 After its opening by Prince Wilhelm of Prussia on 20 September 1831, the railway was initially operated as a horse-drawn tramway for freight, although occasional passenger services soon began.During its extension to Steele and Vohwinkel, which started in 1844 and was completed in 1847, the railway was converted to standard gauge and subsequently operated by steam.This involved converting the terminus at Nierenhof into a through station with its own signal box.