After extensive debate , the Queensland Government selected Cairns as the starting point of the line .
The first section opened to Redlynch , at the base of the range , 11.6 km from Cairns in 1887 .
After extensive debate , the Queensland Government selected Cairns as the starting point of the line , and the first section opened to Redlynch , at the base of the range , 11.6 km from Cairns in 1887 .