s the drone they’re watching
Tom looks like me when I am messing with remote view on my camera.
i like how much Tom strugles at 3:20 trying to hold the dron ein his vision
Love the ferries of the west coast of Scotland. There used to be a few of these. The best bit for me is the fact that the Skye Bridge didn’t kill this ferry (nor the Mallaig to Armadale one further south). Ferry travel is special. Bridges speed things up but take the other worldliness away from the destination
only one place in the world you can drive off a turntable like this *WALKS OFF THE TURNTABLE*
We all know Tom only walks
I miss the old ending: "and that is something, you might not have known".
Come to think about it, why it this Things You Might Not Have Known, and not Amazing Places?
@@AlienValkyrie The video is mainly focused on the unique design and purpose of the ferry itself, and the fact that there is nothing else in the world like it. Not so much focus on the place where it operates
Tom just assumed we all knew about this particular ferry.
@@PersonMann But it has people with funny accents! That makes it Amazing Places.
@@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721 your right Tom does have a weird accent at least Colin was there to translate what the video was about!
A very cool solution to a rather uncommon confluence of problems.
That could be Scotland's tagline tbh.
A very elegant solution to the combination of problems present
Sail, ferry braw, like a bird on the wing
"Onwards Glenelg!" they cry
Carry the cars, the bikes and their kin
O'er the sea, to Skye
When yo are going *to Skye* you are leaving Glenelg behind, so ‘onward Glenelg’ makes no sense.
It would work if the boat was called Glenelg, but it’s called the Glenachulish.
This is exactly why I watch Tom Scott, to learn more obscure trivia from the world around us.
I just scored 3 of 15 in a history exam, so I’m glad to watch Tom’s video and feel a bit smarter again. Thank you, you bumped my mood!
Ach better luck next time! Glad that this video helped!
It isn't the practical choice but it is the community's choice to keep their way of life. I can respect that.
It's 20 minutes by ferry or 70 by road...
I had been thinking of turntable ferries, but had never thought of pulling up alongside the dock and off-loading at an angle. Very clever. Interesting vid. Thanks.
Cincinnati Ohioan here. I grew up less than a mile from the “Anderson Ferry”, which “connects Cincinnati Ohio to northern Kentucky (we’ve got 5 bridges to do the same, but this is a rather inaccessible area on the Kentucky side, so we have a ferry). In operation for 200years.
The two current ferry’s are simply tugboats affixed by hinge to a barge that serves as the ferry.
For the very same reason; heavy currents.
Now; we don’t have to deal with tides here, but this is very intriguing to me:)
I’ve grown up around ferries all my life, and never once heard of this sort.
Keep comin with this amazing content!:)
Much appreciated. I always learn something when I watch your videos
That's really awesome. Love it when the community comes together to do something because it's good or cool.
I love that Tom finds these cool little places and speaks to ordinary people who are passionate about and love their job
Fascinating - love the accents too.
That’s so accurate!!!
The people of Glenelg don't speak with an accent - but everyone else does.
It's not often nowdays that I actually exclaim 'woah, that's actually genius,' but dammit, this one got me.
I was on one of these quite often when growing up at Ballachulish before the bridge was put in. It was the best part of the trip to Fort William from Glasgow
Glad this has been preserved. What a superb design.
It’s also a fun drive either side of this ferry. A great trip for sure. As you can guess from is name, this ship used to cross Loch Leven near Ballachulish before the bridge was built.
Thought I had done a smaller ferry trip on a mainland short cut back in 1989
@@highpath4776 The Ballachulish bridge was built mid-70s, so I assume this ship stopped operating there at that time? There were other turntable ferries, e.g. the one across the Severn that precended the 1960s Severn Bridge.
Being old I remember it from Ballachulish
@@alanj9391 I never rode on it in those days, the queues were too long, so we’d drive all the way round via Kinlochleven
@@hoagy_ytfc I was wondering if it was the Ballachulish Ferry.
Glenelg also has a couple of Brochs worth visiting!
Strictly speaking they're in Gleann Beag which is the next glen to the south.
My dad’s been taken into hospital, and you’ve made me smile and feel a bit happier
Ah best of luck to him! I hope it all ends up as okay as it can for him.
Hope he's well, Tom's here for us all
"Well well well, how the turntables..."
- Tom Michael Scott
Seen a fair few different types of river ferries over the years, I thought Dartmouth's was fairly unique with what is essentially pontoons and tugs (lower ferry, Higher is cable pull) but this is something truly special. Though those ramps looked a little dicey to come off of at such an angle.
You can't put a price tag on keeping a culture alive... It's good to see community getting together to keep this alive.
Love how Scotland has a many little quirks going on
Or maybe Tom's just really good at finding and presenting them
It’s Scott-Land
Ferry GM: "When they removed the tolls on the bridge we thought 'Who would use the ferry?' But the locals said 'We can't have this.'..." That has to be the most stereotypical Scots thing I have heard.
We really need more people with a Scottish accent on the internet.
Aye
Kmac2021, where u at?
that involves bringing the internet to Scotland
Try @Calum - fantastic channel, and of course @Scott Manley.
