Page updated 28 August 2002
Trip Reports
The material for the reports on this page have either been sent direct to me or gleaned from postings made to news:uk.rec.waterways. They are provided here to indicate potential problems for those who may attempt passage of the canal. Further updates to these reports or any other hazards, rumoured or real, are welcome. Please submit yours!
The general view of boaters appears to be that the canal was "opened early" in order to satisfy requirements of the Millennium Commission and other major funders of the restoration. Most believe that these represent "teething problems". Reports indicate that minor improvements are being made all the time and that BW staff are aware of many of the problems and often offer help beyond that which one might reasonably expect.
NOTE: The reports appear in date order, so the latest are at the bottom of the page!
Submitted direct 15 May 2001
Huddersfield to Standedge
Navigation is not easy, at least for a fairly deep-draughted boat with BCN-style hull. Bottom gates leak heavily, pounds run dry, kids throw bicycles, railings, scaffolding poles and even walls into locks. There are many shallow sections and some locks taper at the bottom so much that a deep-draughted BCN-style boat can jam.
There are obviously teething problems so soon after opening (it took us 4 days to travel the 7.5 miles and 42 locks from Huddersfield to Marsden), but BW are extremely helpful.
Some boats have been damaged passing through Standedge tunnel. it seems to depend largely on the boat profile (with side-decks, a decent tumble-home and no navigation lights there should be little damage). The tunnel is apparently very narrow in places. My boat jammed on two attempts and had to return to Huddersfield - hence the lack of comment on the west side.
Compiled from postings on news:uk.rec.waterways between 8 June 2001 and 5 July 2001
Working Boat faces problems
In the early part of June 2001, the old working boat Lilith attempted passage of the canal with a cargo of scrap steel, starting from the Stalybridge end. Having passed Wade Lock and Dungebooth Lock without too much trouble she made it through Standedge Tunnel, but ran into problems with narrow locks on the eastern side. In the end the cargo had to be transhipped (by hand) for the final three miles of its journey.
The serious problems started at Lock 42E. She jammed coming out of the tail and remained stuck for four hours. Hearing of the problems, a local canal enthusiast spent a hour in his Land Rover attempting to haul her out. The driver understood that she had similar troubles at Lock 41E.
The last straw was Lock 32E, one lock short of the winding hole at Booth. Lilith had to return to the previous lock, where there is vehicular access. The cargo was transferred by hand to several available vehicles, including a horse box and was taken to the scrap yard at Milnsbridge, its destination.
The cargo for the return trip was to be picked up at Marsden. However, Lilith stuck again at Lock 37E, which had caused no problems on the eastbound journey. A badly fitting gate on Lock 36E was causing the short pound between to become very low and Lilith grounded in the tail of Lock 37E. (See Picture)
Compiled from postings on news:uk.rec.waterways between 8 June 2001 and 5 July 2001
The Passage of Standedge Tunnel
Reports circulating from those who had seen boats making a passage of the tunnel soon after the opening suggested boats could be "badly damaged". One person said:
"I have seen some hire boats come back with hand rails badly scratched during the first couple of weeks. It appears that the handrails catch the roof as the boats swing from side to side in tow. Cabin sides seem to be okay its just the top corner of the cabin/handrails. I recommend some timber rubbing strips be clipped /fastened temporary to the cabin corner."
The BW staff now protect boats with rubber sheeting for the transit and, it is said, at most only sustain "minor scratches".
This has been confirmed by one traveller, making the passage at the beginning of June 2001 under the supervision of the "Rochdale cowboys", he reported,
"We didn't even get a minor damage, only a bit of dirt, which is not surprising given the state of the BW crew at the other end."
Another said
"We went through on 14th June and the rubber mats and experience gained by the crew since the tunnel has been open seem to be working. It absolutely bucketed down with rain when the boats emerged at Marsden so we even had the dirt washed off for us. The BW crew could however easily be mistaken for miners coming off shift! Having said this we did still meet people who had odds protruding bits, such as navigation lights, wiped off."
Submitted direct 5 August 2001
A Second Passage of the Canal
We passed through the Huddersfield Narrow Canal in the first week of May, taking from Wednesday 2nd. to Sunday 6th. Our experience matched the descriptions in your other contributors' statements. We encountered a lot of teething troubles.
