It was provided with substantial brick buildings; a two-storey station master's house and the usual single storey offices on the main platform with a small timber waiting room on the other.

On a Sunday evening in October 1884 Godfrey Bostock (68) and his wife Mary (67), who lived in Kimberley and had been visiting relatives in Smalley Common, were killed while crossing the track at West Hallam Station.

Apparently they mistook a light engine working from Derby as their train and while hurrying to cross the line to the platform were both hit and died immediately from head injuries.

[3] Beside the presence of productive collieries, it was particularly busy during World War II due to a nearby ordnance depot, a satellite of that at Chilwell.

From Ilkeston the line climbed through West Hallam to a summit at Morley Tunnel before descending towards Breadsall.