 The canal also carried packet services , with passengers facing a three @-@ hour journey between Bolton and Manchester . The first passenger boat to Bolton was launched in 1796 from the Windsor Castle public house , and in 1798 a new packet boat was built for the use of the company . Fares were initially fixed by the canal company ( although from 1805 contracted @-@ out ) and based upon the service required ; a passenger using the state cabin from Bolton to Manchester would be charged one shilling six pence , and a single shilling on the return journey . Passengers would change boats at Prestolee to avoid delays at the lock flight and also to save water , and a purpose @-@ built covered walkway the length of the road was constructed for their benefit . Another passenger service ran along the two arms from Bolton to Bury , and over 60 @,@ 000 passengers per year travelled on the canal ; between July 1833 and June 1834 , 21 @,@ 060 made the journey from Bolton to Manchester , 21 @,@ 212 people travelled from Manchester to Bolton , and 20 @,@ 818 intermediary passengers hopped on and off the boats en route . In 1834 the Bolton to Manchester service earned £ 1 @,@ 177 and the Bolton to Bury service earned £ 75 . The service was quite luxurious compared to some packet boat services : central heating was provided in winter and drinks were served on board . This caused a tragedy in 1818 , however , when a party of twenty drunken passengers managed to capsize the boat and a number of passengers , including two children , were drowned . 