We returned last week passing Portland Basin on Saturday 28th.July and Huddersfield on Thursday 2nd August. We had no trouble at all except for two low pounds in Milnesbridge. We could have made the whole passage in much less time had we not wasted contingency time to ensure punctual arrival for the tunnel convoy and to ensure that we passed through Milnesbridge, alleged to be bandit territory, early in the day. BW have obviously done a lot to ease navigation, though there is still a lot to do. We had no damage at the tunnel in either direction.
Edited from a submission made 3 October 2001
Huddersfield to Stalybridge
Editors Note: I was anxious that this submission gets published before I carry out a re-design of the site. Much of the original text, about a trip made in September 2001, has already been incorporated into the Navigation Notes and appropriate canal section pages. The rest will be when I find the time. What will then remain will report only the "teething problems" that were faced in navigating the canal.
Monday
Arrived at Aspley Basin on Monday lunchtime. Good though not many moorings and no problems overnight for the two nights we were forced to stay. BW rung us to inform us to stay at Aspley Basin as Lock 4W paddles were having to be fixed. Good that they rung. BW rebooked us for tunnel on Friday 21 September as we won't be making Wednesday! No passages on Thursday or Weekend because of conflicting daily passages, perhaps it was the time of year.
Tuesday
Two boats came down to Aspley Basin. Good news for us. Can travel tomorrow.
Wednesday
Set off 08:00. Stop at Lock 1E as there is no water in the pound above. Phone Standedge to be told men will be sent, progress if you can. BW did arrive and see us up as far as Lock 11E.
Travelled as far as Slaithwaite. Moorings on rings above Lock 22E. Enough room for 4x72ft boats. Unfortunately rings run out as the sides become very shallow. Laundrette in town. No pubs do food in the evenings and the Captains Table closes early.
Thursday
Lock 24 E has a notice to only be operated by BW staff. This is due to someone being injured as the spindle mechanism swings back when you start off with some force. We rung BW to be informed we could wait or use it gently and slowly. Continued to make good progress even if the paddles a little stiff. To await BW at Lock 32E. Due to us ringing at Lock 24E they knew we were on our way. Very short off water through the Marsden flight however arrived at 42E by 14:00. No food in the pubs in the evenings. Fish & chip shop closes at 18:00!
Travel up to the tunnel we encountered no problems with children even when they were around at Golcar and the scenery once past Slaithwaite was superb. Paddles no worse then than the K & A only the anti-vandal keys made it a pain. The visitor centre is not worth the money as we found it very disappointing. Nothing like Stoke Bruerne or Portland Basin.
Friday through the tunnel
We took everything off the roof and the cratch cover but did not lower the cratch. Pets are not allowed through the tunnel. BW transport anyone and pets by taxi to the other side. However there is no where to wait on the other side, so you get very cold and maybe wet.
I can recommend the cafe/restaurant called Leggers (01457 810044) just out of the car park at Diggle. (Opening 10:00 - 14:30 & 18:00 - 21:00, closed Monday). They allowed my dog in and served excellent coffee and toasties whilst waiting for the boat to come through the tunnel. Diggle Hotel not open until 12:00. Our boat was stuck in the tunnel so passage took 4 hours. However no damage apart from the side trim under gunwales at the front.
Continued down to Uppermill. There are a few mooring rings for 4 boats along the car park by Saddleworth Museum. The laundrette had closed down the week before our arrival. No food in the pubs in the evening. Hare and Hounds does good food lunchtime. Serves Tetleys, Pedigree, Boddingtons, Stones.
Continued down to Stalybridge mooring outside Tescos. Plenty of mooring rings. No problems encountered. However BW recommended not mooring between the Roaches 15 W and 7W.
Westbound we had no problems with people or lack of water and again the scenery was great around Uppermill upwards. Thus without Lock 4W being out of action we could have done the whole canal in 4 days. That's not bad for a newly opened canal.
Submitted direct 27 May 2002
Diggle to Marsden
The time elapsed from starting up the Diggle flight to arriving at the bottom of the Marsden flight was unexpected. To ensure water conservation BW staff are present to assist boats up and down these flights. Also pounds immediately below them can be very low, ensuring slow progress.
