In 1873 local residents petitioned the Provincial Government to construct a Branch Line from the South Island Main Trunk to Ropers Creek near Kaitangata to enable coal to be easily transported from the mines [REF].
The sleepers for the line were locally produced, while the rails came from the Darlington Iron Company (England) and the spikes, bolts, and nuts came from Bayliss, Jones, and Bayliss of Wolverhampton.