During the mid 1800s, the railway cause was sweeping across the state, proving to be the ideal transportation of people and freight. In 14th October 1878 the railway had reached Tamworth, and the government of New South Wales and local members of parliament did not see it necessary to extend the line further north. Once the push for the railway to extend up into the tableland was approved, two proposals were listed as appropriate routes to extend the railway up to Tenterfield and finally to Queensland. The first proposal was from Tamworth, via Manilla, Barraba and Inverell, this proposal left out the district of Armidale. The second proposal was from Tamworth, via Armidale and then Glen Innes. The decision of either proposal was based on the local political administration, the value of the towns that the railway was passing through and finally the physical geography of the landscape. Both routes had similar distances and costs, however the move towards Inverell looked more suitable, as more businesses and industries were prospering in the area. There was also a population influx from the increasing work of the gold mines surrounding Armidale. Furthermore, Armidale was previously named a municipality in 1863. Eventually the party that was in office at the time of the decision pushed forward for the Armidale route, because it was more a cultural and geographical centre than Inverell. A survey done in 1874 surveyed the lands from Inverell to Armidale and said Armidale was less difficult to manage geographically, despite costing a little more. The Armidale route was approved and was completed and officially opened in 1883. David Proudfoot constructed the railway line from Uralla to Armidale, whereas from Maitland to Uralla was done by Messrs Amos. Also, despite the railway being prepared for, the station wasn't complete when it opened, and the goods-shed and engine-shed were "in mere skeletal form" when it opened (The Armidale Album p59). A temporary platform was erected on Jessie Street opposite the Church of England Cathedral.