The Semaphore line emerged from the western side of Port Adelaide station, travelled down the middle of St Vincent Street and crossed the Port River via the Jervois Bridge before curving to join the current alignment of the Outer Harbor line into Glanville station.

Steam trains travelled through Port Adelaide's commercial centre at walking speed, with the locomotive crew ringing a bell.

By the end of the 19th century, the goods yard had become very busy with imports and exports and there was a large engine shed and turntable to service the various steam locomotives working in the area.

After 1916, the frequent trains to and from Adelaide mostly continued to Semaphore or Outer Harbor via the new line and Commercial Road became the main railway station.

Port Dock continued to be served by irregular trains from Adelaide and by peak hour workings to Dry Creek via the Rosewater Loop.

The station platforms were rebuilt to a length of about 70–80 metres to accommodate a maximum of three railcars, although it was very rare for a 3-car set to terminate at Port Dock.

The station platforms were removed in 1987 while the redundant sidings and goods sheds were redeveloped as a Bicentennial Project to house the former Mile End Railway Museum.

[8][9] However, in June 2019 when some museum track had already been dismantled, the development was "put on hold" while a North West Planning Study was conducted; a forecast cost increase to $40 million was cited.

A short platform face was also constructed for Railway Museum heritage services running along a parallel stretch of track.