John Shaw arrived in New Zealand in 1852, with his sister Margaret, from Finegand which is near Glenshee in Perthshire, Scotland.
A major freezing works operated by Silver Fern Farms is located in Finegand.
[2] Finegand is situated on the Southern Scenic Route road, which meets State Highway 1 just to the north in Balclutha.
However, the line's profitability declined after World War II and it closed beyond Finegand on 27 February 1971.
The first 4.05 km remain in operation as an industrial siding to serve the Silver Firm Farms freezing works and it is shunted as required by passing trains on the Main South Line.