South Australia’s first railway line between Goolwa and Port Elliot opened on May 18 1854, the first to be laid with iron rails in Australia. It was built for the purpose of moving produce transported down the Murray River to Goolwa, and then to Port Elliot for shipment overseas.
After determining the need for such a railway in the years 1848 onwards, construction for the railway commenced in 1851, with jetties, a stone breakwater and a planned seven miles (11km) of interconnecting railway track. The line was originally conceived for working by steam locomotion, but opened under animal power for economy and design reasons.
The original rails were 40lb/yard section, forged wrought iron, laid at 5 foot 3 inch gauge, on sleepers at 2 foot centres. This broad gauge was in line with recommendations from the British Gauge Commission and the agreement with the colonies of NSW and Victoria. In December 1853 with six miles of work completed and work still in progress on the Port Elliot cutting, the line was placed into service. Bullock drays were used to bridge the gap to Port Elliott. The line was completed in May 18, 1854 though it was never officially opened.
By the time it was converted to steam locomotion in 1884, the service had a maximum (in 1879) of 13 passenger cars and 104 goods trucks. In total during this pioneering era from 1853 to 1884, the line handled 253,156 tons of freight and 639,140 passengers. It was constructed and operated as a Government undertaking, thus considered to be the first Government railway in the British colonies.
Later extensions were built to Victor Harbor and Strathalbyn after the original rails were replaced. Since commercial operations ceased in April 1984, the Goolwa to Victor Harbour section has been run as a tourist railway called The Cockle Train. This name derived from the practice of early residents would take the horse drawn train to Goolwa to collect cockles, to be used for bait, from the sandy beaches near the Murray Mouth.