[3] The opening of this line allowed goods traders from Manchester and the surrounding areas to trade with the wider East Midlands and offered a more direct connection than the canal making it much easier for traders to transfer and receive goods by rail than boat.

The number of sidings and shunting movements along the line made journeys slow, and due to the sparse population in this part of the Peak District few stops were opened.

A parliamentary bill to introduce through-passenger services between Buxton and Steeple House was not successful.

[5] The main populated places along this route were Cromford, Wirksworth, Buxton and Whaley Bridge.

The station was closed to passengers in 1877, the line remaining in use for both mineral and freight traffic until complete closure in 1967.