been carried out. It is likely that share subscription was slow to be forthcoming, for in November 1892 it was indicated that Robinson was prepared to render the necessary financial assistance personally. This enabled work to proceed, and the construction was substantially complete by the spring of 1893. Board of Trade approval The consent of the Board of Trade was essential to passenger operation, and at this stage the Company informed the Board that "As the line is to be very light for some years after opening it is proposed to dispense with stations except at Lee terminus, where the station is half complete, and at Brockhurst where an adjoining platform will allow passengers to use the LSWR waiting room. It is proposed to work the railway with cars of the American type, having end platforms and low steps. The platforms to be only of a height sufficient for stock with steps." Through running to and from the LSWR was apparently not contemplated. Four intermediate stopping places were to be provided, Elmore, Browndown, Privett and Pound Lane Crossing. Each of the three last named would have had a special type of level crossing, where the gates would close automatically after the passage of a train: this would avoid the expense of a crossing keeper. There would be a platform either side of the crossing, and trains would stop at the platform on the approach side of the crossing; the guard would open the gates across the road leaving the gates to be restored across the railway by the actuating mechanism. Major Yorke of the Board of Trade made a site inspection on 15 July 1893. He reported that the line failed inspection on thirteen points, including that gauge ties were required on any curves of less than 15 chains radius; that there were no signals at all; that all sidings were supposed to be locked with a key on the train-staff, but the time of inspection the sidings were locked by a loose key; no facing point locks were provided and there were no check rails on 10 chain curves. The comment was also made that the line appeared to have been partly built outside the limits of deviation set and that the gradients were steeper than those originally proposed. Major Yorke sent a telegram to the Board of Trade stating that "I cannot recommend the opening as the works