Originally known as White Platts Junction, the line to the right goes into Todmorden Station and that to the left joins the Manchester & Leeds Railway at Hallroyd Junction to continue into Yorkshire. Between the two lines is the 'Todmorden Triangle'.
The bridge was built for taking men and materials to the site of the construction of the Walshshaw Dean reservoirs, which started in 1900. A fatality occured C.1905 when a Mrs Harwood fell to her death.