the company's initial share capital was £150,000, consisting of 7,500 shares at £20 each. the act specified that the line was to be completed within five years and included the conveyance to the company of part of the llanvihangel railway between the canal wharf at gilwern and abergavenny. the line's engineer was john gardner who had been the assistant engineer on the london and greenwich railway and the newport docks.