Hello Joyce, My understanding of it is that the Canal Age started in England from the mid 1760s throught to about the 1850, then the start of the railways slowed things. In the USA it started later and In Europe it started earlier and lasted longer. There is a super book The Canal Age by Charles Hadfield published by David and Charles Newton Abbot Devon England, which looks at the canal age in UK, US and Europe. Regards Julie Goucher [email protected] ***Please note NEW Email address***