The Midland Railway (MR) was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. Initially the MR's main line, now known as the Midland Main Line, connected the East Midlands to London and to Leeds. Eventually the Midland, with its head office in Derby, had a large network of lines centred on the East Midlands, and main lines connecting the East Midlands to Birmingham and Bristol, and to Manchester. It was the only pre-grouping railway to own or share lines in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.