Catalogue description Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway Company

Incorporated under Act of 21 July 1845 by which Lord Francis Egerton and the Manchester and Birmingham; and Sheffield, Ashton under Lyne and Manchester railway companies were united to form the Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway.

Under Act of 16 July 1846 the Manchester and Birmingham Railway was amalgamated with the Grand Junction Railway Company and the London and Birmingham Railway Company to form the London and North Western Railway Company, and under Act of 1846 the Sheffield, Ashton under Lyne and Manchester Railway Company was amalgamated with others to form the Manchester Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway Company.

Under Act of 2 July 1847 the London and North Western Railway Company were authorised to purchase the Estate and Interest of The Rt Hon. Francis Egerton, Earl of Ellesmere, in the company.

Owing to differences arising from the conflicting interests of the London and North Western and Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire railway companies an Act was passed 23 July 1858, entitled"An Act to improve the Management of the Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway", whereby an arbitrator was to be annually appointed to fulfil the duties set forth in the Act. By Act of 1897 (3 June) the Manchester Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway Company's name was changed to the Great Central Railway Company.

In 1905 the company became the responsibility of the Great Central and London and North Western Railways Joint Committee.

By the Railways Act of 1921 the London and North Western Railway was merged into the London Midland and Scottish Railway and the Great Central Railway into the London and North Eastern Railway Company as from 1 January 1923.

The Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway Company continued as a separate undertaking until vested in the British Transport Commission by the Transport Act 1947.