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By the next general meeting on 8 August 1859, Foster was able to report that over 350,000 cubic yards of excavation had been removed and 20 large bridges and viaducts were in hand or completed. Work on the tunnels at Mount Pleasant and Bridgnorth had begun. However he noted that;
:"''Considerable difficulty has been experienced in several places on the line, from the slippery nature of the ground, and at one point, especially, between Bewdley and Bridgnorth, it has been found necessary to make a deviation from the original direction of the railway to an extent which involves considerable alteration in the character of the works to be executed. ''"
The most significant landslip, north of Highley, resulted in a change to the line’s route and an expected delay in opening to the end of 1860.<ref >Marshall (1989), p. 41.</ref>.
On 24 November 1859 the foundation stone for [[Victoria Bridge]] at Arley was laid by Henry Orlando Bridgeman<ref >Marshall (1989), p. 43.</ref>.
Plans for the stations were complete and work on the buildings was about to begin. These were built by Messrs Eassie & Sons of Gloucester, mainly using brick made by Messrs Matthews & Co of Stourbridge.<ref>Nabarro (1971, p. 38.</ref><ref name=JM44>Marshall (1989), p. 44.</ref>
On 29 March the Law Clerk reported that all of [[Linley|Thomas Whitmore’s ]] land was now in possession of the contractors.<ref name=JM44/>
Despite several months of continuous wet weather, Fowler was able to report on 1 August 1860 that about 12 miles of permanent way had been laid. Hartlebury to Bewdley was expected to be open by 1 November and the rest of the line by May 1861. Station buildings were in hand and would be complete by opening.<ref name=JM45>Marshall (1989), pp. 45-46.</ref>
