It was conceived and authorised as the Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire Junction Railway, with the intention of connecting Dudley and Uttoxeter, but it was hopelessly undercapitalised and badly managed.

This proved to be a fatal remark, as the South Staffordshire Junction Railway (SSJR) Bill was passed in Parliament at the same time.

The SSJR scheme was for a railway linking Walsall and Dudley, and the DS&WJR proposal included similar ground.

Two new railways over a thinly populated terrain were unsustainable, and the SSJR scheme looked more fruitful; the DS&WJR Bill was thrown out by the Lords Committee.

More significantly it was recognised that a lack of sufficient share take-up meant that the company had little money to proceed with the project, and a major partner would be required, with enough financial backing to enable the construction to move forward.

In 1852 Addison had prepared a scheme for an extension from Cannock to Wolverhampton via Four Ashes, connecting with the Great Western Railway.

However, the London and North Western Railway was dominant in the area and was known to be hostile; the scheme would need Parliamentary approval, and it was expected that the LNWR would be able to frustrate the GWR alliance.

[6] On 7 May 1855 the board agreed to abandon any intention of proceeding north of Rugeley, making the planned extent of the line 7+1⁄2 miles; and to reduce the share capital to £200,000 (later altered to £160,000).

[10] However the Marquis of Anglesey, a director of the LNWR and a substantial landowner, objected to the purchase of land for the bill, so the connection to the NSR could not be made.

The NSR had directors on the CMR board, and they now all resigned, and the LNWR takeover of control was complete; the necessary Act for extension of time was passed on 27 July 1857.

During the period of construction, an omnibus service was introduced, running from the LNWR at Rugeley to the SSR, newly opened at Cannock, and operated on behalf of the CMR.