It was opened on 3 December 1883, to serve the West Cliff area of the town of Whitby, North Yorkshire, England.

West Cliff closed on 12 June 1961 meaning trains from Scarborough had to reverse at Prospect Hill Junction to go to Whitby Town.

[4] Whitby Town station was 1 mile 36 chains (2.3 km) east of West Cliff via a loop line that went through Prospect Hill and Bog Hall junctions.

[9][10][11] As some trains from Scarborough and Saltburn went through without reversing down to Whitby Town, a shuttle service was introduced using Sentinel steam railcars.

[13][9] The line north from West Cliff closed in May 1958 and thereafter, the station was the reversing location for trains between Whitby Town and Scarborough.