19 July 1859, although its opening for goods and mineral traffic was deferred for some months as the provision was still incomplete. The Furness Railway obtained an act of Parliament, the Furness and Coniston Railways Amalgamation Act 1862 (25 & 26 Vict. c. cxxxiii) giving powers to amalgamate the Coniston Railway with it in 1862.

A branch was built from (just west of) the Leven Viaduct