Initially the 13 weekday and four Sunday services operated as far as Elmers End where they connected with Addiscombe to London trains.

The station building was built in the SER clapboard style with a slate roof and a goods yard was provided at the London end on the down side.

On the opposite side of the line a signal box was provided at the east (London) end of the station.

[4][5] Initially the line was of questionable commercial value as the area was largely rural although it was an attractive location for Londoners wishing to escape to the countryside and with this in mind The Railway Hotel was opened in 1882.

[6] On 10 May 1941, during the Second World War, a German bomb exploded between the two platforms severely damaging the SER structures.

[10] Following privatisation of British Rail on 1 April 1994 the infrastructure at West Wickham station became the responsibility of Railtrack whilst a business unit operated the train services.

On 13 October 1996 operation of the passenger services passed to Connex South Eastern who were originally due to run the franchise until 2011.

Following a number of accidents and financial issues Railtrack plc was sold to Network Rail on 3 October 2002 who became responsible for the infrastructure.