The Piako County Tramway was built in 1882-83, just south of Te Aroha. It was a 2 mi 22 ch (3.7 km) long, horse powered tramway. It carried quartz from gold mines in the Kaimai Range to water-powered batteries in the Waiorongomai Stream valley below. It was built to the rare 2 ft 9 in (838 mm) gauge, thought to be that used on bush tramways in the Waitawheta and neighbouring valleys. A & G Price's first locomotive was built for the line, but proved too large for the curves and was sold for less than half its cost in 1885. It was later used for log haulage on Smyth Bros tramway at Kennedy's Bay.