The inclined plane takes the place of 17 locks that took a full day to climb.  The entire operation of the inclined plane from entry to exit is about 20 minutes

The view from the eye of a bird

The boats drive into a tub full of water.  Te continue to float in that tub. 

The entire tub is then lowered on rails nearly 150 feet to the canal below.

The tub reaches the bottom of the incline.

The boats drive out into the canal

Lorraine is in the tub and beginning her decent. 

As our tub lowers, bystanders look on.

Here comes the tub.

For more information on this incredible engineering project click on the hyperlink below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Louis-Arzviller_inclined_plane