Manchester and Bolton Railway
The Manchester and Bolton Railway was a railway in Greater Manchester connecting Salford to Bolton. It was built by the proprietors of the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal who converted in 1831 from a canal company, to a railway company. The railway was originally to have replaced most of the line of the canal, but was eventually built alongside the Salford and Bolton arms of the canal.
History
In 1830 the canal company began promoting a proposal to build a railway along the line of the canal, from Salford to Bolton. Alexander Nimmo was employed to report on the proposal and told that it was possible "so far as he expressed himself capable of judging from his present cursory view of the canal".[1] The shareholders then sought a bill for a railway from Bolton to Manchester and on 23 August 1831 obtained an Act of Parliament to become the "Company of Proprietors of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal Navigation and Railway Company".[2][1] They were empowered to build a line from Manchester to Bolton and Bury, "upon or near the line of...the Canal", and a branch from Clifton Aqueduct through to Great Lever. In 1832 this company obtained an Act that allowed it to build the railway.[3] Due mainly to the objections of local mine owners who would have lost access to the canal and supplies, and would not have had branch railways built for them, the company agreed to an amending bill which would keep the canal and allow the new railway to be constructed alongside it.[4][5]
Four acts of parliament were required to raise the necessary funds,[6] and the line opened on 28 May 1838.[7] In 1841 the company had 10 locomotive engines[8] and between 1839 and 1839 carried 228,799 passengers. In 1846 the railway was taken over by the Manchester and Leeds Railway.
Route
The original terminus was at Salford Central railway station on New Bailey Street in Salford. The line ended in Bolton.
Design
The rails were of broad-based parallel form, weighing 55lbs per yard. Significant earthworks were required along the route, and a 300 yard long tunnel was constructed in favour of a cutting. Thirty three bridges were constructed, along with stone drainage facilities to keep water from the cuttings.[9]
Locomotive types and coaches
The company purchased four Bury Type locomotives from Bury, Curtis, and Kennedy, two from George Forrester and Company, and two from William Fairbairn & Sons.[10] Coaches were first and second class, first class holding eighteen passengers per carriage and second class holding 32 passengers per carriage.[11] Third class carriages were introduced on 11 June 1838 but discontinued on 1 December 1838 after the company found that many passengers were vacating first and second class, for the cheaper third class.[12]
Fares
To begin with, first class fares were 2s 6d for the entire ten mile journey, or 3d per mile. Second class was 2s, or 2.40d per mile.[12] On 11 June 1838, a new pricing structure was introduced, with first class costing 2s, 1s 6d, and 1s. Passenger's tickets were taken while travelling, presumably by a ticket inspector.
Services
Ten trains ran in each direction per weekday, with only two on Sundays.
References
Notes
- ^ a b Hadfield 1970, pp. 256-257.
- ^ Paget-Tomlinson 2006, pp. 148-149.
- ^ Backtrack Volume 17, www.steamindex.com, retrieved 2008-06-30
- ^ Hadfield 1970, p. 257.
- ^ Canal at Pendleton in 19 November 1966, Manchester Libraries, retrieved 2008-06-30
- ^ Whishaw 1842, p. 307.
- ^ Bardsley 1960, p. 7.
- ^ House of Commons 1842, pp. 207-208.
- ^ Whishaw 1842, p. 308.
- ^ Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway locomotives, www.steamindex.com, retrieved 2008-08-30
- ^ Whishaw 1842, p. 309.
- ^ a b Whishaw 1842, p. 311.
Bibliography
- Bardsley, James Rodney (1960), The railways of Bolton, 1824-1959, J.R.Bardsley, ASIN B0000CKNFN
- Hadfield, Charles (1970), The canals of northwest england volume 2, David and Charles limited, ISBN 0715349929
{{citation}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Paget-Tomlinson, Edward (2006), The Illustrated History of Canal & River Navigations 3rd edition, Ashbourne, UK: Landmark Publishing Ltd, ISBN 1843062070
- Whishaw, Francis (1842), The Railways of Great Britain and Ireland Practically Described and Illustrated: Practically Described and Illustrated, John Weale