[ritchiebaby]

jim, the NBR Co was a private company and it's only connection with the British Govermment was that it required Acts Of Parliament to proceed with it's plans, just like the English companies. The fact that it had numerous rich shareholders who no doubt were in it for profit did not stop it being a Scottish company, and although you mentioned the word "exclusive", I did not.

I have no doubt that Learmonth being a Tory helped greatly in getting the permissions and backing required. Don't forget too that all the major engineering works of the period were only built because of rich people spending money. Equally they were only built with the toil of poor people and it's that (unequal) partnership that gave us iconic sights like the Forth Rail Bridge.