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Typical delays at Watford and Foxton Staircase Locks


RAB

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Planning trip up the Grand Union to Market Harborough end Feb / early March. Time may be a little tight so just wondering what the typical delays are whilst waiting for the flights to be your favour. I appreciate its a bit like how long is a piece of string, but just trying to get a feel for peoples experiences.

 

Many thanks in advance.

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If you plan to arrive at Watford locks during the opening hours, as there is little traffic at present, then getting up them shouldn't be a problem.

We did Foxton on Friday, and had the place to ourselves with plenty of Lockie help.

 

Bod

P.S We were only going from Crick to Debdale, so Watford not used by us.

Edited by Bod
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In about 1968, on a week's hire boat trip from Market Harborough we arrived back at the bottom of Foxton on the Friday lunchtime. The previous year we had hired from further south and turned round at the top of the flight. So to fill the gap we spent the Friday afternoon working up the flight, then turned round and came straight down again! No lockkeeper on duty then, and no restricted hours. Not sure we'd be allowed to do the same today!

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The worst case scenario at this time of year, if you were unlucky to arrive at the bottom just as the direction swaps in the staircase with a boat going up, the wait would be circa 60 - 90 minutes. Having said that few boats are moving in Feb compared to Easter onwards so any wait is likely to be a lot less.  There could be extra traffic on the 26th Feb as the flight reopens after a winter stoppage.  
 

Stoppage notice

Edited by Hotspur
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Just because it says last boat 14.45 don't turn up at 1440 and expect to go up or down. If there are already boats in the flight it will depend on which way they are going if the same way as you - the lockie maight let you in the flight. But if the opposite way you will be there until morning. The top of Watford is not a good place for over night mooring with the noise of the M1. At busy times the lockies let boats through in each direction in batches. You can easily find you are boat 7 or 8 in the queue and have a 3 or 4 hour wait.

 

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On 15/02/2022 at 16:15, GRLMK38 said:

A reminder that Watford remains closed until Saturday 26th Feb. Hours will be 09:30 - 15:30 (last boat is 14:45) until the end of March.

 

The stoppage has been extended to 4th March.

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