The Company negotiated with the LSWR for the latter to operate the line; agreement was reached on 9 March 1858 for an annual rental of £1,600, the figure later increased to £1,800.Williams quotes £16,000 and £18,000 respectively on page 99; those figures equate to about £1.6 million and £1.8 million in 2022; for an annual rental they appear to be too high and Robertson’s figures seem more likely. Carter also says £1,800.
