The station, situated 3 miles (5 km) south-west of Haltwhistle, served the villages of Featherstone and Rowfoot in Northumberland.

[4] It was later decided that a line operating as far as Alston was sufficient, with the amended route approved by a further Act in July 1849.

In March 1851, the 41⁄2-mile section from Haltwhistle to Shaft Hill (which was later renamed Coanwood) was opened to goods traffic, with passenger services commencing in July 1851.

Construction of the branch line was completed in November 1852, following the opening of the, now Grade II* listed,[5] Lambley Viaduct over the River South Tyne.

Following improvements to the road network, including a temporary level crossing over the branch at Lambley, the line was closed on 3 May 1976 by the British Railways Board, with the last train working two days earlier.