Glenariff Iron Ore and Harbour Company

The railway was 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge and carried iron ore from the mines to the pier, where it was loaded onto cargo ships for export to ironworks in Scotland and England.

[3] Ore was carried in four-wheeled wagons built by Ashbury Railway Carriage & Iron Company.

[5] The final attempt to revive the iron ore operation ended in about 1884 when the GIOH's growing losses forced it to default on its ground rent to William McDonnell, 6th Earl of Antrim.

[3] The Earl served a writ on the GIOH, which was duly wound up and its assets auctioned to defray its debts.

[2][6] For a more detailed history of the Glenariff Mines and mineral railway see "The Mountains of Iron" chapters 6 and 10.