[1] The station served the growing community of Tinsley and the workers at the nearby steelworks which had moved to or had been founded in the lower Don Valley following major changes in manufacturing methods in the mid - late 19th century.

The station, opened by the South Yorkshire Railway, was built on the line between Sheffield Victoria and Barnsley and became a junction station with the opening of the line from Tinsley Junction (later Tinsley South Junction) to the original Rotherham station by the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway.

The station had two platforms, flanking the running lines, and was surrounded by sidings belonging to steel works, in particular Hadfields.

Because of the gradients on the line to Barnsley this was also the site of the siding, to the rear of the Barnsley-bound platform, for the "Tinsley Banker", a locomotive, or sometimes locomotives, whose job was to assist (bank / push) trains up the gradients.

The Sheffield Supertram now runs along this part of the old line and the nearest tram stop is Tinsley/Meadowhall South.