The Kew line was a single track railway 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in length, departing from the western side of Hawthorn station and running parallel to the Lilydale line for several hundred metres, before curving to the north between the Grace Park and Glenferrie Oval.

The cutting ended, and a level crossing was provided at Hawthorn Grove, before Barker station was reached.

Barkers Road was then crossed, before the terminus of Kew station was reached in a cutting to the south of Wellington Street.

[2] There was no ceremony on the opening, but once the last spike was driven a bottle of Irish whisky was produced from a portable hut near Barker station to celebrate the occasion.

It is possible, by the smallest neglect on the part of the signalman, for either a Glenferrie or Kew train to be cut in halves.This contingency has caused the officers of the traffic office considerable anxiety, and strict orders have been given to the signalman at the junction box that once he has given 'line clear' for a train to run from Barkers Road, cross the main line and stop at Hawthorn, he must on no account alter his signals for a Glenferrie or Hawthorn train until the one from Kew has passed over the junction points.

[1] In the 1920s a reader of the 'Argus' newspaper suggested that Kew trains run as shuttles from Hawthorn at peak hour to save congestion on the Lilydale line.

At the time Kew trains from Flinders Street were usually empty, with only 5 people to a compartment, even in peak.

The remoteness of the Kew railway station compared to the tramway which ran along High Street was almost certainly a factor.

In his book Marc Fiddian states 'the abolition of through trains to Kew was probably the death knell of the branch line'.

[7] The down home signal at Kew was usually set at proceed, unless required to be placed at stop to operate the interlocking frame.

In the 1940s the Hawthorn Grove gates were permanently closed to road traffic during train running times.

[10] Kew station was located to the south of Wellington Street in a cutting, 1.5 km (0.93 mi) beyond the Lilydale line.

[10] An interlocking frame was provided on the platform, for control of three fixed signal and the up end points for the yard and run around.

[11] In the 1930s Victorian Railways Chief Commissioner Harold Clapp also drew up plans to extend the Kew line to Doncaster, running underground to the north of Kew Post Office, and then running on the surface with 5 new stations.