Decline Despite the competition, and later competition from the railways, the canal company paid dividends to its shareholders until nationalisation,C. Hadfield, Canals of the West Midlands 1969 edn), 277 281. although profits fell steadily from the 1860s. It remained independent until the Transport Act 1947 nationalised Britain's canals on 1 January 1948. In its latter years the major trade was in coal from Cannock to a power station at Stourport. The power station closed in 1949, and after that, the only commercial traffic was on the stretch between Autherley and Aldersley Junctions.
Decline Despite the competition, and later competition from the railways, the canal company paid dividends to its shareholders until nationalisation,C. Hadfield, Canals of the West Midlands 1969 edn), 277 281. although profits fell steadily from the 1860s It remained independent until the Transport Act 1947 nationalised Britain's canals on 1 January 1948. In its latter years the major trade was in coal from Cannock to a power station at Stourport. The power station closed in 1949, and after that, the only commercial traffic was on the stretch between Autherley and Aldersley Junctions.