Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway
Encyclopedia
The Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway (MS&LR) was formed by amalgamation in 1847. The MS&LR changed its name to the Great Central Railway
in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension
.
with two proposed lines – the Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction Railway
and the Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction Railway
, with its headquarters at Manchester London Road. The Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway had opened between Manchester
and Sheffield
in 1845, but as early as 1844 the promoters of the Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction had approached the SA&MR with a view to the latter leasing it. The Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction had been promoted by the Grimsby Docks Company, actually the oldest company of the three. Until reaching south with its "Derbyshire Lines", the MS&LR was essentially an east-to-west Trans-Pennine line.
Before the formation of the MS&LR, the SA&MR had already absorbed a number of existing and proposed lines. Another important part of its operation was the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway
, promoted as its link to the Liverpool and Manchester Railway
, and which it owned and operated jointly with the Manchester and Birmingham Railway
; although both the MSJ&AR, the M&BR and the L&MR subsequently became part of the London and North Western Railway
.
and New Holland
and, later in the year, connecting to Market Rasen
and Lincoln
. Despite severe financial problems the whole line was completed during the next year, with the final link from Woodhouse Junction, near Sheffield, to Gainsborough being completed in 1849. On 16 July, a special train carried the directors from Liverpool
to Grimsby
.
Attention then turned towards a second bore for the Woodhead Tunnel
and further expansion. The MS&LR also owned three important canals, the Ashton Canal
, the Macclesfield Canal
and the Peak Forest Canal
, along with the Peak Forest Tramway
. Approval was granted for an extension of the Whaley Bridge
branch of the Peak Forest Canal from Bugsworth to the tramway, with the eventual aim of reaching Buxton
, although it was not proceeded with. In 1849 the first part of the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway
opened.
The M&SL had a good working relationship with the Great Northern
. The GG&SR's first line from Grimsby to New Holland and the latter's ferries had opened the same day as the GNR's first line, that from Grimsby
to Louth
. There was also a close association where the GNR crossed near Retford
, with the two sharing the station and the GNR granted running powers on S&LJR tracks into Sheffield. This gave the GNR access to Manchester and Liverpool, while it gave the MS&LR access to London. The MS&LR also a connection with the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
at Stalybridge
with which it shared the station.
and the LNWR
was showing that a dedicated and competent manager was essential, and the MS&LR appointed James Allport
who joined it on 1 January 1850. Among his other duties, he was charged with improving relations with the Midland and the LNWR. Thus the MS&LR became a partner in what was popularly known as the Euston Square Confederacy. However, while it gave a monopoly over the L&Y and Midland for traffic to Hull
it prohibited co-operation with the Great Northern, with whom relations became increasingly bitter.
In 1851 through carriages were introduced from Sheffield to London via the Midland and LNWR. In the same year the electric telegraph which had been used in the Woodhead Tunnel was extended across the network – and a contract was signed by "Messres. Smith and Son of London"
to sell books at the principal stations. In September, the new station at Sheffield
was opened, and the Great Exhibition in London ensured a successful year.
The second bore of the Woodhead Tunnel finally opened at the beginning of 1852.
The Company's main source of income lay with freight, especially coal. and a number of new short lines were built, along with a start on the long-awaited Barnsley
branch which, however, was not completed until 1855. However, Allport, possibly frustrated by the behaviour of some of the directors, accepted the post of General Manager of the Midland, and resigned in September.
took over in his place in 1854. He had been the assistant of Huish at the LNWR and he revealed that the latter, in spite of the Euston Square agreement, had been negotiating with the GNR for a territorial division between the two companies, to the detriment of the MS&LR – and the Midland. Relations between the MS&LR and the GNR improved as the restrictions placed on the latter's operations over the MS&LR lines were removed, and MS&LR became somewhat wary of the LNWR. In particular a number of new small lines were being built. Some would give the MS&LR an alternative path into Liverpool, while the proposed Stockport, Disley and Whaley Bridge Railway
, supported by the LNWR, would supplant its own plans for a line to Peak Forest and Buxton, which it had not been able to pursue. The LNWR still felt threatened however and placated the MS&LR by a series of mutual agreements.
However in 1855 there was another meeting at Euston Square. The Stockport to Whaley Bridge line
was virtually complete and the possibility of extending it to Buxton or Rowsley
was discussed. Both the MS&LR and the Midland proposed that no one of the three companies should proceed alone with any scheme, but the meeting ended with them more than a little suspicious of the LNWR. At this point legal action was taken against a common purse agreement which existed between the LNWR and the Midland. When it succeeded, the confederacy was virtually at an end, particularly when Huish renewed his territorial offer to the Great Northern. This the GNR refused, strengthening instead its ties with the MS&LR with its route into Manchester.
The MS&LR also cut all its ties with the LNWR, and the relationship became increasingly bitter, which came to a head in the matter of Manchester station. Previously the MS&LR, perennially short of money, had vacated their offices and booking facilities, the LNWR having agreed to operate them. Now the MS&LR wanted to return. Of the first two booking clerks to arrive, one was refused entry and the other ejected. For a while the LNWR were arresting MS&LR passengers as they arrived. By 1858, a price war was raging for both passengers and freight, that was alarming other railway companies. When, however, the co-operative agreement between the MS&LR and the GNR was ratified by Parliament, while it declared past private agreements with the LNWR as void, the stage was set for the peacemakers. At a meeting of nineteen different railway companies at the Railway Clearing House
most, if not all, of the disagreements were overcome. A meeting at Euston Square saw agreement between the GNR, the MS&LR and the LNWR on the matter of fares and handling of traffic, with disputes settled by arbitration. While the first two became closer however, they remained wary of the LNWR's intentions.
Nevertheless the MS&LR was still able to work with its aggressive neighbour, as with the construction of the Oldham, Ashton and Guide Bridge Railway
which was leased jointly with the LNWR in 1862. Meanwhile, in 1858, the MS&LR had opened a branch from Newton
to Hyde
and in 1859 an extension was proposed, the Marple, New Mills and Hayfield Railway. To prevent repercussions it was promoted as a private venture. In time it would prove to be an important part of Midland Railway
history. At the same time, private investors had floated the Cheshire Midland Railway
and the Stockport and Woodley Junction Railway. In spite of opposition from the LNWR, Watkin and his directors gave support and in 1860 another line was proposed – the Stockport, Timperley and Altrincham Junction Railway. The GNR, taking an interest, suggested resurrecting an earlier scheme for a line between Garston
and Liverpool, and became a partner in the last two, plus the West Cheshire, when they gained Parliamentary approval in 1861. This group of lines would become the Cheshire Lines Committee
.
of Canada. The MS&LR was on a verge of an association with the GNR and, possibly the LNWR, that would solve its financial problems. However an event during his absence put an end to his plans. The Midland Railway
were determined to find a path into Manchester. It was already building an extension to Buxton
from Rowsley
but the LNWR was proceeding into Buxton from the other direction. One day, it is said, some directors of the MS&LR met James Allport and others, while the latter were prospecing an alternative route. The upshot was that the MS&LR agreed to share their line from New Mills
with the Midland, the latter extending their line to meet it. This, which was later approved as the Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee
, threatened to cause a schism with the GNR. Clearly the MS&LR could not countenance another major line in their territory, but Watkin was incensed, and tendered his resignation.
