The line served the major regional town of Beechworth, which had been active in campaigning for the main rail route into New South Wales to run via the town.

[1] The extension to Yackandandah closed on 2 July 1954, and the section between Everton and Beechworth on 30 December 1976.

[2] The section between Bowser and Everton, which was also part of the Bright line, remained open until 13 April 1987.

[3][4] In the 1990s, the route of line between Bowser and Beechworth became part of the Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail.

[5] In September 2018, work commenced on a $6.2 million project to extend the rail trail to Yackandandah.