[3][4] Glen Massey's coal was known of by 1867, when it was suggested a tramway should be built down what is now known as the Firewood Creek valley.

[10] The line was opened to Glen Massey in March 1914, and coal transport commenced, using a weigh-bridge at the Ngaruawahia private siding.

The company bought a new loco, NO 1, in 1913 from Andrew Barclay and, in 1914, purchased a second-hand ex-Wellington and Manawatu Railway tank locomotive from NZR, WH 449.

[11] A regular Saturday passenger service ran for many years, known as the "Wilton Express", using three ex-WMR clerestory carriages.

[21] To operate the new line, Waipa Railway & Collieries Ltd purchased a small 0-6-2T from Andrew Barclay, Works NO 1292/1913, which became WR&C NO 1.

To assist with the work, WR&C purchased another locomotive from NZR in 1914, 2-6-2T WH 449 (Manning Wardle 923/1884).

It was noted as still being there, albeit derelict, in 1957 when enthusiast Peter Mellor visited, but was presumably scrapped following the closure of the mine and railway in 1958.