The Preston and Wigan Railway would have been an early

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

railway Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...

company operating in

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancashi ...

. The Preston and Wigan Railway obtained an Act of Parliament on 22 April 1831 to build a line between

Wigan Wigan ( ) is a large town in Greater Manchester, England, on the River Douglas, Lancashire, River Douglas. The town is midway between the two cities of Manchester, to the south-east, and Liverpool, to the south-west. Bolton lies to the nor ...

and Preston. On 8 August 1833 the Board decided that it would be to their advantage to amalgamate with the

Wigan Branch Railway The Wigan Branch Railway was an early British railway company operating in Lancashire. It was constructed to link the Wigan coalfield to the Liverpool and Manchester Railway (L&MR). Background The Wigan Branch Railway obtained an Act of Parlia ...

, the directors of the Wigan Branch Railway met shortly thereafter and agreed with them. An Act of Parliament was approved and gained royal assent on 22 May 1834 incorporating the two railways as the

North Union Railway The North Union Railway was an early British railway company, operating in Lancashire. It was created in 1834, continuing independently until 1889. Formation The North Union Railway (NUR) was created by an Act of Parliament on 22 May 1834 whic ...

. It was the first-ever amalgamation of railway companies. The line opened formally on 21 October 1838 and to the public on 31 October.

Notes

References

* * * {{LMSconstituents Early British railway companies Historic transport in Lancashire Rail transport in Lancashire History of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan Railway companies established in 1831 1831 establishments in the United Kingdom British companies established in 1831