The construction of the station was preceded by considerable debate between the city and the Bergisch-Märkische Railway Company about its location.

The main building was built in the Renaissance Revival style to a design by the architect Rauh of Elberfeld.

The original plaster surfaces were designed to look like ashlar and the corners were vividly highlighted.

On 12 March 1945, the station badly damaged in an air raid, but then rebuilt.

In 1870, the Bergisch-Märkische Railway Company established a main workshop for locomotives and wagons, which became a major employer in the city.

In the course of centralisation and rationalisation after the line was taken over by Deutsche Reichsbahn, the main workshop was closed in 1926 or 1927.

[10][11] The railway engineering facilities are still owned by Deutsche Bahn and were renovated as part of NRW's modernisation initiative 2.