The first train to use the new line was an express from Auckland on 8 December 1894 led by two original J class steam locomotives;[1] the trip had taken 8 hours and 40 minutes to reach Rotorua and travelled at an average speed of less than 30 km/h (19 mph).
This was the start of a worldwide trend, with such trains as the 20th Century Limited, Orient Express, Flying Scotsman and many more all sporting such locomotives of the type in later years.
[1] Economic difficulties imposed by World War I meant that the dining cars were withdrawn in 1917 and never returned; instead, an extended stop was made at Frankton to allow passengers to purchase a meal.
A severe coal shortage in June 1919 led to the service being cancelled altogether for six months, with the only passenger option a 12-hour-long journey by mixed train.
From 5 May 1930, reduced stops (Putāruru, Matamata, Morrinsville, Hamilton, Frankton Junction, Pukekohe, and Newmarket) allowed the schedule to be cut to six hours and the train became known as the Rotorua Limited.
Two observation cars with lounge chairs were trialled on the service at this time, but they did not prove successful due to the economic climate created by the Great Depression and were converted into ordinary carriages.
[8] Despite the heavy demand for services, the Railways Department cut the Rotorua Express to run just thrice weekly each way in January 1944 because of coal shortages.