I'm working on a UK map and scenario that starts in 1850. The game started a new company in 1866 with AAAHogEx as the AI.
It decided to start with ships, which was probably a good idea, however it bought 6 of the largest ships in the game so far, and set them up to deliver mail. The ships have a capacity of 400 bags, and four of them are sitting at Dundee and Edinburgh, trying to get a full load. I think one of them is about 1/3 full after the better part of a year so it looks like it'll take a couple years to fill a single ship -- not good when two or three are waiting at that port. There has been exactly one delivery over the year your company has been in business -- that netted about $1k, plus there is a ship currently steaming with 80 bags to, I think Edinburgh.
It's not going to matter, as you can see looking at the financials. I just got a warning that the company is in trouble -- bankruptcy can't be far away unless it sells a couple of those ships.
Reading through this thread, it appears that the AI has done well in other situations. This has been a pretty tough scenario to make money in. Most of the towns started pretty small and building roads and rail is quite expensive. Ships are working well, now that there are some industries on the map, but your AI spent nearly all its money for ships and it looks like some tram stuff.