Towards the end of the 19th century Manchester had become the largest industrial city in Britain. Aided by its many satelite towns it manufactured and exported iron, steel, coal, cotton, and machinery to all parts of the world. These goods usually went abroad via the Port of Liverpool which lies 36 miles (57km) to the west of Manchester. The two cities were well connected by the rivers Mersey and Irwell, the Bridgewater canal, and the Manchester Liverpool Railway. Strangely enough, the railway had not had too great of an impact on the canal and river navigation, these continued to do a profitable trade transporting goods to and from Liverpool. However, the thrifty industrialists and cotton magnates of Manchester were not entirely satisfied with the volume of movement of their goods, added to this was the 'exhorbitant' handling charges imposed by the Port of Liverpool. An alternative system of transport had to be found.
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