On 29 October 1856, it was announced that the Great Southern Railway was to be extended [single line] from Liverpool to Campbelltown and it was to pass through the Minto Parish.
The Minto Parish was often used as a training ground for the Volunteer force[8] and this platform provided facilities for visitors to alight from Sydney (and elsewhere) to observe the activities.
Passengers alighting here were to notify the guard of the train at the previous stopping station as this platform only picked up and set down when required.
[13] The future of this railway location received a significant boost when, in 1877, the NSW Parliament Legislative Council stated, "the traffic manager had recommended a new platform and waiting shed for Campbellfields.
Despite additional stops being added to the timetable, travel time from Sydney varied little from the previous 1 hour and 25 minutes.
[22] On 2 December 1890, the NSW Department of Railways issued a tender for "Erection and completion of Waiting Sheds (wood) at Glenfield, Macquarie Fields, Ingleburn, Minto, Leumeah, on the Great Southern Line.".
[28] Throughout the 1890s, Minto continued to be the scene of goods loading (such as firewood,[29] potatoes,[30] mushrooms,[31] lucerne/hay,[32] block wood, fruit, sheep, cattle, and milk[33]) from the surrounding area and transported to Redfern markets for sale.
[34] Adjoining the goods yard was, "an enormous [sawmill] and every day two or three trucks of block wood were consigned to the city market.
"[33] On 23 January 1902, government announced that land was to be acquired for the construction of a gatehouse on the eastern side of the railway line along Minto Road[35] as well as an expansion of the rail yard.
[37] Due to the increasing population of the area, in 1903, a movement began to relocate the Post Office from the station to somewhere more accessible while also avoiding the need for people to cross the rail line.
[42] The fire required a locomotive with tanks full of water to assist with controlling the blaze which burned for weeks.
From one extreme to another, during March 1913, Minto railway station was the scene of a washaway as a result of storms hitting the area.
The Southern Highlands Express discontinued allowing passengers from Sydney to alight at Minto (among other nearby stations) causing some consternation in the community.
[58][59] The last remnants hinting at this crossing is the gatekeeper’s cottage (constructed in 1902[60]) on the curve of Minto Road near the railway line.
The Macarthur International Shipping Terminal which is an inland port is owned by Qube Logistics and is located south of Minto station.