Building the railroad began with grading the route, in November 1901. The rails, the locomotive and the cars were delivered at Needles about the same time and were shipped up river by barge towed by a Colorado Steam Navigation Company steamboat. However within sight of the landing the barge stuck fast on a sandbar and could not be extracted over the next 3 months despite strenuous efforts to do so. Only the return of higher water on the river allowed the barge to be freed and landed at Quartette in February, 1902. Future rail shipments came by rail on the California Eastern Railway to Manvel, and then overland by wagon to Searchlight and the rail-line construction site. By March 6 miles of track had been laid and its locomotive and cars became operational, speeding construction. By May 1902 the railroad was completed, and the train ran twice a day carrying ore to the mill and returning with goods and passengers if boats had visited the landing at Quartette. This rail and steamer route became favored as it was the most rapid means of getting people and freight to and from Needles.

In 1903, there was a strike that idled the railroad and the mines. During that time water was found that made it possible to set up milling at the mine and a new stamp mill was built. By 1906 the railroad had become idle and the old mill was relocated to the new mill site, making it a 40 stamp mill.