 The Manchester & Birmingham and the Sheffield, Ashton-under-Lyne & Manchester companies proposed an extension of their lines which would skirt the southern part of Manchester city centre on a viaduct, and join the Liverpool and Manchester Railway at Ordsall Lane in Salford.This was promoted as the South Junction Line.A branch line was also proposed, leaving the South Junction line at Castlefield (west of today's Deansgate station) and following the Bridgewater Canal to Altrincham.