Early reporting mentions that a steam-powered streetcar existed in Centralia during the 1890s but ended due to the loss of the locomotive in a fire.

[2] Until the streetcar system ended, the rail was used to ferry "exhibits and livestock" to the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds which was located between the two cities.

[7] In 1931, the railroad was listed as being 5.0 miles (8.0 km) in length and was denied authority to commence in interstate commerce as it was deemed a short route and therefore "not conducive to economics of transportation".

[7] During an overhaul project of the roads in Chehalis's government district during 2021, several streetcar lines were found under the existing asphalt.

[8] Starting in Centralia, the streetcar line ran near a stretch of the former Pacific Highway, crossing over a timber overpass, and coursed by the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds.

The line continued into the downtown district of Chehalis, past the Northern Pacific depot, and on to the Green Hill School.