page_title: Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee
section_title: Opening
hierarchical_section_title: Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee / Opening
caption_attribution_description: English: Manchester Central - London St Pancras express at Chinley South Junction. View northward, towards Chinley Station and Manchester to the left, the loop to the right going to join the Hope Valley line to Sheffield: a fine weather panorama across the Goyt Valley to the High Peak (Kinder Scout 2,088 ft.). The 16.25 express from Manchester (Central) is headed by LMS 'Jubilee' 6P 4-6-0 No. 45598 'Basutoland'. It is taking the Peak Line to Millers Dale, Matlock and Derby, which was closed Chinley - Matlock on 6/3/67 - except for limestone traffic northwards from Peak Forest.
context_page_description: The Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee was incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1869 as a joint venture between the Midland Railway and the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway.
context_section_description: This agreement, including the Sheffield and Midland railway companies' Committee, was formalised in the "Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway Act" of 6 August 1872 
  In 1867 the line opened into Manchester Store Street, by then renamed London Road (now Piccadilly), which the MS&LR shared with the LNWR. However, the Committee, seeking a more direct route, opened a line through Bredbury and Reddish in 1875.
  Increasing friction with LNWR led to the Cheshire Lines Committee being formed and when Manchester Central opened in 1880 trains were diverted at Romiley through Stockport Teviot Dale (as it was originally spelt).
  This entailed another new line, the "Manchester South District Railway Company" from Heaton Mersey to Chorlton-cum-Hardy. Although incorporated in 1873, there was a lack of interest on the part of the MS&LR and the GNR (the Midland's partners in the CLC). It was therefore taken under the wing of the Sheffield and Midland Committee, with the Midland taking overall control in 1877. The line finally opened in 1880.
  However, by the end of the century congestion around Stockport had increased, and with speed limits, gradients and curves, the Midland looked for yet another route. The "New Mills and Heaton Mersey Railway" was authorised in 1897 from New Mills South Junction, between New Mills and Buxworth through Disley Tunnel.
caption: Manchester Central - London St Pancras express at Chinley South Junction in 1957
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