 The quote about little return was accurate . In 1877 the NSR dividend was only 2 % compared with the dividend of 6 % paid by the LNWR to its shareholders . A year later the dividend fell to its lowest ever point of only 1 ⅝ % . However it recovered and after 1881 never fell below 3 % . In 1891 the NSR paid a 5 % dividend for the first time , a level not to be reached again until 1913 . 