Watkin remained a major shareholder and retained a seat on the board, taking an active role in many of the MS&LR's projects, such as the Cheshire Lines Committee. He had grand ambitions for the company: he had plans to transform it from a provincial middle-of-the-road railway company into a major national player.
In 1864 he resumed control when he was elected Chairman and was at once involved in proposing new lines and opposing others in the complex interactions of the railway companies of that time. In particular, both the MS&LR and the GNR were threatened for a while by the Great Eastern Northern Junction. This was supported at various times by the GER
and L&Y
and threatened to produce a competing main line to London. However among the advances were the lease of the South Yorkshire Railway
and progress with the Cheshire lines. In 1865, the Midland joined as a third partner. In 1866 the Midland began running from Rowsley through New Mills into Manchester London Road, and had at long last gained its path to London.
By 1870, Watkin had relinquished his position on the boards of the GWR
and the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada. However he had joined the board of the GER
and was Chairman of the South Eastern Railway
He was knighted in 1868 and made a baronet
in 1880.
. This latter ambition was never fulfilled completely. However, when Watkin became Chairman of the South Eastern Railway in the 1880s he was involved in the earliest attempt to construct it.
Demand for coal was rising dramatically through the latter half of the nineteenth century, and competition between the different railways was keen. The MS&L had access to the Yorkshire coalfields, but was dependent on the Great Northern to ship it to London. The latter was dependent on other lines for the traffic. The Midland had the advantage of both lines into the Derbyshire coalfields and its own path to London. In spite of attempts to arrange more favourable price agreements, the Yorkshire coal owners felt aggrieved and proposed the Coalowners' Associated (London) Railway, with the help of the MS&L and the Great Eastern. The bill was rejected, partly because it was not intended to carry passengers. Watkin was relieved, because, secretly, he hoped to negotiate running powers into London over the Great Northern's lines. In 1875 he became Chairman of the Metropolitan Railway
, having already relinquished his post on the Great Eastern. With his association with the South Eastern, it gave him a firm foothold in the capital.
However, in the short term, the demand for the MS&L's services had risen to the point where it was paralysed by the density of traffic and attention had be given to improving the existing infrastructure. The company as forced to invest heavily in extra sidings, relief tracks and station improvements. Throughout its history the MS&L had been the subject of merger proposals with other railways. In 1875, the LNWR and the Midland planned to absorb the North Staffordshire Railway
, and Watkin suggested to the Great Northern that their two companies might make a counter-offer. Both schemes fell through. However, in 1877, the Great Northern suggested that it, the Midland and the MS&LR should merge, the scheme foundering, to the annoyance of the MS&LR directors, on the conditions stiplulated by Watkin.
The Cheshire Lines Committee, too had been growing steadily and in 1874, it opened Liverpool Central station involving a tunnel, 1320 yards (1,207 m) long, and with a single arched trainshed 65 feet (20 m) high. In 1877 a temporary station was built at Manchester Central
, approached by a mile and a quarter long viaduct. The permanent station was opened in 1880, another single arch trainshed, built by Andrew Handyside
of Derby
and the Midland transferred to it, at first approaching via Stockport Tiviot Dale
, then later building a direct line from Chinley
.
Watkin became associated with the Submarine Continental Railway Company, an attempt to build a tunnel under the English Channel
, but in 1882, the Board of Trade
ordered it to cease work. His attention turned to the Humber. Trial borings were made by the MS&L at South Ferriby
, while the North Eastern Railway
had done the same at North Ferriby
. Permission was secured to investigate the Humber itself in 1883, and an estimate prepared. However, the imminent construction of the Hull and Barnsley Railway
made the project unlikely to be profitable.
Expansion of the network continued and in 1889 permission was granted for a line from Beighton
, where the MS&LR crossed the Midland, to Annesley
. This was the first step on the road to London.
Access to the coalfields of North Wales had been sought since 1861 by various lines, and in 1884, Watkin proposed the Chester & Connah's Quay Railway
. The major obstacle was the crossing of the River Dee
for which a swing bridge at Hawarden
was designed by Francis Fox. This allowed the MS&LR and the Wrexham, Mold and Connah's Quay Railway
to jointly launch the Welsh Railways Union Bill.
London Road. In 1889, Watkin wrote to the Great Northern soliciting its support for a line from Nottingham to the Metropolitan which, by that time, had extended to Aylesbury
, in co-operation, if need be, with the Midland and the LNWR. The following year the GNR declined and, in spite of its somewhat shaky finances, the MS&LR submitted the Bill for the extension in 1891. Watkin and his co-directors set out to gather support which came from a number of influential businessmen and councillors in the area it would serve.
Not surprisingly there was strong opposition from the Midland and the LNWR. Unexpected however, was the vociferous opposition of the artists in St. John's Wood and the cricketers of Lords
, all extremely influential in the public arena. An arrangement was agreed with the cricketers, but little would placate the artists who foresaw "a line for the conveyance not only of passengers, but of coal, manure, fish and other abominations." The opposition was led by the GNR and the Bill failed at its first stage.
The MS&LR came to various agreements with the GNR and support was gained, not only from the Metropolitan and the South Eastern, but various Sheffield manufacturers. Some of the London objectors was removed by the expedient of buying their houses. The following year the Bill was submitted again, and had reached the Lords when an election was called, thus Royal Assent was not obtained until March 1893.
In 1892 the Metropolitan had extended to Aylesbury, joining the Aylesbury and Buckingham line. The plan was to join the latter at Quainton Road. The line would leave the Metropolitan at St. John's Wood and proceed by a cut and cover tunnel under Lords Cricket Ground – hence the opposition from those quarters – to the new station at Marylebone
.
Watkin was now seventy four and, having virtually achieved his dream, succumbed to his deteriorating health and retired to his home in North Wales in 1894, resigning the chairmanship of his various companies.
At the time many people questioned the wisdom of building the line, as all the significant population centres which the line traversed were already served by other railway companies' lines.
