Bolton and Leigh Railway - History

History

The company obtained its Act of Parliament on 31 March 1825 to build a line "from the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal at Bolton to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Leigh", allowing steam haulage and two stationary steam-hauled inclined planes. George Stephenson was appointed as the chief engineer.

The single-track line, built to carry goods, mainly coal and raw cotton to the cotton mills in Bolton from the Port of Liverpool via the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, was 7+1⁄2 miles (12 km) long. The first section opened on 1 August 1828 between Derby Street Bolton and William Hulton's collieries at Pendlebury Fold near Chequerbent. Fletchers sidings near Bag Lane provided a connection for Fletcher's collieries at Howe Bridge in Atherton. The railway opened two years before the Liverpool and Manchester Railway (L&MR). The route was surveyed and prepared by George Stephenson, but engineered by Robert Daglish, a local man who built a locomotive for the Orrell Colliery Railway. The railway was single track with two rope worked inclines using stationary steam engines, one 20 horse power at Daubhill and one 50 horse power at Chequerbent. The first locomotive, Lancashire Witch was built by George and Robert Stephenson; originally intended for the L&MR it was delivered temporarily to the B&LR as it opened first, and later returned to the L&MR for use in its construction. While with B&LR it was used to haul trains up the 1 in 33 gradient at Daubhill. After the Rainhill Trials it was replaced by Timothy Hackworth's Sans Pareil. The line was completed to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Leigh by end of March 1830.

The railway operated from Bolton Great Moor Street to Leigh. In 1829, the 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long Kenyon and Leigh Junction Railway (K&LJ) was incorporated to link the Bolton & Leigh Railway with the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, joining it at Kenyon Junction near Warrington. The Act of Parliament (10 George IV. Cap.36) receiving Royal Assent on 14 May 1829. At first, the railway was freight only, but a passenger service started on 13 June 1831.

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