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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. The Great Central Railway ( GCR) was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed History In 1864 Sir Edward Watkin took over directorship of the Manchester Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway.

Contents

Origin

The MS&LR was formed by the amalgamation of the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway 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 was an early British railway company which opened in stages between 1841 and 1845 between Sheffield and The Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction Railway was an early British railway company which opened in 1849 between Sheffield and Gainsborough and Lincoln The Great Grimsby & Sheffield Junction Railway was an early British railway company which opened between 1848 and 1849 between Grimsby and Gainsborough Manchester Piccadilly station, known locally as just Piccadilly, is the principal railway station of Manchester in England. 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. Sheffield ( is a city and Metropolitan borough in South Yorkshire, England 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 London and Birmingham Railway; although both the MSJ&AR and the L&MR subsequently became part of the London and North Western Railway. The Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway (MSJ&AR was a suburban railway which operated a 13 The Liverpool and Manchester Railway (L&MR was the world's first inter-city passenger Railway in which all the trains were timetabled and were hauled for most of the distance This is about the 19th century railway company For the 21st century train operating company see London Midland The London and Birmingham Railway The London and North Western Railway (LNWR L&NWR was a Railway company of the United Kingdom which existed between 1846 and 1922

History

The first board meeting of the amalgamated company took place on 6 January 1847. Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King Year 1847 ( MDCCCXLVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common At this time only the SA&MR was open and running. During 1848, the GG&SJR succeeded in opening between Grimsby and New Holland and, later in the year, connecting to Market Rasen and Lincoln. Grimsby (or archaically Great Grimsby) is a Seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. New Holland is a small village and Port on the Humber estuary in North Lincolnshire, England. Market Rasen is a town and Civil parish within the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. Lincoln (ˈlɪŋkən is a Cathedral city and County town of Lincolnshire, England. 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. Liverpool ( is a City and Metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary Grimsby (or archaically Great Grimsby) is a Seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England.

Attention then turned towards a second bore for the Woodhead Tunnel and further expansion. The Woodhead Tunnels are three trans-Pennine railway tunnels which formerly carried a major rail link (usually known as the Woodhead Route) from Manchester 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. The Ashton Canal is a Canal built in Greater Manchester in Northern England. The Macclesfield Canal is a Canal in east Cheshire, England. Route The canal runs from Marple Junction at Marple The Peak Forest Canal, is a narrow (7 ft -locked artificial waterway in northern England. The Peak Forest Tramway was originally planned to be about four miles (6 km long from Chapel Milton to Dove Holes, both in Derbyshire. 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. Whaley Bridge is a small town and Civil parish in the High Peak district of Derbyshire, England, situated on the River Goyt. Buxworth is a village in the High Peak of Derbyshire, England. Buxton is a Spa town in Derbyshire, England. Located close to the county boundary with Cheshire to the west and Staffordshire to the south In 1849 the first part of the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway opened. The Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway (MSJ&AR was a suburban railway which operated a 13

The M&SL had a good working relationship with the Great Northern. The Great Northern Railway (GNR was a British railway company established by the London & York Railway Act of 1846 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. Grimsby (or archaically Great Grimsby) is a Seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. Louth is the name of several locations around the world County Louth, Ireland the village of Louth in County 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. Retford railway station serves the town of Retford in Nottinghamshire, England. This gave the GNR access to Manchester and Liverpool, while it gave the MS&LR access to London. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The MS&LR also a connection with the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway at Stalybridge with which it shared the station. The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR was a major British railway company before the 1923 Grouping. Stalybridge railway station serves Stalybridge, Greater Manchester.

Allport

The experience of other lines, notably the Midland 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. The Midland Railway (MR was a Railway company in the United Kingdom, which existed from 1844 to 1922 when it became part of the London Midland and Scottish The London and North Western Railway (LNWR L&NWR was a Railway company of the United Kingdom which existed between 1846 and 1922 Sir James Joseph Allport (1811-1892 English Railway manager born in February 1811 was a son of William Allport, of Birmingham and was associated with New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC For the game see 1850 (board game. 1850 ( MDCCCL) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link 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. Kingston upon Hull ( almost invariably referred

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. This article is about the retail chain for people of that name see William Henry Smith. In September, the new station at Sheffield was opened, and the Great Exhibition in London ensured a successful year. Sheffield Victoria was the main Sheffield Railway station on the Great Central Railway, between Chesterfield and Penistone. The Great Exhibition, also known as Crystal Palace, was an international exhibition that was held in Hyde Park, London, England, from 1

