Opened by a small local independent company, the Dumfries, Lochmaben and Lockerby Junction Railway (DL&LJR), when it opened the line between Lockerbie and Dumfries on 1 September 1863.

It was then used by the Caledonian as a strategic link to access Nithsdale and the Portpatrick line by running powers over the Glasgow and South Western Railway (GSWR).

[5] The station building was in the Scottish baronial style with crow steeped gables, along with a substantial stone goods shed.

Lochmaben lost its signal box in the 1930s as an economy measure and subsequently the loop line was lifted.

During the war years the station was served by elderly ex London and North western 2-4-2 tank engines working a push pull service between Lockerbie & Dumfries, then in the last few years the passenger trains were pulled by ex Caledonian locomotives, the last being ex CR"Jumbo"0-6-0 17504.