David Mcluckie, Big Clive (and even me tentatively)
I took this road to Skye, was recommended by a stranger in a pub just south of fort william. The roads are quite challenging but they are amazing and give you a view of Scotland not many get to see, would recommend to anyone (who's a confident driver at least)
This was a ferry I wasn't aware of. I went to Skye in 1993, got over on the Malaig ferry and also made a quick trip across at Kyleakin. Never dreamed there would be a third. Kyleakin may not run anymore since that is where they put the bridge, they were working on it the year I was there. I stood on an upper deck, and the lower area where you would expect cars was jammed full of sheep. They were taking them over to graze I think. Or to market.
This turned my life around!
Tom Scott is very good at making me very interested in things I have never heard of
Having lived all my life without a turntable ferry around I can tell you that it is an unbearable social experiment 😥
And we didn't even realize we were in the experiment!
2020 and 2021 were a massive social experiment. One of a long line for Gaeldom.
I had the pleasure of working with JD WOOD Naval Architects & Engineers during school for work experience and helped produce the CAD models for the renovation that was completed in 2016/17 or around then. Its also the oldest still running car ferry in Scotland I believe so please do use it if you can!
I stayed on the water's edge in Corran, Scotland (Loch Linnhe). The lovely local pub (The Inn) was just 500m across the water. Used to just step on the Ferry (for free) in the evening for a couple of jars across the water. Note - don't miss the last Ferry, otherwise it's a £100 taxi right around the loch! :|
"Well, well, well....How the turntables...."
-Mr.Scott
Loved the animation of the car going into the water 😂
3:23 Goddamn, got the Morgans loaded up too! they look very fitting
One Morgan and one Austin-Healey - either would be ideal on the roads round there :o)
something interesting at 0:41 in the overhead shot, not sure exactly what it is, might be the Morgan.
@@VC-Toronto It's a Morgan Aero - it appears again around 3:05.
This is actually very informative and a niche point of interest. The little bits that make this channel feel good
Videos like this must extend the bucket lists of so many people!
1:21 "the ferry is very seldom pointing in the direction it is actually going"
That is true of most vessels - powered or sailing
In my school in physics we used to calculate the angles boats or swimmers should go in to ensure they end up in at the right destination after considering the speed and direction of the water.
@@jaymercer4692 The really fun part is when you consider that the flow is faster mid channel. And, for long passages it may even reverse direction.
蘇格蘭的渡輪有兩個出入口，都在不同側，所以不需要轉彎大幅提高載運效率，由於當地水流湍急，所以必須要對抗水流來提早轉彎。另外因為潮汐造成高低差，他們做了一個長坡，這樣就不會被潮汐所影響，強水流也讓船無法停一個直線，所以他們做了一個旋轉的機構，讓船不用停直線也可以讓車子可以直接下去。
翻譯人 我的超人
Ooh I've taken this ferry! I hadn't realised how exceptional it was :)
I love seeing things like this ferry working still today ! Glad they saved it ! 👍👍
Good to see a Morgan in the overhead shot, a fine way to tour the Highlands and Islands.
I must admit this AI is getting really good at creating video ideas
The more I think about this, the more I realize how ingenious it actually is.
Alternate title: "I promise this story about a ferry is interesting."
That is what I like about this channel. Sometimes , the topic is so old yet so new to us. Thanks Tom !
It's such a simple solution to a big problem but it is so simple it's elegant in its own unique way.
If the turntable operator doesn't call himself DJ Ferry... DJ McFerry, he's missing out.
🎧🚢
Yes! “Deck” Jockey MacFerry as the MC, Master of the Crossing/Commute.
I think he's called Brian.
@@jugglerjaf You seem fun.
At 3:21 I find the sight of Tom smiling with glee rather wholesome :)
To out-pedant Tom, actually it's the world's last MANUALLY OPERATED turntable ferry.
Where are the turntable ferries which are not manually operated ?
You forgot to say Um, Actually
@@kumasenlac5504 I'm curious as well!
Went on this 2 years ago it was really cool glad they kept it going
The boat and car illustration makes it really easy to understand the problem and the clever design!
Thanks for the video!
My family was driving around the highlands in summer 2016 and we were looking for a broch when we stumbled upon this strange ferry. We were off to Skye for a week vacation and took the ferry you feature in this video. It was a unique experience and I am so grateful for your video to remind us of a wonderful family trip to the Scotland.
Hello how’re you doing?
Tom, you seemed stressed about your inability to travel a few weeks ago when you asked for help. I think you're doing marvellously. I hope you have as much content as you want to have, I love your work.
This is incredible!! Gosh I'd love to go sailing here, already did Cowes. The current and tides in the UK is wild!
When you don't want your communication changed by force, so you come together to keep something that makes it unique alive and well. There really needs to be more of this in the world.
Finally a video with a place you recommend us viewers come visit! A treat!
"The legacy of tom Scott"
I don't get it.
Maybe someone can make a google map list containing all the amazing places in UK, and when Tom’s fans visit UK, we have somewhere to go.
That sounds like a great idea!
Though I would prefer all the locations, not just those in the UK.
3:25 Tom keeping an eye on his camera
Now this is how you use thumbnail arrows. Shows how something exotic moves and demonstrates what the video is about. Bravo!
This ferry is one of those quaint little things that makes the world a much better place. I love it!