The Maryport & Carlisle Railway

The Maryport & Carlisle Railway was an early player in the railway network and was built to serve the Cumbrian coal mining industry, connecting it with the national railway network to the east and the shipping trade to Ireland from Maryport. Passenger traffic became more important as time went on. The company suffered form the usual problems of over-optimism about the financial returns and lack of experience. Still, it remained independent until the 1923 Grouping, except for an unfortunate spell in the ownership of George Hudson in the 1840s.