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. Barnsley is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Dearne, north of the city of Sheffield, and west of Doncaster 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 Watkin took over in his place in 1854. Sir Edward William Watkin ( 26 September 1819 - 13 April 1901) was a Victorian Railway chairman and politician 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. Rowsley is a village on the A6 road in the English county of Derbyshire. 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 it 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. The British Railway Clearing House (RCH was an organisation set up to manage the allocation of revenue collected by numerous pre-grouping railway companies 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. The Oldham Ashton and Guide Bridge Junction Railway was an early British railway company which opened in 1861 connecting Oldham, Ashton and Guide 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. The newton (symbol N) is the SI derived unit of Force, named after Isaac Newton in recognition of his work on Classical Hyde is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, in Greater Manchester, England. To prevent repercussions it was promoted as a private venture. In time it would prove to be an important part of Midland Railway history. The Midland Railway (MR was a Railway company in the United Kingdom, which existed from 1844 to 1922 when it became part of the London Midland and Scottish At the same time, private investors had floated the Cheshire Midland Railway and the Stockport and Woodley Junction Railway. Act passed 14 June 1860 to build a railway from Altrincham on the Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway (MSJAR to Northwich. The Stockport and Woodley Junction Railway was incorporated on 15 May 1860. In spite of opposition from the LNWR, Watkins and his directors gave support and in 1860 another line was proposed - the Stockport, Timperley and Altrincham Junction Railway. The Stockport Timperley and Altrincham Junction Railway was authorised by an Act passed 22 July 1861 to build a railway from Stockport on the Stockport 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. Garston could refer to several places England Garston Hertfordshire Garston Merseyside Garston (Merseyside This group of lines would become the Cheshire Lines Committee. The Cheshire Lines Committee (CLC was the second largest Joint railway in Great Britain

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 Railway of Canada. The Grand Trunk Railway (GTR was a railway system which operated in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, as well as the American Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page 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. The Midland Railway (MR was a Railway company in the United Kingdom, which existed from 1844 to 1922 when it became part of the London Midland and Scottish It was already building an extension to Buxton from Rowsley but the LNWR was proceeding into Buxton from the other direction. Buxton is a Spa town in Derbyshire, England. Located close to the county boundary with Cheshire to the west and Staffordshire to the south Rowsley is a village on the A6 road in the English county of Derbyshire. 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. New Mills Central railway station serves the town of New Mills in Derbyshire, England. This, which was later approved as the Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee, threatened to cause a schism with the GNR. 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 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. The Great Eastern Railway (GER was a pre-grouping British railway company whose main line linked London Liverpool The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway (L&YR was a major British railway company before the 1923 Grouping. However among the advances were the lease of the South Yorkshire Railway and progress with the Cheshire lines. For the Preservation Society South Yorkshire Railway Co Ltd see Heritage Shunters Trust The South Yorkshire Railway was a railway company 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. The Great Western Railway ( GWR) was a British railway company and a notable example of Civil engineering, linking London with the West 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. The Great Eastern Railway (GER was a pre-grouping British railway company whose main line linked London Liverpool For the railway in India see South Eastern Railway (India South Eastern Railway (SER was a railway company in the United Kingdom A baronet (traditional abbreviation Bart, modern abbreviation Bt) or the rare female equivalent a baronetess (abbreviation Btss) is the holder

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 Tunnel. The Channel Tunnel (Le tunnel sous la Manche also known as the Chunnel, is a undersea rail tunnel linking Folkestone, Kent in England with 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. Watkins 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. The Metropolitan Railway (MetR and the Metropolitan District Railway (District were the first two underground railways to be built in London, creating the world's 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. The North Staffordshire Railway was a British Railway company formed in 1845 to promote a number of lines in the Staffordshire Potteries 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, 1,320 yards (1,207 m) long, and with a single arched trainshed 65 feet (20 m) high. Liverpool Central railway station is a railway station in Liverpool, England, and forms the central hub of the Merseyrail network being on both the In 1877 a temporary station was built at Manchester Central, approached by a mile and a quarter long viaduct. Manchester Central railway station is a disused railway station in Manchester City Centre, England. 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. Andrew Handyside and Company was an iron founder in Derby, England in the nineteenth century Derby (pronounced "dar-bee" /dˈɑːbɪ/ is a city in the East Midlands of England. Stockport Tiviot Dale was one of two main railway stations serving the town of Stockport, the other being Stockport Edgeley (now simply referred to as Stockport) Chinley railway station serves the village of Chinley in Derbyshire.

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. 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 His attention turned to the Humber. The Humber is a large tidal Estuary on the east coast of northern England Trial borings were made by the MS&L at South Ferriby, while the North Eastern Railway had done the same at North Ferriby. South Ferriby is a Village in North Lincolnshire, England situated on the south bank of the River Humber 5 km ( 3 miles) west of the The North Eastern Railway (NER unlike many other of the pre-Grouping companies had a relatively compact territory having the district it covered to itself North Ferriby is a Village and Civil parish in the Haltemprice area of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. 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. History The Hull and Barnsley Railway (H&BR was opened on 20 July 1885.

