Lesmahagow Railway

Caledonian Railway (Lesmahagow Branches) Act 1847
Act of Parliament
Citation10 & 11 Vict. c. xxiv
Dates
Royal assent8 June 1847
Text of statute as originally enacted
Caledonian Railways (Lesmahagow Branches) Act 1851
Act of Parliament
Citation14 & 15 Vict. c. xcix
Dates
Royal assent24 July 1851
Other legislation
Amended by
  • Caledonian Railway (Lesmahagow Branches) Act 1854
Text of statute as originally enacted
Caledonian Railway (Lesmahagow Branches) Act 1854
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act for altering the Lines authorized by the Caledonian Railway (Lesmahagow Branches) Act, 1851, and for otherwise amending that Act.
Citation17 & 18 Vict. c. clvi
Dates
Royal assent10 July 1854
Other legislation
Amends
  • Caledonian Railway (Lesmahagow Branches) Act 1851
Text of statute as originally enacted
Caledonian Railway (Lesmahagow Branches) Act 1860
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act for more completely merging in the Undertaking of the Caledonian Railway Company certain Railways known as the Lesmahagow Branches; for incorporating the Holders of the Lesmahagow Branches Stock, and securing to them a fixed Annuity; and for other Purposes.
Citation23 & 24 Vict. c. xcvii
Dates
Royal assent14 June 1860


The Lesmahagow Railway, south of Glasgow in Scotland, was developed by a company known as The Lesmahagow Branches (later known as The Lesmahagow Guarantee Company). It was not an independent company in the usual sense. It was a financially independent, self-contained unit within the framework of the Caledonian Railway (CR). The shareholders and officers of both companies were mainly the same people. The line was built largely to transport the vast amount of coal being produced by the many mines in the area. Authority to build the line was given in the Caledonian Railway (Lesmahagow Branches) Act 1847 (10 & 11 Vict. c. xxiv) but construction did not commence till 1854. In 1856 the line was opened in stages. Later there was found to be a demand for passenger services which commenced in 1868. In 1923, with the grouping, the CR amalgamated with several other companies to form the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) which, following nationalisation in 1947, became part of British Railways.