When it was opened in 1897, the Company changed its name to the Great Central Railway
. At the same time the headquarters of the Railway was moved from Manchester to London (Marylebone).
Founding members in 1847
Co-owned by the SA&ML with the LNWR:
Later railways becoming part of the MS&LR:
The MS&LR, also had part ownership of the Cheshire Lines Committee
with the GNR and MidR and had direct access to Liverpool
, Chester
and Warrington
.
On 1 August 1897 the MS&LR assumed the title of the Great Central Railway
.
, Manchester, opened in 1849. They were known as "The Tank".
On the opposite side of the main line was the works of Beyer-Peacock
, and many of its locomotives were built there.
docks, in later days named "the largest fishing port in the world" (but also with a large trade in timber) became part of the Railway at its inception. It was opened in 1801, using the natural harbour. Once it became railway property, the MS&LR increased the facilities by starting to construct a New Dock covering 25 acres (10ha) in 1846; it was opened on 18 April 1852. Over the years more docks were added. At Hull the MS&L had a goods depot on Kingston Street, west of the southern end of the Humber Dock (now the Marina) and north of Albert Dock. Recently some of this area has been developed as an office complex, Humber 1 and 2
and Woodhead, with a stagecoach connection between. The two bores were driven through the Pennines
, a length of 3 miles 13.5 yards (4.81 km). The first tunnel boring began in the spring of 1839: it was opened for traffic 22 December 1845 and the stagecoach service terminated; the second began construction in the spring of 1847: and opened 2 February 1852. Its construction was originally deemed practically impossible, because of the engineering difficulties. See Woodhead Tunnel
and Woodhead Line
.
Great Central Railway
The Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...
in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension
Great Central Main Line
The Great Central Main Line , also known as the London Extension of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway , is a former railway line which opened in 1899 linking Sheffield with Marylebone Station in London via Nottingham and Leicester.The GCML was the last main line railway built in...
.
Origin
The MS&LR was formed by the amalgamation of the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester RailwaySheffield, Ashton-Under-Lyne and Manchester Railway
The Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway was an early British railway company which opened in stages between 1841 and 1845 between Sheffield and Manchester via Ashton-under-Lyne...
with two proposed lines – the Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction Railway
Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction Railway
The Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction Railway was an early British railway company which opened in 1849 between Sheffield and Gainsborough and Lincoln...
and the Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction Railway
Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction Railway
The Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction Railway was an early British railway company which existed between 1845 and 1847 with the intention of providing rail services between Grimsby, New Holland and Gainsborough in the county of Lincolnshire...
, with its headquarters at Manchester London Road. The Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway had opened between Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
in 1845, but as early as 1844 the promoters of the Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction had approached the SA&MR with a view to the latter leasing it. The Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction had been promoted by the Grimsby Docks Company, actually the oldest company of the three. Until reaching south with its "Derbyshire Lines", the MS&LR was essentially an east-to-west Trans-Pennine line.
Before the formation of the MS&LR, the SA&MR had already absorbed a number of existing and proposed lines. Another important part of its operation was the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway
Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway
The Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway was a suburban railway which operated a 13.7 km route between Altrincham in Cheshire and London Road Station in Manchester....
, promoted as its link to the Liverpool and Manchester Railway
Liverpool and Manchester Railway
The Liverpool and Manchester Railway was the world's first inter-city passenger railway in which all the trains were timetabled and were hauled for most of the distance solely by steam locomotives. The line opened on 15 September 1830 and ran between the cities of Liverpool and Manchester in North...
, and which it owned and operated jointly with the Manchester and Birmingham Railway
Manchester and Birmingham Railway
The Manchester and Birmingham Railway was built between Manchester and Crewe and opened in stages from 1840. Between Crewe and Birmingham, trains were worked by the Grand Junction Railway...
; although both the MSJ&AR, the M&BR and the L&MR subsequently became part of the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
.
History
The first board meeting of the amalgamated company took place on 6 January 1847. At this time only the SA&MR was open and running. During 1848, the GG&SJR succeeded in opening between GrimsbyGrimsby
Grimsby is a seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. It has been the administrative centre of the unitary authority area of North East Lincolnshire since 1996...
and New Holland
New Holland, North Lincolnshire
New Holland is a small village, civil parish and port on the Humber estuary in the Borough of North Lincolnshire in Lincolnshire, England. It has a population of 955.-History:...
and, later in the year, connecting to Market Rasen
Market Rasen
Market Rasen is a town and civil parish within the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. It lies on the River Rase northeast of Lincoln, east of Gainsborough and southwest of Grimsby. According to the 2001 census, it has a population of 3,200....
and Lincoln
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
. Despite severe financial problems the whole line was completed during the next year, with the final link from Woodhouse Junction, near Sheffield, to Gainsborough being completed in 1849. On 16 July, a special train carried the directors from Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
to Grimsby
Grimsby
Grimsby is a seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. It has been the administrative centre of the unitary authority area of North East Lincolnshire since 1996...
.
Attention then turned towards a second bore for the Woodhead Tunnel
Woodhead Tunnel
The Woodhead Tunnels are three parallel trans-Pennine 3-mile long railway tunnels on the Woodhead Line, a former major rail link from Manchester to Sheffield in northern England...
and further expansion. The MS&LR also owned three important canals, the Ashton Canal
Ashton Canal
The Ashton Canal is a canal built in Greater Manchester in North West England.-Route:The Ashton leaves the Rochdale Canal at Ducie St. Junction in central Manchester, and climbs for through 18 locks, passing through Ancoats, Holt Town, Bradford-with-Beswick, Clayton, Openshaw, Droylsden,...
, the Macclesfield Canal
Macclesfield Canal
The Macclesfield Canal is a canal in east Cheshire, England, one of the six that make up the Cheshire Ring.-Route:The canal runs from Marple Junction at Marple, where it joins the Upper Peak Forest Canal, , southwards , before arriving at Bosley.Having descended the 12 Bosley Locks over the course...
and the Peak Forest Canal
Peak Forest Canal
The Peak Forest Canal, is a narrow locked artificial waterway in northern England. It is long and forms part of the connected English/Welsh inland waterway network.-General description:...
, along with the Peak Forest Tramway
Peak Forest Tramway
The Peak Forest Tramway was an early horse- and gravity-powered industrial railway system in Derbyshire, England. Opened for trade on 31 August 1796, it remained in operation until the 1920s. Much of the route and the structures associated with the line remain...
