LNWR, it was reported that the railway would soon be open. Opening, early management and services The Oldham, Ashton and Guide Bridge Junction Railway Company organised the building of the railway from incorporation in 1857, saw the lines completion in 1861 and the start of services, albeit using stock provided by the MS&LR. The companies majority shareholders were the MS&LR and the LNWR and under the terms of its original Act a further Act was enabled leasing the railway to its two major shareholders, this Act was promulgated and the OA&GB became a joint line from 30 June 1862. Each company appointed three out of the nine directors with the other three being local supporters including Platt and Buckley as Chairman and Deputy Chairman respectively. The line opened on 26 August 1861, with a celebration of the opening taking place on Wednesday 31 August 1861 when a special train carrying 200 guests ran from through Guide Bridge to Clegg Street, Oldham. In September 1861 the OA&GB operated around twelve round trips between Oldham Clegg Street and Manchester London Road, most went via Guide Bridge where they would be required to reverse direction about half the services didn't call at Park Bridge and Ashton Moss only had two services in each direction. The engines and carriages were provided by the MS&LR. Goods traffic began operating on the line from 1 February 1863. According to Fraser (1963) there was no urgency to start up goods traffic as the MS&LR owned the Ashton Canal which connected the same towns with Manchester, in effect the OA&GB was competing with one of its owners. Until 1872 the MS&LR operated the trains, the LNWR took over some services in 1869-1870 and after 1873 coaches were supplied jointly. After the LNWR link opened to in 1876 services ran between Stockport, , and , there were through carriages to . Description of the line The line was double track, long, connecting end-on with the LNWR near their station. Most services ran to and from the LNWR station where a bay platform was constructed in the 1860s to accommodate them, this platform was rented by the OA&GB. OA&GB stations were: , , , and which closed in 1862. In the centre of the route, just south of Ashton Oldham Road, the line had running powers over of L&YR track at Ashton. The line ended by splitting at Canal Junction