In the mid 1800's a railway was built between Leicester and Swannington to take coal from the mines in the local area to the city of Leicester and further afield on the Grand Union Canal. This railway, famous for it being the first commercial railway in the country, also boasted two railway inclines, at Bagworth and Swannington. Coal from the mines around Swannington, Coleorton and Peggs Green was railed to the foot of the Swannington incline where the wagons were hauled up the incline by rope using a stationery steam engine. The wagons were then hauled by locomotive through Coalville and on to the top of the Bagworth incline where full wagons were lowered down the Bagworth incline by a rope attached to empty wagons at the bottom. In this way the empty wagons from Leicester were hauled to the top for passage to Swannington.
Mining is a minor influence on the district now.
All underground mining has now ceased in the area. The largest underground mine at Snibston, almost in the centre of the Coalville town, is now the site of the Snibston Discovery Park, a museum and discovery centre for the area s industrial history. Coalville now forms the centre of a conurbation of previously separated villages including, Snibston, Swannington, Thringstone, Whitwick and Hugglescote . Ironically, since the mines closed, industrial and residential development has accelerated so quickly that Coalville s borders are now encroaching upon its neighbouring villages and will soon absorb the previously separate villages of Ellistown, Ibstock, Ravenstone and Bardon. However, the local residents scorned the name change preferring to maintain the district's identity and association with an industry and history which was to help shape the future of the world during the industrial revolution.