Barclay Parsons describes the difficulties endured during this survey in his own account of this work “An American in China” published in 1900 after his return to USA.

However eventually in the autumn of 1902, with the American syndicate now under the presidency of Barclay Parsons, the short Canton-Sam Shui branch line was commenced.

[2] The first section of about 10 miles from Canton (Guangzhou) to Fatshan (Foshan) was double-tracked standard gauge line using 75 lb (34 kg) steel rails.

Because of the shortage of funds economies were made by purchasing used equipment from the United States and this included eight reconditioned ex-Manhattan Elevated Railway "Forney"-type tank locomotives, which had been built in 1885–1886 and were designed for running backwards (cab-first).

Construction of the next section from Foshan to Sanshui was then continued and a ceremony attended by the railway's senior staff and a number of invited guests was held on 22 September 1904 to drive in the ‘last (silver) spike’, marking completion of the line.

A diplomatic incident arose when it was discovered that the French and Belgians had purchased a majority stake in the American China Development Company.