The result is that any timetable should allow up to ONE AND A HALF DAYS to cross from Transhipment Warehouse (Lock 24W) to Pig Tail Lock (32E). Starting at 8:30am on the day of the crossing, you go through the tunnel in the afternoon, and down the Marsden flight THE FOLLOWING MORNING. In reverse, you are expected to turn up at the bottom of the Marsden flight THE AFTERNOON BEFORE your morning trip through the tunnel and you are assisted down the Diggle flight the afternoon of your crossing.
From a post made news:uk.rec.waterways 15 August 2002
Standedge Tunnel
Yesterday Weyfly went through Standedge Tunnel and I would not have missed it for the world. It was a very busy and interesting day. We started from the Transhipment Warehouse at Diggle Bottom Lock at 08.30 for the assisted passage up to the Western Portal. The BW blokes appeared on time and were well organised. There were 7 (Yes seven) boats booked to go through and varied in in length from 35ft to 64ft. (Weyfly is 55ft). Our crew on Weyfly consisted of three blokes and one lass (Jan decided that deep holes were not for her and drove the car over the hill). This meant that we had strong chaps to shift the very stiff ground paddles on the flight..... Point to note - a River Wey windlass (long throw) fits and made life easier.
On reaching the western portal we moored up for the measuring ceremony. I think this should take place BEFORE they boats go up the Diggle Flight cos, as Ralph says, you have to wait for the next day to go back down if you can't go through the Tunnel. Weyfly passed (6ft 10ins exactly - well done Brummagem) and with a draft of 22ins and air-draft - all stripped off the roof- of 5ft 8ins - no probs!)
We were surprised to find Chris Coburn and Nb Progress moored up at the portal. Progress was found to be too "fat" at 6ft 11ins a couple of days previous! So even CC was not allowed through, although I understand BW are going to try and see what can be done.
This was to be the first time that this many boats were to attempt to "do" the Tunnel in one convoy. The BW team had a plan! The procedure for "rubbering-up" was very slick and all the boats ready to go at exactly 13.00. The plan was to set the convoy as follows: Pod (passenger boat for crews), tug, 4 Nbs - with tallest first, longest last, tug, 3 Nbs with tallest first, shortest last (Weyfly was the penultimate Nb). It was thought that the second tug and last 3 Nbs might have had to separate from the front part of the convoy to traverse the dog leg in the middle of the tunnel if the overall convoy length (>300ft) was a problem.
The BW team had 2 men in the Pod - driver and "narrator-cum assistant", one on each tug, plus one on the stern of each Nb! Also there was a safety team -called "shadow", that travel in a van (reverse gear for 3 miles) through the adjacent tunnel. Thus this convoy had at least 13 people involved that I saw. (You can see why the cost for the tunnel trip cannot be waived and is IMHO good value). They all seemed very knowledgeable and helpful. The man on each Nb is to "fend-off" when the walls get a bit close!
The trip took 3hrs and 15mins, which could have been slightly less but the "convoy" was held up in the Tunnel to allow the Standedge Experience trip boat to complete a sequence. The safety procedures seem well developed and gave me plenty of confidence.
The "plan" worked well and we did not have to separate at the dog leg at all although the speed at that point was negligible!. Also there was no apparent damage to any boat in the convoy other than a bit of paint removed from the odd rubbing strake. Well done BW and the crew. I was also impressed with the pod crew who gave a running commentary throughout.
I stayed out on the front of the pod alongside the "pilot" for most of the trip and can confirm that "fat" boats will get stuck depending on the actual profile of the boat. The steering of the pod and tugs is via directional (360deg) electric props - 2 on the pod and 1 on each tug.
The BW men on the tugs and Nbs got absolutely filthy - from old soot - and wet from the few "waterfalls" in the tunnel. The Nbs got wet and a little dirty - mainly from mucky hands and feet from BW crew but all easily sorted at Marsden with a mop and bucket.
To re-iterate. This is an experience not to be missed - do it sooner rather than later 'cos I can't see the HSE allowing the human fenders to continue for ever and I bet a more restrictive process will be developed.