This company was incorporated in 1845 and completed its main line from Carlisle to Glasgow via Beattock three years later. Several amalgamations and takeovers followed, including the important one of the Scottish North Eastern Railway in 1866, which brought under the 'Caley' umbrella the strategic Perth-Aberdeen route. The Caledonian was a partner in the West Coast Joint Stock arrangement and took great pride in helping to maintain Euston-Glasgow/Aberdeen schedules against its great East Coast rival, the North British Railway. On the freight front, the CR was fortunate in having a virtual monopoly in the Lanarkshire coalfield and also enjoyed numerous connections with the shipbuilding and dockyard areas of the Clyde. Its total route mileage (including joint and leased lines) was 1,114 and it handed to the LMS 1,070 locomotives, 3,040 coaches, 1,786 service vehicles and 32,136 goods wagons. Its main workshops were at St Rollox.
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