The station, situated 11 miles 4 chains (17.8 km) south-east of Middlesbrough, serves the village of Battersby in North Yorkshire, England.

Formerly the place where the branch from Middlesbrough joined the through route from Whitby to Picton (on the Stockton to Northallerton portion of the former Leeds Northern Railway), the closure of the direct line west of Battersby in 1954 means that all services have to reverse in the station.

Until the rationalisation of the signalling in 1989 it was common for two trains to do so at the same time, in order to pass each other on the single track Esk Valley line.

[1] Despite being located along single track routes, Battersby became a major hub with extensive marshalling sidings and three-road engine shed with turntable.

The signal box located here has long since vanished, but traces of the third platform are still visible and a run-round loop is available for loco-hauled trains.