. Approval was granted for an extension of the Whaley Bridge
Whaley Bridge
Whaley Bridge is a small town and civil parish in the High Peak district of Derbyshire, England, situated on the River Goyt. Whaley Bridge is approximately south of Manchester, north of Buxton , east of Macclesfield and west of Sheffield, and had a population of 6,226 at the 2001 census. This...
branch of the Peak Forest Canal from Bugsworth to the tramway, with the eventual aim of reaching Buxton
Buxton
Buxton is a spa town in Derbyshire, England. It has the highest elevation of any market town in England. Located close to the county boundary with Cheshire to the west and Staffordshire to the south, Buxton is described as "the gateway to the Peak District National Park"...
, although it was not proceeded with. In 1849 the first part of the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway
Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway
The Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway was a suburban railway which operated a 13.7 km route between Altrincham in Cheshire and London Road Station in Manchester....
opened.
The M&SL had a good working relationship with the Great Northern
Great Northern Railway (Great Britain)
The Great Northern Railway was a British railway company established by the Great Northern Railway Act of 1846. On 1 January 1923 the company lost its identity as a constituent of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway....
. The GG&SR's first line from Grimsby to New Holland and the latter's ferries had opened the same day as the GNR's first line, that from Grimsby
Grimsby
Grimsby is a seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. It has been the administrative centre of the unitary authority area of North East Lincolnshire since 1996...
to Louth
Louth, Lincolnshire
Louth is a market town and civil parish within the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England.-Geography:Known as the "capital of the Lincolnshire Wolds", it is situated where the ancient trackway Barton Street crosses the River Lud, and has a total resident population of 15,930.The Greenwich...
. There was also a close association where the GNR crossed near Retford
Retford railway station
Retford railway station serves the town of Retford in Nottinghamshire, England. and is 223 km north of London Kings Cross and 28 km south of Doncaster on the East Coast Main Line...
, with the two sharing the station and the GNR granted running powers on S&LJR tracks into Sheffield. This gave the GNR access to Manchester and Liverpool, while it gave the MS&LR access to London. The MS&LR also a connection with the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway was a major British railway company before the 1923 Grouping. It was incorporated in 1847 from an amalgamation of several existing railways...
at Stalybridge
Stalybridge railway station
Stalybridge railway station serves Stalybridge, Greater Manchester. It lies on the Huddersfield Line 12 km east of Manchester Piccadilly and 13 km east of Manchester Victoria. The station is managed by First TransPennine Express....
with which it shared the station.
Allport
The experience of other lines, notably the MidlandMidland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
and the LNWR
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
was showing that a dedicated and competent manager was essential, and the MS&LR appointed James Allport
James Joseph Allport
Sir James Joseph Allport , English railway manager, born in February 1811, was a son of William Allport, of Birmingham and was associated with railways from an early period of his life....
who joined it on 1 January 1850. Among his other duties, he was charged with improving relations with the Midland and the LNWR. Thus the MS&LR became a partner in what was popularly known as the Euston Square Confederacy. However, while it gave a monopoly over the L&Y and Midland for traffic to Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
it prohibited co-operation with the Great Northern, with whom relations became increasingly bitter.
In 1851 through carriages were introduced from Sheffield to London via the Midland and LNWR. In the same year the electric telegraph which had been used in the Woodhead Tunnel was extended across the network – and a contract was signed by "Messres. Smith and Son of London"
W H Smith
WHSmith plc is a British retailer, headquartered in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. It is best known for its chain of high street, railway station, airport, hospital and motorway service station shops selling books, stationery, magazines, newspapers, and entertainment products...
to sell books at the principal stations. In September, the new station at Sheffield
Sheffield Victoria Station
Sheffield Victoria was the main railway station in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England on the Great Central Railway, between Chesterfield and Penistone.-Early history:...
was opened, and the Great Exhibition in London ensured a successful year.
The second bore of the Woodhead Tunnel finally opened at the beginning of 1852.
The Company's main source of income lay with freight, especially coal. and a number of new short lines were built, along with a start on the long-awaited Barnsley
Barnsley
Barnsley is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Dearne, north of the city of Sheffield, south of Leeds and west of Doncaster. Barnsley is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, of which Barnsley is the largest and...
branch which, however, was not completed until 1855. However, Allport, possibly frustrated by the behaviour of some of the directors, accepted the post of General Manager of the Midland, and resigned in September.
Watkin
Edward WatkinEdward Watkin
Sir Edward William Watkin, 1st Baronet was an English railway chairman and politician.- Biography :Watkin was born in Salford, Lancashire, the son of a wealthy cotton merchant, Absalom Watkin who was noted for his involvement in the Anti-corn Law League.After a private education, he returned to...
took over in his place in 1854. He had been the assistant of Huish at the LNWR and he revealed that the latter, in spite of the Euston Square agreement, had been negotiating with the GNR for a territorial division between the two companies, to the detriment of the MS&LR – and the Midland. Relations between the MS&LR and the GNR improved as the restrictions placed on the latter's operations over the MS&LR lines were removed, and MS&LR became somewhat wary of the LNWR. In particular a number of new small lines were being built. Some would give the MS&LR an alternative path into Liverpool, while the proposed Stockport, Disley and Whaley Bridge Railway
Stockport, Disley and Whaley Bridge Railway
The Stockport, Disley and Whaley Bridge Railway was an early railway company in England which was opened in 1857 between Stockport Edgeley and Whaley Bridge.- Origins :...
, supported by the LNWR, would supplant its own plans for a line to Peak Forest and Buxton, which it had not been able to pursue. The LNWR still felt threatened however and placated the MS&LR by a series of mutual agreements.
However in 1855 there was another meeting at Euston Square. The Stockport to Whaley Bridge line
Stockport, Disley and Whaley Bridge Railway
The Stockport, Disley and Whaley Bridge Railway was an early railway company in England which was opened in 1857 between Stockport Edgeley and Whaley Bridge.- Origins :...
was virtually complete and the possibility of extending it to Buxton or Rowsley
Rowsley
Rowsley is a village on the A6 road in the English county of Derbyshire.It is at the point where the River Wye flows into the River Derwent and prospered from mills on both.-Overview:...
was discussed. Both the MS&LR and the Midland proposed that no one of the three companies should proceed alone with any scheme, but the meeting ended with them more than a little suspicious of the LNWR. At this point legal action was taken against a common purse agreement which existed between the LNWR and the Midland. When it succeeded, the confederacy was virtually at an end, particularly when Huish renewed his territorial offer to the Great Northern. This the GNR refused, strengthening instead its ties with the MS&LR with its route into Manchester.
