Between 1767 and 1777, construction was undertaken on Dukart's Canal near Coalisland.
According to Delany (A Celebration of 250 Years of Ireland's Inland Waterways - Appletree press 1992), the plan was to use inclined planes or "Dry Wherries" (hurries) and canals to connect the Drumglass colliery to the Coalisland Canal.
Dukart was ahead of his time however. Whilst inclined planes, using rails, eventually became a reality, Dukart was not able to get his inclined planes to operate in the desired manner (full "cradles" descending raising empty cradles back up). The extension from Coalisland to the colliery was disused by 1787. Given time and further funds to develop the system, it is possible that he would have perfected the technique, but the Irish Parliament (still independent at that stage) refused to advance any further funds and in fact threatened to charge Davis Dukart with malfeasonce.
A couple of arches at the top of the inclines and an impressive aquaduct over the Torrent River are all that remain of this pioneering, but ultimately unsuccessful system.
