Around 1906, Dr Raynor, a Canadian-born dentist working in Auckland, participated in William Stokes' timber extraction company, which had come into financial difficulties.

It led from Karekare along the Tasman Sea to Whatipu, where a new jetty had been built at the entrance to Manukau Harbour on the side protected by Paratuate Island.

It crossed soft sandy beaches just a few metres above sea level and made its way along rocky outcrops and often past steep cliffs.

[1] Both the construction and the operation were affected by the notorious west coast weather: storms, torrential rain, wind and sand blowing across the tracks.

A tunnel was built, of which the clearance outline was so narrow that the chimney of the steam locomotive had to be tilted into a horizontal position to allow it to pass.

On this part of the route, a rope had to be hung from the winch on the back of the wagon, before it went down the steep section, to reduce its downward speed.

[1] A small Bagnall steam locomotive called Sandfly was used on the line from the lower end of the funicular near Karekare to the quay near Whatipu,[1] originally used by a flaxmill in the Makerua Swamp in the Manawatu.