a new act of parliament was obtained on 31 march 1825, which authorised the raising of £50,000 for the purpose of constructing a branch along the route of the river hebble, from salterhebble to the centre of halifax, terminating near the railway station at bailey hall. the terminus was above the level of the canal at salterhebble, and the branch required a total of fourteen locks. in order to avoid disputes with the mill owners along the length of the river hebble, water supply was obtained by building a tunnel from the basin at salterhebble to a pit near the top lock. the tunnel was long, and the water was pumped from the pit to the top pound by a steam engine. the branch was opened in 1828, at a cost of £58,741, of which £20,000 was raised by loans, rather than calls to the shareholders, and was abandoned in 1942.