Founded in 1843, the Caledonian Railway was one of the original main Scottish railway companies. The line opened in 1849 and was soon providing services from Carlisle to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Greenhill (near Falkirk). The first engineer for the company was Joseph Locke.

It had a period of expansion and acquistions which included the Scottish Central Railway (1865), the Scottish North Eastern Railway (1866), Wemyss Bay-Port Glasgow Railway (1893)

The company was absorbed in the grouping of 1923 into the London, Midland and Scottish railway however unlike most other groupings which took place on January 1st 1923, the amalgamation of the Caledonian Railway was not finalised until the 1st July that year because of legal complications