Sheffield and Rotherham Railway - Later History

Later History

Economic stagnation in 1841 and 1842 meant that the S&R saw little profit the following years. In January 1843, the line's only intermediate station, Grimesthorpe Bridge closed. By February 1844 the S&R had decided that expansion regardless of cost was the only way to protect itself. A start was made by the construction of a small connecting line with the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne and Manchester Railway (SA&MR) at Bridgehouses. The company’s half-yearly meeting held in August 1844 was a messy affair. The exact date at which the meeting was to be held was not known and no agenda had been established. Accusations of share trafficking were made. The recession faded away in 1843 and the Great Midland Amalgamation Bill passed parliament on 10 May 1844, creating the Midland Railway. In September, the S&R began negotiations with the MR for either sale or lease of its railway to the MR. Terms were agreed upon quickly and the MR started operations on 10 October 1844. The title of S&R existed on paper until the takeover was finally authorised by an Act on 21 July 1845. In 1870 it built a line from Chesterfield through Sheffield, which rejoined the old line at Masborough. The majority of the line is still in use today.