Catalogue description Leicester, Tamworth, Coventry, Birmingham and Trent Valley Junction Railway Company

Subscribers' and parliamentary aggreemants Agreements of Leicester and Tamworth Junction Railway Company were signed dated 5th September 1845 (SUB 1/52 & 53). On 2nd October 1845 however, Prospectus of Leicester, Tamworth, Coventry, Birmingham and Trent Valley Railway Company was issued congratulating shareholders of Leicester and Tamworth Junction, and Coventry, Nuneaton, Birmingham and Leicester railway companies on amalgamation of those companies under title of "Leicester, Tamworth, Coventry, Birmingham and Trent Valley Junction Railway Company" which, it was stated, would ensure a successful issue to their application to Parliament during next session (PROS 1/1/45).

Circular dated 16th December 1845 stated that New Subscribers' Agreement and parliamentary contracts were ready for execution (MPR 439/2). But company was incorporated as Coventry, Nuneaton, Birmingham and Leicester Railway Company under act of 27th July 1846. Under act of 22nd July 1847 power was given to Company to sell their undertaking to London and North Western Railway Company and Midland Railway Company or either of them.

Reports of meetings in Railway Times, pages 253 & 827, for March and August 1850, indicate that Midland Railway Company had declined to purchase undertaking and that Coventry, Nuneaton, Birmingham and Leicester Railway Company were endeavouring to take advantage of Railways Abandonment Bill to wind up. Meeting reported on page 202 of Railway Times for February 1851 reports that works had been abandoned. Railway Times of June 14th 1851, page 599, reports that a Mr. Hodges had applied for and obtained a mandamus against Company for completion of their line of railway.

Strong criticism of proposal of London and North Western Railway to purchase undertaking was voiced in Railway Times in 1853, pages 770, 793, 794 and 821, and at half yearly meeting of London and North Western Railway Company of 12th August 1853 power was given to directors of latter company to purchase outstanding shares of Coventry, Nuneaton, Birmingham and Leicester Railway Company.