Historical Account of the Navigable Rivers, Canals, and Railways, of Great Britain/Bolton and Leigh Railway

by Joseph Priestley

BOLTON AND LEIGH RAILWAY.

6 George IV. Cap. 18, Royal Assent 31st March, 1825.

9 George IV. Cap. 8, Royal Assent 26th March, 1828.

This railway commences at the Manchester, Bolton, and Bury Canal, in the township of Haulgh, near the town of Bolton-le Moors, and proceeds in a south-westerly direction through the extensive collieries in the neighbourhood of Hulton Hall, thence by Atherton Hall, to that branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal which communicates with the Duke of Bridgewater's Canal, at the town of Leigh. It is in length seven miles and three quarters, and there is a rise of 119 feet, in the first two thousand three hundred and sixty yards from Bolton; and from this point to the highway adjoining the canal, at Leigh, is a fall of 337 feet. There is an inclined plane of one inch per yard, in the township of Great Bolton, one thousand three hundred and eighty-six yards in length; and by the pariiamentary plan it appears that another is intended to be made in the townships of Over Hulton and Atherton, of the length of four thousand six hundred and twenty yards, with a fall of 303 feet.

The act for making this railway, received the royal assent on the 31st March, 1825, and is entitled, 'An Act for making and maintaining a Railway or Tramroad from or from near the Manchester, Bolton, and Bury Canal, in the parish of Bolton-le-Moors, to or near the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, in the parish of Leigh, all in the county palatine of Lancaster.'

The subscribers to this scheme, at the time the act was obtained, consisted of fifty persons, who were incorporated by the name of "The Bolton and Leigh Railway Company," and they obtained power to raise among themselves, by subscription, the sum of £44,000, in four hundred and forty shares of £100 each; and if any part of the said sum of £44,000 remains unsubscribed, the company have power to borrow such part upon promissory notes under the common seal, or they may raise the same by mortgage, on security of the rates, the interest of which is to be paid in preference to dividends.

TONNAGE RATES.

Limestone, Dung, Compost and all sorts of Manure, all Materials for the repair of Roads, which shall be drawn, propelled, and carried, by and at the expense of the Company	3d per Ton, per Mile.
Ditto, drawn or propelled only by the Engines of the Company	2d ditto, ditto.
Ditto, drawn or propelled by the Engines, or other Power, and carried in the Waggons belonging to other Persons than the said Company	2d ditto, ditto.
Coal, Culm, Coke, Charcoal, Cinders. Stone, Marl, Sand, Clay, Building, Pitching and Paving-stones, Flags, Bricks, Tiles, Slate, Lime, Earth, Staves, Deals, Lead and Iron in Pigs, or other Metals which shall be drawn, or propelled, and carried by and at the expense of the Company	3½d ditto, ditto.
Ditto, drawn or propelled Only by the Engines of the Company	3d ditto, ditto.
Ditto, drawn or propelled by the Engines, or other Power, and carried in the Waggons belonging to other Persons than the said Company	2½d ditto, ditto.
Timber, Cotton, wool, Hides, Drugs, Dye-woods, Sugar, Corn, Grain, Flour, Manufactured Goods, Lead in Sheets, or Iron in Bars, and all other Wares and Merchandize, drawn, or propelled, and carried, by and at the expense of the Company	4½d ditto, ditto.
Ditto, drawn or propelled only by the Engines of the Company	4d ditto, ditto.
Ditto, drawn or propelled by the Engines, or other Power, and carried in Waggons belonging to other Persons than the said Company	3½d ditto, ditto.
All Articles ascending on each of the Inclined Planes where permanent Engines are used	8d per Ton in addition.
Ditto, descending on each of the Inclined Planes where permanent Engines are kept	3d ditto, per Mile, in addition.

Fractions to be taken as for a Quarter of a Ton, and as for a Quarter of a Mile.

Two branches to this railway are contemplated, both commencing near a place called The Lecturer's Closes, one of which will terminate in Great Moor Street, and the other in Deansgate, both in the town of Bolton.

The estimate for the whole work was made by Mr. James Stevenson, and amounted to the sum of £43,000, of which, £36,000 was subscribed before the act was obtained; it is said, however, that to finish it according to the present designs of the company, it will cost £75,000.

Soon after the passing of the act, Mr. Daglish, civil engineer, was employed upon this railway, but it has been subsequently under the direction of Mr. Stevenson. Stationary engines will be placed on the inclined planes, and locomotive engines on the other parts. Both are to burn their own smoke.

Seven years are allowed for the execution of the works, and if not then finished, the company's power is to cease, excepting as to such parts as may have been completed.

On the 26th March, 1828, another act, entitled, 'An Act for amending and enlarging the Powers and Provisions of an Act relating to the Bolton and Leigh Railway,' received the royal assent, but does not contain any thing in which the public have an interest.

The principal object of this railway, is the facilitating the conveyance of coal, slate, stone, and other commodities, from the interior of the country to the port of Liverpool, by the Leeds and Liverpool Canal from Leigh; and the return of corn, iron, lime, and merchandize from the above port, and from Warrington and other places, to Bolton, Bury, and their populous environs.

An act received the royal assent on the 14th May, 1829, for making a railway from Leigh to the Liverpool and Manchester Railroad, in the township of Kenyon, which, when completed, will greatly improve the value and add to the importance of the line above described.