Initially the line had stations at Woolfold, Greenmount, Tottington and Holcombe Brook with additional halts opening at Woodhill Road, Brandlesholme Road, Sunnywood and Knowles Crossing in 1905.

The line from Bury Bolton Street Station to Holcombe Brook was electrified with the overhead 3.5 kV dc system, rolling stock was also supplied at their cost.

During 1917 work started on the branch to convert to third rail to match the Manchester to Bury system.

The section of the line from Greenmount to Bury town centre has been converted into a pedestrian and cycle route, the Kirklees Trail, forming part of National Cycle Route 6.

Sustrans built a new 65 metres (213 ft) long bridge over the Kirklees Valley to replace the demolished Woolfold viaduct.