Winsford and Over Branch Line
| Cheshire Lines Committee Winsford and Over Branch |
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The Winsford and Over branch line was a railway line serving the town of Winsford in Cheshire. It was operated by the Cheshire Lines Committee (CLC) from 1870 until the railways were nationalised under the Transport Act 1947, which took effect on 1 January 1948. Thereafter the branch was operated by British Railways London Midland Region until the line's closure in 1967.
In 1861, the West Cheshire Railway Company (WCR) presented a bill to parliament for the construction of a railway from Northwich to Chester with a branch to Helsby. The route was approved, with the exception of the section from Mouldsworth to Chester. The following year, the WCR presented another bill, once again seeking authorisation to build the line to Chester, but also proposing two branches, one of which would run from a junction with the WCR west of Cuddington to Winsford. This would allow the WCR access to the traffic generated by the salt works lining the west bank of the River Weaver near the town. The Chester line was again rejected but the branches were authorised.
Work on construction started early in 1867. By this time, the WCR had been absorbed by the Cheshire Lines Committee. The branch was completed and opened to goods traffic on 1 June 1870. Passenger services began on 1 July 1870.
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