The '''''' (
23 & 24 Vict. c. xvi) was promoted by landowners and supported by the
Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway (MS&LR) who, along with the
Great Northern Railway (GNR) were allowed to subscribe. Together the and formed a
joint committee to operate this railway along with three others that had been authorised but were not yet open. Together these railways connected up to provide an alternative route into North Cheshire that avoided Manchester. Each company was to provide an equal amount of capital and four representatives to the joint management committee. This arrangement was confirmed by the
Great Northern Railway (Cheshire Lines) Act 1863 (
26 & 27 Vict. c. cxlvii). This act had not, however, formally set up a separate legal body, providing instead for the two companies to manage and work the four railways through their existing structures. This arrangement eventually led to the formation of the
Cheshire Lines Committee in 1865. The line was then formally brought under the direct joint ownership of the and in 1865 by the
Cheshire Lines Transfer Act 1865 (
28 & 29 Vict. c. cccxxvii). This act allowed the Midland Railway to join as an equal partner, which it did in 1866. and finally the
Cheshire Lines Committee was authorised by the
Cheshire Lines Act 1867 (
30 & 31 Vict. c. ccvii) as a fully independent organisation with a board formed from three directors from each of the parent companies. ==Opening==