The western end of the line was at Loch Cuithir, where diatomite - known locally as Cailc (Scottish Gaelic for chalk) - was taken out from the lochbed and dried on wire nets.
At the base of the cliff was a factory where the diatomite was kiln dried, ground and calcined.
Diatomite was also gotten from Loch Valerain and transported by aerial ropeway to Staffin Bay.
From Invertote, the diatomite was transferred by skiff, onto puffer boats, waiting in the bay, and shipped across to the mainland.
The diatomite was turned into kieselguhr which was mixed with nitroglycerine by Nobel Industries, at Ardeer, to make dynamite.