The MS&LR also cut all its ties with the LNWR, and the relationship became increasingly bitter, which came to a head in the matter of Manchester station. Previously the MS&LR, perennially short of money, had vacated their offices and booking facilities, the LNWR having agreed to operate them. Now the MS&LR wanted to return. Of the first two booking clerks to arrive, one was refused entry and the other ejected. For a while the LNWR were arresting MS&LR passengers as they arrived. By 1858, a price war was raging for both passengers and freight, that was alarming other railway companies. When, however, the co-operative agreement between the MS&LR and the GNR was ratified by Parliament, while it declared past private agreements with the LNWR as void, the stage was set for the peacemakers. At a meeting of nineteen different railway companies at the Railway Clearing House
Railway Clearing House
The British Railway Clearing House was an organisation set up to manage the allocation of revenue collected by numerous pre-grouping railway companies...
most, if not all, of the disagreements were overcome. A meeting at Euston Square saw agreement between the GNR, the MS&LR and the LNWR on the matter of fares and handling of traffic, with disputes settled by arbitration. While the first two became closer however, they remained wary of the LNWR's intentions.
Nevertheless the MS&LR was still able to work with its aggressive neighbour, as with the construction of the Oldham, Ashton and Guide Bridge Railway
Oldham, Ashton and Guide Bridge Railway
The Oldham, Ashton and Guide Bridge Junction Railway was an early British railway company, which opened in 1861, connecting Oldham, Ashton and Guide Bridge.-Plans:...
which was leased jointly with the LNWR in 1862. Meanwhile, in 1858, the MS&LR had opened a branch from Newton
Newton, Greater Manchester
Newton is an area of Hyde, in Tameside, Greater Manchester, England. Originally a separate district in Cheshire, it was incorporated into Hyde in the 1930s, and occupies a narrow strip of land from the River Tame near Newton Hall to Matley, and lies between Hyde and Dukinfield.Newton can be divided...
to Hyde
Hyde, Greater Manchester
Hyde is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, Greater Manchester, England. As of the 2001 census, the town had a population of 31,253. Historically part of Cheshire, it is northeast of Stockport, west of Glossop and east of Manchester....
and in 1859 an extension was proposed, the Marple, New Mills and Hayfield Railway. To prevent repercussions it was promoted as a private venture. In time it would prove to be an important part of Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
history. At the same time, private investors had floated the Cheshire Midland Railway
Cheshire Midland Railway
An act was passed on 14 June 1860 to build a railway from Altrincham on the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway to Northwich. The line would be 12 miles 65 chains in length...
and the Stockport and Woodley Junction Railway. In spite of opposition from the LNWR, Watkin and his directors gave support and in 1860 another line was proposed – the Stockport, Timperley and Altrincham Junction Railway. The GNR, taking an interest, suggested resurrecting an earlier scheme for a line between Garston
Garston, Merseyside
Garston is a district of Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is bordered by Aigburth, Allerton, and Speke.-History:Gaerstun, meaning 'grazing settlement' or 'grazing farm' in Old English, is one possible root of the name....
and Liverpool, and became a partner in the last two, plus the West Cheshire, when they gained Parliamentary approval in 1861. This group of lines would become the Cheshire Lines Committee
Cheshire Lines Committee
The Cheshire Lines Committee was the second largest joint railway in Great Britain, with 143 route miles. Despite its name, approximately 55% of its system was in Lancashire. In its publicity material it was often styled as the Cheshire Lines Railway...
.
Watkin resigns and returns
Watkin had interests in railways outside the MS&LR and, being granted three months leave of absence to recover his health, agreed to examine the affairs of the Grand Trunk RailwayGrand Trunk Railway
The Grand Trunk Railway was a railway system which operated in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, as well as the American states of Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The railway was operated from headquarters in Montreal, Quebec; however, corporate...
of Canada. The MS&LR was on a verge of an association with the GNR and, possibly the LNWR, that would solve its financial problems. However an event during his absence put an end to his plans. The Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
were determined to find a path into Manchester. It was already building an extension to Buxton
Buxton
Buxton is a spa town in Derbyshire, England. It has the highest elevation of any market town in England. Located close to the county boundary with Cheshire to the west and Staffordshire to the south, Buxton is described as "the gateway to the Peak District National Park"...
from Rowsley
Rowsley
Rowsley is a village on the A6 road in the English county of Derbyshire.It is at the point where the River Wye flows into the River Derwent and prospered from mills on both.-Overview:...
but the LNWR was proceeding into Buxton from the other direction. One day, it is said, some directors of the MS&LR met James Allport and others, while the latter were prospecing an alternative route. The upshot was that the MS&LR agreed to share their line from New Mills
New Mills Central railway station
New Mills Central railway station serves the town of New Mills in Derbyshire, England. It is on the Hope Valley Line between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield...
with the Midland, the latter extending their line to meet it. This, which was later approved as the Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee
Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee
The Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee was incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1869 as a joint venture between the Midland Railway and the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway.-Origins:...
, threatened to cause a schism with the GNR. Clearly the MS&LR could not countenance another major line in their territory, but Watkin was incensed, and tendered his resignation.
Watkin remained a major shareholder and retained a seat on the board, taking an active role in many of the MS&LR's projects, such as the Cheshire Lines Committee. He had grand ambitions for the company: he had plans to transform it from a provincial middle-of-the-road railway company into a major national player.
In 1864 he resumed control when he was elected Chairman and was at once involved in proposing new lines and opposing others in the complex interactions of the railway companies of that time. In particular, both the MS&LR and the GNR were threatened for a while by the Great Eastern Northern Junction. This was supported at various times by the GER
Great Eastern Railway
The Great Eastern Railway was a pre-grouping British railway company, whose main line linked London Liverpool Street to Norwich and which had other lines through East Anglia...
and L&Y
Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway was a major British railway company before the 1923 Grouping. It was incorporated in 1847 from an amalgamation of several existing railways...
and threatened to produce a competing main line to London. However among the advances were the lease of the South Yorkshire Railway
South Yorkshire Railway
The South Yorkshire Railway was a railway company which was based in the south of the former West Riding of Yorkshire, England. Its first section of line opened on 10 November 1849 between Swinton Junction and Doncaster...
and progress with the Cheshire lines. In 1865, the Midland joined as a third partner. In 1866 the Midland began running from Rowsley through New Mills into Manchester London Road, and had at long last gained its path to London.
By 1870, Watkin had relinquished his position on the boards of the GWR
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
and the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada. However he had joined the board of the GER
Great Eastern Railway
The Great Eastern Railway was a pre-grouping British railway company, whose main line linked London Liverpool Street to Norwich and which had other lines through East Anglia...
and was Chairman of the South Eastern Railway
South Eastern Railway (UK)
The South Eastern Railway was a railway company in south-eastern England from 1836 until 1922. The company was formed to construct a route from London to Dover. Branch lines were later opened to Tunbridge Wells, Hastings, Canterbury and other places in Kent...
He was knighted in 1868 and made a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in 1880.
