牡丹車站早期由於地形坡度對火車停靠啟動的技術限制，以及煤炭運輸需求較大的貨運作業空間，故採取折返式架構設計，列車由正線分岔進到站內，之後再分成4股鐵道，依照南往北的順序，分別是第一股提供客運及其他貨運使用，第二股往北延伸過福壽橋至當地人稱「碰壁」終點，是何政炭礦專用的運煤鐵道線，第三股為調度貨運列車的預備路線，第四股為武丹坑炭礦專用的運煤鐵道。支線上滿載煤炭的貨運列車，往東拖行回到正線後，才能對外運輸。

In the early days, Mudan Station had to deal with steep terrain to safely stop and start trains. Besides, the station needed large spaces for coal transportation. This is the reason why the Station adopted a switchback design. Trains diverged from the main line into the station, then split into four tracks from south to north. The first track was for passenger and other freight use. The second track extended north over the Fushou Bridge to a terminal locally known as "Pengbi" in Mandarin. This track was exclusively used by the HO-CHENG Coal Mine. The third track was a reserve line for scheduling freight trains. The fourth track was for coal transportation from the Wudankeng Coal Mine. Fully loaded coal trains on the branch line had to be pulled east back to the main line for shipping out.