This route started in 1881 under the Northern Pacific, Fergus and Black Hills Railroad; construction on the line was completed by 1883. Around 1900, the Northern Pacific Railroad took ownership of the line, calling it the Fergus Falls Branch.

Abandonment came in stages, with the first abandonment in 1975, and the last in 2002, leaving a portion of the line still active in Fergus Falls under the Otter Tail Valley Railroad. Here is a rough timeline:

        Breckenridge    Foxhome    French    Fergus Falls    Hoot Lake    Battle Lake    Henning    Wadena
1881-83     |------------------- Northern Pacific, Fergus & Black Hills Railroad -------------------|
1900        |-------------------------- Northern Pacific Railroad ----------------------------------|
1975        |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|.aband.|
1978        |------------------------------------------------------------------|.abandoned..|
1980        |..abandoned..|----------------------------------------------------|
1983                      |--------------------------------------|..abandoned..|
1986                      |------------ Otter Trail Valley Railroad -----------|
2002                      |.abandoned.|----------------------------------------|