[1][2] The line was opened between Audley End and Saffron Walden on 21 November 1865 and to Bartlow in 1866.
The line was the initiative of the local Gibson family whose bank helped to finance the railway.
It remained independent until 1 January 1877 when the Great Eastern Railway purchased the line.
The line closed to passengers on 7 September 1964 and to freight three months later.
At Audley End, services used a separate platform, the building of which still remains, in the current car park (52°00′15″N 0°12′28″E / 52.0043°N 0.2077°E / 52.0043; 0.2077).