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Three men had a vision. Hundreds toiled to make it a reality. In 1761 there were two earthquakes in London, a transit of Venus was observed in 120 locations around the world and, on 17th July, the first boatload of coals was borne smoothly along the Barton Aqueduct over the River Irwell on the Bridgewater Canal - the engineering marvel that was the wonder of its age. Manchester s demand for coal was insatiable and there was an urgent need to get it there quickly and cheaply. Over rivers, under rock, through "Hell and High Water", three men proved that determination can literally move mountains.