The line to Mingela (formerly Ravenswood Junction) was opened on 9 November 1881, to Macrossan on 24 July 1882 and to Charters Towers on 14 December 1882.

[1] In order to cross the Burdekin River, the line was carried over a road bridge at Macrossan which had been opened for traffic in mid-1879 and was converted for railway use in 1881.

A temporary line was laid on the upstream side to enable the passage of freight from November 1882 even before work was completed.

During the 1890s a number of large metal truss rail bridges were constructed and crossed major streams making the connection of important towns and resources possible.

[1] It consists of the following components:[1] The former Burdekin River Rail Bridge was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992 having satisfied the following criteria.

This bridge, which allowed the railway to cross a major river, demonstrates the way in which Queensland was developed by linking important inland resources with ports.

It is a good example of a metal truss bridge of its era and was the first of a number of this type built during this period, many of which have since been replaced.

It was one of the largest bridges in Queensland at the time of its construction and it demonstrates the skill with which the technology of the era was used to solve the problems of severe climatic conditions and terrain encountered by railway engineers.

[1] The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland's history.