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. Beighton railway station lies where the line of the Sheffield and Lincolnshire Junction Railway (S&LJR crosses Rotherham Road Annesley is a village and Civil parish in the Ashfield district of Nottinghamshire, England, between Hucknall and Kirkby-in-Ashfield 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, Watkins 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. The River Dee ( Welsh: Afon Dyfrdwy) is a 70-mile-long (110 km River. Hawarden Bridge is a Railway Bridge over the River Dee, near to Shotton, Flintshire, Wales. Sir Francis Fox (1844 - 1927 was an English Civil engineer, who was responsible for the bridges over the Victoria Falls of the Zambesi and Sydney This allowed the MS&LR and the Wrexham, Mold and Connah's Quay Railway to jointly launch the Welsh Railways Union Bill. The Wrexham Mold and Connah's Quay Railway (WMCQR was incorporated on 7 August 1862 to build a line from Wrexham to Buckley.

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 Nottingham London Road. Nottingham ( is a city in the Ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire, England. In 1889, he 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. See also Aylesbury Urban Area Aylesbury is the County town of Buckinghamshire in south east England. 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. For the rock band please see St John's Wood (band For the Australian locality St Johns Wood see main article St John's Wood Queensland Lord's Cricket Ground (generally known as Lord's) is a cricket 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 (sometimes written St Marylebone or Mary-le-bone, or in archaic use Marybone) is an area of central London, England in

Watkins 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. The Great Central Railway ( GCR) was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed At the same time the headquarters of the Railway was moved from Manchester to London (Marylebone). Marylebone station or London Marylebone station is a National Rail and London Underground station in central London, England.

The MS&LR constituent railways

The system gradually built up over the years, as shown (including dates of opening):

Founding members in 1847'

 :Including the Grimsby Docks Company
Including the Sheffield and Lincolnshire Extension Railway (1846) and the
Manchester and Lincoln Union Railway (and Chesterfield & Gainsborough Canal Co) (1845)

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. The Cheshire Lines Committee (CLC was the second largest Joint railway in Great Britain Liverpool ( is a City and Metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary Chester is the County town of Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77040 Warrington is a large town borough and Unitary authority area in Cheshire, England.

On 1st August 1897 the MS&LR assumed the title of the Great Central Railway. Events 30 BC - Octavian (later known as Augustus enters Alexandria, Egypt, bringing it under the control of the Roman Year 1897 ( MDCCCXCVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common The Great Central Railway ( GCR) was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed

Locomotive Works

The locomotive works was situated at Gorton, Manchester, opened in 1849. Gorton is a district of the City of Manchester in North West England. 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. Beyer Peacock and Company was an English Railway Locomotive manufacturer with a Factory in Gorton, Manchester

Locomotive Engineers

MS&LR locomotives

Principal railway stations

Docks

Grimsby docks, named "the largest fishing port in the world" (but also with a large trade in timber) became part of the Railway at its inception. Richard Peacock ( April 9, 1820 - March 3, 1889) was an English Engineer, one of the founders of Locomotive William Grindley Craig was Chief mechanical engineer of the Manchester Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway from 1854-1859 Thomas Parker (died 1903 was Chief mechanical engineer of the Manchester Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway from 1886-1893 Harry Pollitt was Locomotive Engineer of the Manchester Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway from 1893-1897 and its successor the Great Central Railway, from 1897-1900 Manchester Central railway station is a disused railway station in Manchester City Centre, England. Sheffield Victoria was the main Sheffield Railway station on the Great Central Railway, between Chesterfield and Penistone. Grimsby Town railway station serves the town of Grimsby in North East Lincolnshire, England. Grimsby (or archaically Great Grimsby) is a Seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. 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 18th April 1852. Events 1025 - Bolesław Chrobry is crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland. Year 1852 ( MDCCCLII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Over the years more docks were added.

Woodhead Tunnels

At the opening of the line the first tunnel was incomplete and trains ran to stations either side, Dunford Bridge and Woodhead, with a stagecoach connection between. Dunford Bridge station was a railway station on the Sheffield Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway situated immediately east of the Woodhead Tunnel, five miles The two bores were driven through the Pennines, a length of 3 miles 13. The Pennines are a low-rising Mountain range in Northern England and southern Scotland. 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. Events 1790 - The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies Year 1845 ( MDCCCXLV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 962 - Translatio imperii: Pope John XII crowns Otto I Holy Roman Emperor, the first Holy Roman Emperor Year 1852 ( MDCCCLII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Its construction was originally deemed practically impossible, because of the engineering difficulties. See Woodhead Tunnel and Woodhead Line. The Woodhead Tunnels are three trans-Pennine railway tunnels which formerly carried a major rail link (usually known as the Woodhead Route) from Manchester The Woodhead Line was a railway line linking Sheffield, Penistone and Manchester in the north of England.

See also

Further reading

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