 The newly built (1838) rail line from Harrisburg to Lancaster allowed westward trade to bypass the canals, and by 1849, the Eastern Division was entirely paralleled by rail.The state sold the Main Line of Public Works to the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1857, which kept the canals in desultory operation.The former Columbia Navigation last collected lock fees in 1872; its dams were later used for hydropower in the early 20th century.