The West Midland Railway was 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. It was formed on 1 July 1860 by a merger of several older railway companies and amalgamated with the

Great Western Railway The Great Western Railway (GWR) was a British railway company that linked London with the southwest, west and West Midlands of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament on 31 August 1835 and ran ...

on 1 August 1863. It was the successor to the

Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway The Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway (OW&WR) was a railway company in England. It built a line from Wolvercot JunctionThe nearby settlement is spelt ''Wolvercote'' and a later station on the LNWR Bicester line follows that spelling. ...

(OWWR).

History

Constituents

The original constituent companies were the

Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway The Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway was a railway company formed to connect the places in its name. When it sought Parliamentary authorisation, it was denied the southern section, and obliged to use the Monmouthshire Railway between P ...

(incorporated 1846 and opened 1854), the

Worcester and Hereford Railway The Worcester and Hereford Railway started the construction of a standard gauge railway between the two cities in 1858. It had needed the financial assistance of larger concerns, chiefly the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway, and the New ...

(inc 1853 and opened 1859), and the

(inc 1845 and opened 1850); which had already absorbed the Stratford and Moreton Tramway (inc 1821 and opened 1826). On 1 July 1861 the WMR leased the

Coleford, Monmouth, Usk and Pontypool Railway The Coleford, Monmouth, Usk & Pontypool Railway (CMU&PR) was a standard gauge railway of which ran from Monmouth to Little Mill, near Pontypool in Monmouthshire, Wales. It was intended to convey the mineral products of the Forest of Dean to th ...

(inc 1853 and opened 1857). In 1862 it also leased the

Leominster and Kington Railway Leominster and Kington Railway was one of four branches which served the Welsh Marches border town of Kington, Herefordshire. Opened in August 1857, its peak was during World War II, when it served two US Army hospitals. Declining after the wa ...

(opened 1857) and the

Severn Valley Railway The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The heritage line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route, and c ...

(from opening).

Amalgamation with the GWR

The West Midland Railway was dissolved on 1 August 1863, with its powers and obligations being vested in the

. The West Midland Railway Company itself continued in existence until complete amalgamation was brought about by the

Great Western Railway Act Great may refer to: Descriptions or measurements * Great, a relative measurement in physical space, see Size * Greatness, being divine, majestic, superior, majestic, or transcendent People * List of people known as "the Great" *Artel Great (born ...

of 1872.

References

Early British railway companies Pre-grouping British railway companies Railway companies established in 1860 Railway companies disestablished in 1863 1860 establishments in England 1863 disestablishments in the United Kingdom British companies established in 1860 British companies disestablished in 1863 Great Western Railway constituents {{England-rail-transport-stub

History

Constituents

Amalgamation with the GWR

See also

References