Cheshire Midland Railway

c. xc) was promoted by landowners and supported by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway (MS&LR).

[b] Together the MS&LR and GNR formed a joint committee to operate this railway along with three others that had been authorised but were not yet open.

[c] Together these railways connected up to provide an alternative route into North Cheshire that avoided Manchester.

This arrangement was confirmed by the Great Northern Railway (Cheshire Lines) Act 1863 (26 & 27 Vict.

[d] This act had not, however, formally set up a separate legal body, providing instead for the two companies to manage and work the four railways through their existing structures.

[6][7] Key Salt branches The railway started from an end-on connection with the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway (MSJ&AR) at Altrincham Junction, just south of Bowdon station on the MSJ&AR.