on 11 july 1839 the first meeting took place of the newly authorised bristol and gloucester railway (b&gr); the new company name must not be confused with the existing bristol and gloucestershire railway (b&glosr). the bristol and gloucester company planned to form part of a chain of railways connecting to gloucester and the huge manufacturing district of birmingham. it was authorised to purchase the bristol and gloucestershire company, and to build a new line from westerleigh on that line as far as standish, about short of gloucester. there it would join the cheltenham and great western union railway (c&gwur), then under construction, and trains would run over that company's line to gloucester. a birmingham and gloucester railway company had been formed and was under construction, completing the chain. however the c&gwur was a broad gauge railway, and this break of gauge was to be a source of significant complication for all concerned, including the a&gr.