United Kingdom legislation
The West Midland Railway [ 1] was an early British railway company. It was formed on 1 July 1860 by the West Midland Railway Act 1860 (23 & 24 Vict. c. lxxxi) which merged several older railway companies. It wa amalgamated with the Great Western Railway on 1 August 1863. It was the successor to the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway (OWWR).[ 2]
The original constituent companies were the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway (incorporated 1846 and opened 1854), the Worcester and Hereford Railway (inc 1853 and opened 1859), and the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway (inc 1845 and opened 1850); which had already absorbed the Stratford and Moreton Tramway (inc 1821 and opened 1826).
On 1 July 1861 the WMR leased the Coleford, Monmouth, Usk and Pontypool Railway (inc 1853 and opened 1857). In 1862 it also leased the Leominster and Kington Railway (opened 1857) and the Severn Valley Railway (from opening).
Amalgamation with the GWR [ edit ]
The West Midland Railway was dissolved on 1 August 1863, with its powers and obligations being vested in the Great Western Railway . The West Midland Railway Company itself continued in existence until complete amalgamation was brought about by the Great Western Railway Act 1872 .[ 3]
Taff Vale Extension of the West Midland Railway and Crumlin Viaduct .
Historic Welsh railway companies
Great Western Railway
Aberdare Railway
Aberdare Valley Railway
Aberystwith and Welsh Coast Railway
Alexandra Docks and Railway
Bala and Dolgelly Railway
Bala and Festiniog Railway
Barry Dock and Railway
Barry Railway
Blaenavon Tramroad
Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil Junction Railway
Brecon and Merthyr Railway
Bridgend Railway
Bristol and South Wales Union Railway
Burry Port and Gwendraeth Valley Railway
Cambrian Railways
Cardiff Railway
Cardiff and Ogmore Railway
Carmarthen and Cardigan Railway
Carmarthenshire Railway or Tramroad
Clarbeston Road and Letterston Railway
Coleford, Monmouth, Usk and Pontypool Railway
Corris Railway
Corwen and Bala Railway
Denbigh, Ruthin and Corwen Railway
Ely and Clydach Valleys Railway
Ely Valley Railway
Ely Valley Extension Railway
Gwendraeth Valleys Railway
Hereford, Hay and Brecon Railway
Kington Tramway
Lampeter, Aberayron and New Quay Light Railway
Llancaiach Branch
Llanelly and Mynydd Mawr Railway
Llanidloes and Newtown Railway
Llangollen and Corwen Railway
Llangurig branch
Llantrisant and Taff Vale Junction Railway
Llynvi and Ogmore Railway
Maerdy Branch
Manchester and Milford Railway
Mawddwy Railway
Merthyr, Tredegar and Abergavenny Railway
Mid-Wales Railway
Monmouth and Hereford Railway
Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company
Narberth Road and Maenclochog Railway
Neath and Brecon Railway
Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway
Newtown and Machynlleth Railway
North Pembrokeshire and Fishguard Railway
North Wales Mineral Railway
Oswestry, Ellesmere and Whitchurch Railway
Oswestry and Newtown Railway
Pembroke and Tenby Railway
Pontypool, Caerleon and Newport Railway
Pontypridd, Caerphilly and Newport Railway
Port Talbot Railway
Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway
Rhymney Railway
Rumney Railway
Ross and Monmouth Railway
Shrewsbury and Chester Railway
Shrewsbury, Oswestry and Chester Junction Railway
South Wales Railway
Taff Vale Railway
Tanat Valley Light Railway
Vale of Glamorgan Railway
Vale of Llangollen Railway
Vale of Neath Railway
Vale of Rheidol Railway
Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway
West Midland Railway
Whitland and Cardigan Railway
Wye Valley Railway
Wrexham and Ellesmere Railway
London and North Western Railway Joint lines Independent lines Industrial railways