A population of about 850 soon inhabited the townsite and services included a number of shops, a post office and a hospital.

Prior to this, on 5 March 1936, the Western Australian government had entered an agreement with the American Smelting and Refining Company to build the railway to Big Bell.

[6] The first train arrived in Big Bell on 6 January 1937, however the line was not officially opened until 12 August that year.

Services ceased from September 1944, but were revived the following year when the war in Europe was winding down and the gold mine reopened.

Not many of the buildings remain, but the roads stay visible in their original position as dirt tracks, and the layout of the town is clearly discernible from the air.