Prior to the completion of the rail link, the Murphy's Creek area was referred to as a "feeding place for the engines" on the 30-kilometre (19 mi) range climb to Toowoomba, by a correspondent for the Brisbane Courier.

Ten years after completion of the Southern and Western Railway, traffic on the line had increased to the extent that the station yard, track layout and buildings were considered cramped and additional room was required to pass trains, on the single line track.

At this time according to the Working Timetable, Murphy's Creek consisted of a station building, with telegraph connection and a watering point.

Prior to construction of the forkline, the Working Timetable made mention of a turntable being situated at Murphy's Creek.

The forkline was established in response to the inability of early steam locomotives to ascend the Main Range without reducing their load at Murphy's Creek.

The largest tender capacity carried by a Queensland steam locomotive was 3,500 imperial gallons (16,000 L; 4,200 US gal), and the Murphy's Creek tank held approximately three times this amount.

[1] The use of Murphy's Creek as a station diminished with the introduction of diesel-electric motive power in 1952, and complete dieselisation of Brisbane to Toowoomba services in June 1956.

Prior to the introduction of the new motive power, on goods trains up to 12 hours could be spent working between Brisbane and Toowoomba.

83 working hours a day was taken up in light engine running and banking time on the range from the Willowburn depot.

[1] In 1963 the raised timber platform at Murphy's Creek station (similar to that at Grandchester) was removed and replaced by a ground level gravel platform and a new 14-lever interlocked signal cabin was provided with the rearrangement of signalling of the Murphy's Creek shunting yard.

[1] Murphy's Creek railway station was closed in 1992, with the introduction of Centralised Traffic Control (CTC) along the Main Range line.

The water tank was retained by Queensland Railways for the use of special steam-hauled excursion trains operating between Brisbane and Toowoomba, but was placed out of use in 1994.

The main elevations of both sections have a multi-paned sash window and two timber doors that provide access to rooms from the platform.

Mounted on the chamferboards facing the platform is a timber cabinet and two small metal "staff" boxes.

The main elevation is filled by three bays, each with hinged double doors with timber battens and internal diagonal braces.

The piles are marked with inspection dates, detailing maintenance work, and timber treatment carried out until 1994.

[1] Approximately four metres to the east of the tank base are three concrete foundation blocks used to support the former water softening plant (now removed).

[1] Veering from the main line, between the station building and the watertank, is a turning triangle or forkline, on a raised formation in a large grassed area south of the railway corridor.

A groundframe and electric release are positioned at the beginning of the forkline, which passes through a gate of timber post-and-rail over a small culvert.

From the gate the railway crosses Odin Street extending in a large curve to the south, terminating at an earth stop block.

[1] Murphys Creek Railway Complex was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 24 September 1999 having satisfied the following criteria.

The tank was maintained by Queensland Rail as a water supply for steam locomotives on special excursion trips between Brisbane and Toowoomba until 1994.

In its provision of water tank, forkline, station building, signal cabin and trolley shed, the Murphy's Creek Railway Complex contributes to an understanding of steam locomotive and train operations on the Main Range Railway between Helidon and Toowoomba for a period of nearly a century, and serves as a reminder of the operation and maintenance of this form of locomotive technology.