The railway was notable for including a 1.3 km (0.81 mi) tunnel, the longest rail tunnel in Victoria apart from the underground sections of the Melbourne City Loop.
The line was built in 1926, replacing an earlier overhead ropeway from the quarry to the main works.
The length of the main line from the new quarry to the depot was 5.6 km (3.5 mi).
At the time of its closure, the railway's motive power consisted of a diesel-electric locomotive (which was sold to the Victorian Railways), and six steam locomotives, which were donated to preservation societies.
[3] With the relocation to Queenscliff of the Australian Standard Garratt from the Newport Railway Museum in May 2013, all six steam locomotives existing at the time of the line's closure are now in preservation at the Bellarine Railway.