Incorporated on 21st July 1845.
A 9 mile line connecting the Manchester and Birmingham and Liverpool and Manchester Railways, and running to Altrincham in Cheshire. Worked by the London and North Western and the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincoln Railways from 1849 and vested in these companies jointly.

Original capital £400,000 in shares, and in 1848 another £250,000 in shares and £216,666 in loans was subscribed to by the L & NW and the M,S & L companies in full by half each. Share capital increased to £1,060,000 by 1891.