the first 5 km of track opened about 1911, and this seems to be confirmed by a 1914 report saying the huntly-awaroa line is complete over the first section, ""well advanced"" by co-operative labour over the next and ""fair progress"" with 5 small contracts to a proposed station from huntly, ""where coal from the pukemiro collieries will be delivered for transport. an addition is being made to the combined bridge over the waikato river to carry it over the main south road. it is hoped by the end of the ensuing summer to have the rails laid to the junction with the pukemiro collieries line. as the works now in hand draw to a close, it is proposed to continue operations on this line in the direction of the burnt bridge. the expenditure upon the railway and bridge during last financial year amounted to £16,503, and for the current year a vote of £30,000 is proposed"." in 2015 prices £46,503 would be equivalent to $6.8m.