The Camerton branch had been authorised by the original Act for the Bristol and North Somerset Railway, but not proceeded with by the impecunious company. Coal had been extracted for some time at Camerton — the Camerton New Colliery had been opened in 1800 — and in the 1873 session of Parliament the B&NSR received authority to build the branch; the Act was passed on 21 July with capital of £40,000; the GWR was permitted to fund the construction. The development of this scheme for a relatively short branch line seems to have been ill-prepared. Only after the passage of the Act was Clarke, the Company's engineer, told to prepare detailed estimates for the construction. At a Board meeting on 30 June 1875 was it decided to start negotiations with the Somerset Coal Canal Company to get permission to cross its canal. On 24 October 1875 the GWR accepted a tender for the construction from W Monsley in the sum of £19,000. Evidently the B&NSR had persuaded the GWR to handle the management of the work.