Continued growth
Watkin was a visionary who wanted to build a new railway line that would not only link his network to London, but which one day would be expanded and link to a future Channel TunnelChannel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel is a undersea rail tunnel linking Folkestone, Kent in the United Kingdom with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais near Calais in northern France beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. At its lowest point, it is deep...
. This latter ambition was never fulfilled completely. However, when Watkin became Chairman of the South Eastern Railway in the 1880s he was involved in the earliest attempt to construct it.
Demand for coal was rising dramatically through the latter half of the nineteenth century, and competition between the different railways was keen. The MS&L had access to the Yorkshire coalfields, but was dependent on the Great Northern to ship it to London. The latter was dependent on other lines for the traffic. The Midland had the advantage of both lines into the Derbyshire coalfields and its own path to London. In spite of attempts to arrange more favourable price agreements, the Yorkshire coal owners felt aggrieved and proposed the Coalowners' Associated (London) Railway, with the help of the MS&L and the Great Eastern. The bill was rejected, partly because it was not intended to carry passengers. Watkin was relieved, because, secretly, he hoped to negotiate running powers into London over the Great Northern's lines. In 1875 he became Chairman of the Metropolitan Railway
Metropolitan railway
Metropolitan Railway can refer to:* Metropolitan line, part of the London Underground* Metropolitan Railway, the first underground railway to be built in London...
, having already relinquished his post on the Great Eastern. With his association with the South Eastern, it gave him a firm foothold in the capital.
However, in the short term, the demand for the MS&L's services had risen to the point where it was paralysed by the density of traffic and attention had be given to improving the existing infrastructure. The company as forced to invest heavily in extra sidings, relief tracks and station improvements. Throughout its history the MS&L had been the subject of merger proposals with other railways. In 1875, the LNWR and the Midland planned to absorb the North Staffordshire Railway
North Staffordshire Railway
The North Staffordshire Railway was a British railway company formed in 1845 to promote a number of lines in the Staffordshire Potteries and surrounding areas in Staffordshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Shropshire....
, and Watkin suggested to the Great Northern that their two companies might make a counter-offer. Both schemes fell through. However, in 1877, the Great Northern suggested that it, the Midland and the MS&LR should merge, the scheme foundering, to the annoyance of the MS&LR directors, on the conditions stiplulated by Watkin.
The Cheshire Lines Committee, too had been growing steadily and in 1874, it opened Liverpool Central station involving a tunnel, 1320 yards (1,207 m) long, and with a single arched trainshed 65 feet (20 m) high. In 1877 a temporary station was built at Manchester Central
Manchester Central railway station
Manchester Central railway station is a former railway station in Manchester City Centre, England. One of Manchester's main railway terminals between 1880 and 1969, it now houses an exhibition and conference centre named Manchester Central.-History:...
, approached by a mile and a quarter long viaduct. The permanent station was opened in 1880, another single arch trainshed, built by Andrew Handyside
Andrew Handyside
Andrew Handyside and Company was an iron founder in Derby, England in the nineteenth century.-Biography:Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1805, Handyside worked in his uncle Charles Baird's engineering business in St. Petersburg before taking over the Brittania Foundry in 1848...
of Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
and the Midland transferred to it, at first approaching via Stockport Tiviot Dale
Stockport Tiviot Dale railway station
Stockport Tiviot Dale was one of two main railway stations serving the town of Stockport, Cheshire, England, the other being Stockport Edgeley .-Location and operating companies:...
, then later building a direct line from Chinley
Chinley railway station
Chinley railway station serves the village of Chinley in Derbyshire. The station is 28 km south east of Manchester Piccadilly....
.
Watkin became associated with the Submarine Continental Railway Company, an attempt to build a tunnel under the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
, but in 1882, the Board of Trade
Board of Trade
The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...
ordered it to cease work. His attention turned to the Humber. Trial borings were made by the MS&L at South Ferriby
South Ferriby
South Ferriby is a village in North Lincolnshire, England situated on the south bank of the Humber Estuary 5 km west of the Humber Bridge and directly opposite North Ferriby on the Estuary’s north bank. It currently has a population of around 600 people.-History:It dates back at least to Roman...
, while the North Eastern Railway
North Eastern Railway (UK)
The North Eastern Railway , was an English railway company. It was incorporated in 1854, when four existing companies were combined, and was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923...
had done the same at North Ferriby
North Ferriby
North Ferriby is a village and civil parish in the Haltemprice area of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.-Geography:It is situated on the north bank of the Humber Estuary, approximately to the west of Hull city centre. To the north, atop a hill, lies Swanland via the B1231. South Ferriby is...
. Permission was secured to investigate the Humber itself in 1883, and an estimate prepared. However, the imminent construction of the Hull and Barnsley Railway
Hull and Barnsley Railway
The Hull Barnsley & West Riding Junction Railway and Dock Company was opened on 20 July 1885. It had a total projected length of 66 miles but never reached Barnsley, stopping a few miles short at Stairfoot. The name was changed to The Hull and Barnsley Railway in 1905...
made the project unlikely to be profitable.
Expansion of the network continued and in 1889 permission was granted for a line from Beighton
Beighton railway station
Beighton railway station lies where the line of the Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction Railway crosses Rotherham Road. It was built to serve the village of Beighton, at the time within Derbyshire but following changes in boundaries now within the City of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England.The...
, where the MS&LR crossed the Midland, to Annesley
Annesley
Annesley is a village and civil parish in the District of Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, England, located between Hucknall and Kirkby-in-Ashfield. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 1,096. Nearby to the west is Annesley Woodhouse...
. This was the first step on the road to London.
Access to the coalfields of North Wales had been sought since 1861 by various lines, and in 1884, Watkin proposed the Chester & Connah's Quay Railway
Chester & Connah's Quay Railway
The Chester & Connah's Quay Railway ran from Chester Northgate in Chester, Cheshire, England to Shotton, Flintshire, Wales.It was built by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway and was opened on 31 March 1890.At Dee Marsh Junction it connected with the North Wales and Liverpool Railway...
. The major obstacle was the crossing of the River Dee
River Dee, Wales
The River Dee is a long river in the United Kingdom. It travels through Wales and England and also forms part of the border between the two countries....
for which a swing bridge at Hawarden
Hawarden Bridge
Hawarden Bridge is a railway bridge over the River Dee, near to Shotton, Flintshire, Wales. It was built by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway , as part of the Chester & Connah's Quay Railway...
was designed by Francis Fox. This allowed the MS&LR and the Wrexham, Mold and Connah's Quay Railway
Wrexham, Mold and Connah's Quay Railway
The Wrexham, Mold and Connah's Quay Railway was incorporated on 7 August 1862 to build a line from Wrexham to Buckley.-Overview:The Buckley Railway had already been incorporated on 14 June 1860 to build a line from that town to a junction with the London and North Western Railway Chester-Holyhead...
to jointly launch the Welsh Railways Union Bill.
