it marked the completion of the first section of the network which now covers Westland, and links up with the South Island Main Trunk system at Rolleston, some 14 miles from Christchurch.
Originally this line was known as the “serpentine railway” on account of the way it twisted and turned. As a matter of fact, there were many “old man” stumps en route, and these were not removed but gone round, the result being innumerable curves of very doubtful radius. This railway was constructed primarily for the purpose of conveying coal from the Brunner mine (which after a varied and chequered career had been taken over by Messrs. Martin Kennedy) to Greymouth. Here permanent harbour works were being constructed, to enable coal to be exported in sufficient quantities to compete with importations from Newcastle, N.S.W. To further assist in the good work Messrs. Kennedy purchased a fleet of small vessels and a number of hulks, thus establishing depots at all the principal ports of the Colony. This ambitious project met with instantaneous success and the Brunner mine became the largest producer of coal in the Dominion. It is of importance to state that harbour improvements at Greymouth were carried out by the Borough Council until 1884, when the Greymouth Harbour Board came into being.
