The station opened in 1862 and had a single platform; a small goods yard and a small locomotive depot, comprising a shed and a railway turntable.

In 1907 a connection was opened from the station, across the main street in Pateley Bridge to link the Bradford Corporation owned Nidd Valley Light Railway (NVLR) with the NER branch line.

This connection was only used by goods traffic as the NVLR opened its own passenger station a few hundred metres away and passengers had to walk between the two stations.

[5] All traffic on the NVLR ceased in 1936 and the Nidd Valley branch went into a decline which led to the withdrawal of passenger services in 1951 and the closure of the line and the station to all traffic in 1964.

[2] The main station building at Pateley Bridge survived and is now in private use.