Towards London
By the 1890s construction of the company's so-called "Derbyshire Lines" had continued, including a station at Chesterfield, and trains via Annesley running into the GNR's NottinghamNottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
London Road. In 1889, Watkin wrote to the Great Northern soliciting its support for a line from Nottingham to the Metropolitan which, by that time, had extended to Aylesbury
Aylesbury
Aylesbury is the county town of Buckinghamshire in South East England. However the town also falls into a geographical region known as the South Midlands an area that ecompasses the north of the South East, and the southern extremities of the East Midlands...
, in co-operation, if need be, with the Midland and the LNWR. The following year the GNR declined and, in spite of its somewhat shaky finances, the MS&LR submitted the Bill for the extension in 1891. Watkin and his co-directors set out to gather support which came from a number of influential businessmen and councillors in the area it would serve.
Not surprisingly there was strong opposition from the Midland and the LNWR. Unexpected however, was the vociferous opposition of the artists in St. John's Wood and the cricketers of Lords
Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
, all extremely influential in the public arena. An arrangement was agreed with the cricketers, but little would placate the artists who foresaw "a line for the conveyance not only of passengers, but of coal, manure, fish and other abominations." The opposition was led by the GNR and the Bill failed at its first stage.
The MS&LR came to various agreements with the GNR and support was gained, not only from the Metropolitan and the South Eastern, but various Sheffield manufacturers. Some of the London objectors was removed by the expedient of buying their houses. The following year the Bill was submitted again, and had reached the Lords when an election was called, thus Royal Assent was not obtained until March 1893.
In 1892 the Metropolitan had extended to Aylesbury, joining the Aylesbury and Buckingham line. The plan was to join the latter at Quainton Road. The line would leave the Metropolitan at St. John's Wood and proceed by a cut and cover tunnel under Lords Cricket Ground – hence the opposition from those quarters – to the new station at Marylebone
Marylebone
Marylebone is an affluent inner-city area of central London, located within the City of Westminster. It is sometimes written as St. Marylebone or Mary-le-bone....
.
Watkin was now seventy four and, having virtually achieved his dream, succumbed to his deteriorating health and retired to his home in North Wales in 1894, resigning the chairmanship of his various companies.
At the time many people questioned the wisdom of building the line, as all the significant population centres which the line traversed were already served by other railway companies' lines.
When it was opened in 1897, the Company changed its name to the Great Central Railway
Great Central Railway
The Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...
. At the same time the headquarters of the Railway was moved from Manchester to London (Marylebone).
The MS&LR constituent railways
The system gradually built up over the years, as shown (including dates of opening):Founding members in 1847
- Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester RailwaySheffield, Ashton-Under-Lyne and Manchester RailwayThe Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway was an early British railway company which opened in stages between 1841 and 1845 between Sheffield and Manchester via Ashton-under-Lyne...
(1837) - Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction RailwayGreat Grimsby and Sheffield Junction RailwayThe Great Grimsby and Sheffield Junction Railway was an early British railway company which existed between 1845 and 1847 with the intention of providing rail services between Grimsby, New Holland and Gainsborough in the county of Lincolnshire...
(1845)
- :Including the Grimsby Docks Company
- Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction RailwaySheffield and Lincolnshire Junction RailwayThe Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction Railway was an early British railway company which opened in 1849 between Sheffield and Gainsborough and Lincoln...
(1846)
- Including the Sheffield and Lincolnshire Extension Railway (1846) and the
- Manchester and Lincoln Union Railway (and Chesterfield & Gainsborough Canal Co) (1845)
- Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction Railway
Co-owned by the SA&ML with the LNWR:
- 1846 Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham RailwayManchester, South Junction and Altrincham RailwayThe Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway was a suburban railway which operated a 13.7 km route between Altrincham in Cheshire and London Road Station in Manchester....
(1845)
Later railways becoming part of the MS&LR:
- 1861: Oldham, Ashton and Guide Bridge RailwayOldham, Ashton and Guide Bridge RailwayThe Oldham, Ashton and Guide Bridge Junction Railway was an early British railway company, which opened in 1861, connecting Oldham, Ashton and Guide Bridge.-Plans:...
(Jointly with the LNWR) - 1864: South Yorkshire RailwaySouth Yorkshire RailwayThe South Yorkshire Railway was a railway company which was based in the south of the former West Riding of Yorkshire, England. Its first section of line opened on 10 November 1849 between Swinton Junction and Doncaster...
also referred to, following take over, as South Yorkshire Railway and River Dun Navigation Company (1849) - 1865:
- Stockport & Woodley Junction Railway (1860)
- Stockport, Timperley and Altrincham Junction Railway (1861) (jointly with Great Northern RailwayGreat Northern Railway (Great Britain)The Great Northern Railway was a British railway company established by the Great Northern Railway Act of 1846. On 1 January 1923 the company lost its identity as a constituent of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway....
(GNR) - West Cheshire Railway (1861) (jointly with GNR)
- 1866: West Riding and Grimsby Joint Railway(1862) (jointly with GNR)
- 1869: Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' CommitteeSheffield and Midland Railway Companies' CommitteeThe Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee was incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1869 as a joint venture between the Midland Railway and the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway.-Origins:...
(Jointly with the Midland) - 1871: Macclesfield, Bollington and Marple RailwayMacclesfield, Bollington and Marple RailwayThe Macclesfield, Bollington and Marple Railway was a railway line, 16 km long, linking Macclesfield with Marple in east Cheshire, England, opened in 1869 by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway and the North Staffordshire Railway , as a part of an alternative link between...
(jointly with the North Staffordshire RailwayNorth Staffordshire RailwayThe North Staffordshire Railway was a British railway company formed in 1845 to promote a number of lines in the Staffordshire Potteries and surrounding areas in Staffordshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Shropshire....
) - 1875: Widnes Railway (1853) (jointly with Midland RailwayMidland RailwayThe Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
(MidR) - 1882: Trent, Ancholme and Grimsby Railway (1861)
- 1890: Chester & Connah's Quay RailwayChester & Connah's Quay RailwayThe Chester & Connah's Quay Railway ran from Chester Northgate in Chester, Cheshire, England to Shotton, Flintshire, Wales.It was built by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway and was opened on 31 March 1890.At Dee Marsh Junction it connected with the North Wales and Liverpool Railway...
.
