The company was incorporated on the 5th August 1891 with the aim of building 170 miles of railway stretching from the Manchester Ship Canal to Sutton-on-Sea, via Sheffield and Lincoln. However, the only lines that were every actually opened were those from Chesterfield to Lincoln - opened on 8 March 1897 - and a branch to Brighton - opened on 28 May 1900. on 1st January, 1907, the company was bought by Great Central Railways.