Passenger services commenced six months later,[4] with a further extension westwards to Hawes being built by the North Eastern Railway in 1877/8 (the NER having also absorbed the B&L in 1857).

Nationalisation followed at the end of 1947, but less than a decade later the station was closed when the Northallerton to Hawes route fell victim to road competition, services being withdrawn on 26 April 1954.

The steam-age equipment at the station, crane, water pump, were demolished in September 1966,[6] however, Leyburn retained its status as a goods depot until 1982[7] (and a passing loop and signal box), but latterly the entire route operated as a 'one train' single line.

[9] The company hopes to one day eventually rebuild and reopen the abandoned line westwards to Hawes and eventually to Garsdale and run trains along the full length of the entire Yorkshire dale from Northallerton to Garsdale — a trip of almost 40 miles (64 km) in length (which would nearly make the railway itself the longest heritage line in the UK).

[10] In 2019, the passing loop was opened and the footbridge donated from Brigg Station in Lincolnshire, was refurbished by Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Company in a not-for-profit scheme.