It was due to open on 24 June 1850 but problems meant this was delayed until 1 July 1850, when the first train left Holmfirth at 11:25 a.m.

Parliamentary authority was granted for a scheme in 1847, before the line was opened, which was costed at £56,000, however the powers lapsed in 1852 without any progress.

In 1893 the L&YR commissioned Robert Leak & Co to build a new platform opposite the station buildings and increase the gap between the two 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge running lines from 5 ft 9 in to the more usual 6 ft. 1901 saw the Huddersfield bound platform heightened, a new two storey booking office constructed, and an iron-lattice footbridge built across the line.

This meant that the yard covered both sides of the line and a cart way was built between the two to provide access.

In August 1852 the station was the location of a narrowly avoided rail accident, involving a Hull to Holmfirth train.

The station building and main platform itself was demolished and rebuilt in a similar style as a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's witness.

The closure of the woollen piece warehouse, which saw little use after World War II, was one of the first antecedents of a decrease in traffic on the line.

Increased competition from buses with resultant falling receipts led to closure of the line being announced with the last passenger train running on 31 October 1959 hauled by 2-6-4T engines, numbers 42116 and 42413.