The MS&LR, also had part ownership of the Cheshire Lines Committee
Cheshire Lines Committee
The Cheshire Lines Committee was the second largest joint railway in Great Britain, with 143 route miles. Despite its name, approximately 55% of its system was in Lancashire. In its publicity material it was often styled as the Cheshire Lines Railway...
with the GNR and MidR and had direct access to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
and Warrington
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
.
On 1 August 1897 the MS&LR assumed the title of the Great Central Railway
Great Central Railway
The Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...
.
Locomotive Works
The locomotive works was situated at GortonGorton locomotive works
Gorton Locomotive Works, known locally as Gorton Tank was located in Openshaw near Manchester, England and was completed in 1848 by the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway.- History :...
, Manchester, opened in 1849. They were known as "The Tank".
On the opposite side of the main line was the works of Beyer-Peacock
Beyer-Peacock
Beyer, Peacock and Company was an English railway Locomotive manufacturer with a factory in Gorton, Manchester. Founded by Charles Beyer and Richard Peacock, it traded from 1854 until 1966...
, and many of its locomotives were built there.
Locomotive Engineers
- 1846–1854 Richard PeacockRichard PeacockRichard Peacock was an English engineer, one of the founders of locomotive manufacturer Beyer-Peacock.-Early life and education:...
- 1854–1859 W. G. CraigW. G. CraigWilliam Grindley Craig was chief mechanical engineer of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway from 1854-1859.He was present, as an expert witness, at an enquiry into "The Railway Catastrophe Near Dudley" in 1858 ....
- 1859–1886 Charles R SacreCharles SacreCharles Reboul Sacré was an English engineer, Engineer and Superintendent of the Locomotive and Stores Department of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway. Samuel Waite Johnson was his assistant between 1859 and 1864...
- 1886–1893 Thomas ParkerThomas Parker (engineer)Thomas Parker was chief mechanical engineer of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway from 1886-1893.He was Carriage and Wagon Superintendent at the railway's Gorton works from 1858 and then replaced Charles Reboul Sacre who resigned in 1886...
- 1893–1897 Harry PollittHarry Pollitt (engineer)Harry Pollitt was Locomotive Engineer of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway from 1894–1897 and its successor, the Great Central Railway, from 1897-1900.-Biography:Pollitt was born on 26 December 1864 at Ashton-under-Lyne...
(served the GCR until 1900)
MS&LR locomotives
- Class D5 4-4-0 1894–1897 six of the class were built
- Class D7 4-4-0 1887–1894 operated the MS&LR express trains, Manchester to London (Kings' Cross, via Retford and G.N.R. line)
- Class D8 4-4-0 1888
- Class E2 2-4-0 1888 3 built for the Manchester-Grantham expresses
- Class F1 2-4-2T 1889–1893 39 built
- Class F2 2-4-2T 10 built
- Class J8 0-6-0
- Class J9 0-6-0
- Class J10 0-6-0
- Class J62 0-6-0ST 1897
Principal railway stations
- Manchester CentralManchester Central railway stationManchester Central railway station is a former railway station in Manchester City Centre, England. One of Manchester's main railway terminals between 1880 and 1969, it now houses an exhibition and conference centre named Manchester Central.-History:...
- Sheffield Victoria
- Grimsby TownGrimsby Town railway stationGrimsby Town railway station serves the town of Grimsby in North East Lincolnshire, England. It is currently operated by First TransPennine Express, and is also served by Northern Rail and East Midlands Trains...
Docks
GrimsbyGrimsby
Grimsby is a seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. It has been the administrative centre of the unitary authority area of North East Lincolnshire since 1996...
docks, in later days named "the largest fishing port in the world" (but also with a large trade in timber) became part of the Railway at its inception. It was opened in 1801, using the natural harbour. Once it became railway property, the MS&LR increased the facilities by starting to construct a New Dock covering 25 acres (10ha) in 1846; it was opened on 18 April 1852. Over the years more docks were added. At Hull the MS&L had a goods depot on Kingston Street, west of the southern end of the Humber Dock (now the Marina) and north of Albert Dock. Recently some of this area has been developed as an office complex, Humber 1 and 2
Woodhead Tunnels
At the opening of the line the first tunnel was incomplete and trains ran to stations either side, Dunford BridgeDunford Bridge railway station
Dunford Bridge railway station was a railway station on the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway situated immediately east of the Woodhead Tunnel, west of Penistone, within the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England....
and Woodhead, with a stagecoach connection between. The two bores were driven through the Pennines
Pennines
The Pennines are a low-rising mountain range, separating the North West of England from Yorkshire and the North East.Often described as the "backbone of England", they form a more-or-less continuous range stretching from the Peak District in Derbyshire, around the northern and eastern edges of...
, a length of 3 miles 13.5 yards (4.81 km). The first tunnel boring began in the spring of 1839: it was opened for traffic 22 December 1845 and the stagecoach service terminated; the second began construction in the spring of 1847: and opened 2 February 1852. Its construction was originally deemed practically impossible, because of the engineering difficulties. See Woodhead Tunnel
Woodhead Tunnel
The Woodhead Tunnels are three parallel trans-Pennine 3-mile long railway tunnels on the Woodhead Line, a former major rail link from Manchester to Sheffield in northern England...
and Woodhead Line
Woodhead Line
The Woodhead Line was a railway line linking Sheffield, Penistone and Manchester in the north of England. A key feature of the route is the passage under the high moorlands of the northern Peak District through the Woodhead Tunnels...
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See also
- Cheshire Lines CommitteeCheshire Lines CommitteeThe Cheshire Lines Committee was the second largest joint railway in Great Britain, with 143 route miles. Despite its name, approximately 55% of its system was in Lancashire. In its publicity material it was often styled as the Cheshire Lines Railway...
- Chester & Connah's Quay RailwayChester & Connah's Quay RailwayThe Chester & Connah's Quay Railway ran from Chester Northgate in Chester, Cheshire, England to Shotton, Flintshire, Wales.It was built by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway and was opened on 31 March 1890.At Dee Marsh Junction it connected with the North Wales and Liverpool Railway...
- Wrexham, Mold and Connah's Quay RailwayWrexham, Mold and Connah's Quay RailwayThe Wrexham, Mold and Connah's Quay Railway was incorporated on 7 August 1862 to build a line from Wrexham to Buckley.-Overview:The Buckley Railway had already been incorporated on 14 June 1860 to build a line from that town to a junction with the London and North Western Railway Chester-Holyhead...
- Borderlands LineBorderlands LineThe Borderlands Line is the railway line between Wrexham, Wales, and Bidston, Wirral, England.Passenger train services are operated by Arriva Trains Wales between Wrexham Central and Bidston. Trains run every hour Monday to Saturday daytime, every two hours after 18:45 and on Sundays...