Catalogue description Somerset and Dorset Joint Line Committee

By virtue of the Somerset & Dorset companies' Amalgamation Act 1862 the Somerset Central Railway Company and the Dorset Central Railway Company were amalgamated by the name of 'The Somerset and Dorset Railway Company'.

Under the Somerset & Dorset Railway Leasing Act, 13 July 1876, the Somerset & Dorset Railway Company was vested by way of lease for 999 years in the South Western Railway Company and the Midland Railway Company from the 1 November 1875.

Under Section 25 of the Act each of the two latter companies was to appoint three Directors, and such six persons were to form the Joint Committee of 'entire equality' for giving effect to the Scheduled Agreement to the Act.

The South Western Railway Company became vested in the Southern Railway, and the Midland Railway Company became vested in the London Midland & Scottish Railway, as from 1 January 1923. Under the Southern Railway Act of 31 July 1923 the Somerset & Dorset Railway Company was dissolved and was transferred to and vested in the Southern Railway and the London Midland & Scottish railway companies jointly in equal undivided moieties as from 1 July 1923.

The Joint Committee passed to the British Transport Commission under the Transport Act 1947.