 Initially, the "Taneatua Express" operated daily, but the economic impacts of the Great Depression and World War II as well as post-war coal shortages meant that its services were often cut back to operate just twice or thrice weekly in each direction.Motive power was first provided by steam locomotives of the AB class, but during the 1940s, J class engines took over.By the 1950s, the lack of frequent, daily operation began to prove a significant discouragement to prospective travellers.