The Caen Hill Flight
Thursday, 19th July 2007 by James Turnbull
The Caen Hill Flight is a set of 16 locks, designed to allow canal boats to rise 237 feet in just 2 miles of canal. This means that Caen Hill is officially the world's steepest flight of locks. We do love obscure world's largest facts.
Normally, canal boats travel up to a speedy 4 mph. But with all the opening and closing of gates, navigating the Caen hill flight usually takes about 5-6 hours. This means you'd be lucky to travel an average of 0.3 mph.
You may also notice that the individual locks of Caen Hill are so close together that they require an extended reservoir to the side.
Wikipedia: Caen Hill Locks
Thanks: ajho
Nerdiest post ever? What next? A preserved steam railway somewhere or a particularly interesting bus depot? Not complaining mind you! 🙂
James is very keen on all things canal now that he lives in Oxford 😉
I actually think it’s a rather good post though – quite possibly because of the nerdiness of course…
My parents would love it…
Alex, could one say, then, that James is canal-retentive?
Seems like a huge (and expensive) construction for something that (I gather from the image) can only handle 1 very small barge at a time…
What kind of traffic does this line service?
PS: Now here’s a nice lock View Placemark
It’s probably empty at the moment – this is about the only watercourse capable of relieving the strain on the Thames at Reading. The annual Devises-Westminster canoe race starts about here.
But no lock post would be complete without a mention of the Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
View Placemark
Cool, I have been through a lock when I was on a fishing boat. this was many years ago. Here it is though, if you care.
View Placemark
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/cfg/Buckman.htm