It was opened by the North Staffordshire Railway in 1863 and closed to passengers in 1964.

[1] In its later years, the station was used by staff operating trains to and from the adjacent colliery.

For this purpose, a large rail loader was built.

The station building has been rebuilt at the Apedale Heritage Centre.

[2] On 21 August 2009, work on Silverdale station platforms was observed with brickwork being repaired or repointed and they have now been restored as part of a railway footpath to Newcastle-under-Lyme.