Card - The Great Railway Exposition 1830-1980

The Liverpool and Manchester Railway was first proposed by William James and Joseph Sanders in 1821. In 1826 George Stephenson was appointed chief engineer. The company originally intended to use fixed locomotives to pull freight trains between Liverpool and Manchester, but following the Rainhill Trial competition of 6 October 1829, locomotives in the style of Stephenson's Rocket were commissioned. The company opened the line between Liverpool and Manchester on 15 September 1830. The first passengers travelled along the line two days later and goods on 1 December. The Liverpool and Manchester Railway was absorbed into the Grand Junction Railway on 8 August 1845.

Born in Winstanley, Lancashire, the son of Thomas Cropper and his wife, Rebecca, the family were members of the Society of Friends and farmers. After his apprenticeship with a trading company he set up a merchants business trading as Cropper, Benson & Co. He initially traded from his home port of Liverpool, with Ireland and North America.

The company also engaged in a trading venture with Rathbone Brothers, which extended to the joint ownership of a sailing vessel. Cropper, Benson & Co continued to prosper to a point where James Cropper could afford to help the less well off in society, he also became involved in the campaign for the abolition of slavery. In 1831, he joined forces with Joseph Sturge and formed the Young England Abolitionists.

His business interests grew and he became invovled in the development of railways, as a means of improving Liverpool’s prosperity. He was a founding Director of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway and continued his interest in the railway right up until his death in 1840.