Traffic and Operation
The opening of the canal heralded an increase in coal mining in the area. Initial activity was on the Faskine and Palacecraig estates, which were on the eastern extension. In 1820 the city of Glasgow was consuming "half a million tons of coal a year, almost all of it subject to the high tolls on the Monkland Canal". In 1828 a rival company claimed that The Monkland Canal had "for many years yielded a dividend of Cent. per Cent ... arising solely on its Tolls on coal". Traffic was further augmented by the construction of ironworks at Coatbridge around 1825.
In 1846 Lewis reported: "An extensive basin was lately formed at Dundyvan, for the shipment of coal and iron by the canal from the Wishaw and Coltness and the Monkland and Kirkintilloch railways; and boats to Glasgow take goods and passengers twice every day. The revenue of the canal is estimated at £15,000 per annum.
By the 1850s and 1860s, the canal was transporting over one million tonnes of coal and iron per year. A passenger service was operated from Sheepford to Townend, Glasgow, although passengers were required to disembark at the top of the Blackhill locks and walk to the bottom, to join another boat for the onward journey.
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