The London, Midland & Scottish Railway Vol 7- St Pancras to Sheffield

The Midland main line from London St Pancras to the north of England is one of Britain's most important trunk routes. With its various loops and branches, this major artery of communication links major centres of population such as Leicester, Derby, Nottingham, Sheffield, Manchester and Leeds. Notwithstanding its obvious importance as a busy main line, the Midland route was built in piecemeal fashion, the various sections (from London northwards) being the Midland Railway London Extension (opened 1868); the Leicester & Hitchen Railway (1857); the Midland Counties Railway (1840) and the North Midland Railway (1840). In recent years the Midland line has been regarded primarily as a link between London and Sheffield, although a number of services have continued to run through to Leeds, Manchester and other destinations in the north of England.