Portal:Trains/Selected article/Week 27, 2013

The Manchester and Bolton Railway was a railway in the historic county of Lancashire, England, connecting Salford to Bolton. It was built by the proprietors of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal Navigation and Railway Company who had in 1831 converted from a canal company. The 10-mile long (16 km) railway was originally to have built upon most of the line of the canal, but it was eventually built alongside the Salford and Bolton arms of the canal. The Act of Parliament also allowed the construction of a connection to Bury, but technical constraints meant that it was never built. The railway required significant earthworks, including a 295-yard (270 m) tunnel. The railway termini were at Salford Central railway station and Trinity Street station in Bolton. The railway was opened in 1838 to passenger and freight services. In 1841 it was extended to Preston, and in 1844 to Victoria Station in Manchester. It amalgamated with the Manchester and Leeds Railway in 1846. The railway is in use today as part of the Manchester to Preston Line, although some of the original stations are no longer in use.