Agricultural lime was the predominant traffic from Browns, and when government subsidies for the transport of lime by rail were slashed and the railway link (the Tokanui Branch) to the primary destination for Browns lime was closed, freight tonnages fell below sustainable levels.
Agricultural lime was Browns' main merchandise, and when government incentives for transporting lime by rail were terminated and the railway link (the Tokanui Branch) to its main distribution point was closed, cargo shipments declined below a sustainable threshold.