Construction of the 13.94 mi (22.43 km)-long line was initiated by theShire of Swan Hill in 1887,[1] under the terms of the Tramways in Country Districts Act 1886, which allowed local governments in country areas to construct tramways, with financial assistance from the Victorian government, to a limit of £2,000 a mile.[2][3] The tramway was opened in July 1889.[4][5] On 31 December 1898, the area of the Shire of Swan Hill centred on Kerang became theShire of Kerang.[6] By 1920, the tramway's construction had cost £39,229.[7]
In 1929, a four-wheelvertical boilered locomotive was imported to work the tramway, manufactured by theSentinel Waggon Works inShrewsbury. It was withdrawn in 1941 and scrapped in 1952. There is a description of a journey on the railway in 1938 in an article in the March 1971 edition of theBulletin, published by theAustralian Railway Historical Society.[5]
On 1 February 1952, ownership of the tramway was transferred to theVictorian Railways. In its later years, passenger services on the line were run by a102hp Walker railmotor, paid for by the Victorian Education Department, to convey school children. The service was withdrawn on 16 December 1976. Arailfan farewell special on the line, with a train hauled byT356, ran on 20 November 1977.[8] The line was officially closed on 3 March 1981.[9]
