The locks below Cold Hiendley were lengthened from to between 1879 and 1881, but by this time there was little traffic on the upper section. The final section to Barnby, including the five locks at Barugh were abandoned under the terms of the Aire and Calder Act 1893. Powers to build the inclined plane were renewed in 1889, but no construction took place. Despite railway competition, the canal still carried in excess of 200,000 tons per year between 1885 and 1909.