Inclined plane immediately east of Foxton Locks, Canal inclined plane in Foxton, England
The inclined plane at Foxton Locks was a transport system with two parallel tracks carrying carriages that moved boats between different water levels. The remaining foundations and machinery are visible on site and tell the story of this engineering solution.
The inclined plane was built around 1900 as a faster alternative to the ten-lock staircase and operated for about a decade. It was designed to move boats over steep height differences in much less time than traditional lock systems.
The museum at this site displays the mechanical systems and engineering solutions that workers once relied on to move boats efficiently through the waterway.
The site is accessible via marked paths that allow close examination of the foundations and remaining structures. Take time to walk around the area from different angles to understand the full scope of what was here.
The system relied on descending water tanks as a counterbalance to power the mechanism that pulled boats uphill. This clever use of gravity made the operation remarkably efficient for its time.
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