The line ran for 12 miles (19 km) and served to connect the highest navigable point on the Kaduna River, Wushishi, with the administrative centre of the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria.
A year later it was decided to extend the line 10 mile south along the river as Bari-Juko was judged to provide better facilities than Wushishi.
The line was not to last long as by 1910 the Baro-Kano Railway, which ran through Zungero, had been completed.
The Wushishi Tramway was no longer so useful and the track was lifted and used to build the Bauchi Light Railway.
1 a Hunslet 0-6-0T (wks 762) is now preserved under a canopy at Minna Station.