 It was the successor to the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway (OWWR).The original constituent companies were the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway (incorporated 1846 and opened 1854), the Worcester and Hereford Railway (inc 1853 and opened 1859), and the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway (inc 1845 and opened 1850); which had already absorbed the Stratford and Moreton Tramway (inc 1821 and opened 1826).On 1 July 1861 the WMR leased the Coleford, Monmouth, Usk and Pontypool Railway (inc 1853 and opened 1857).