 Excursion trains from all over the country could be routed into it rather than the main Central station to disembark their passengers before heading onwards to the branch line to be stabled in carriage sidings at Northstead/Gallows Close on the town's northern outskirts.Return services would follow the same route in the opposite direction to load up before departure.It was opened on 8 June 1908 by the North Eastern Railway, but it was not advertised in public timetables until 1933, after it had been upgraded to a public station.