The railway line from Rawtenstall to Bacup, an extension of the East Lancashire Railway (ELR), was authorised on 27 July 1846.[1] Construction began in 1847, and it was intended that it would be completed by 1 December the same year. The route required tunnels beyond Newchurch, and the expense of these meant that construction was curtailed, and the line was opened as far as Newchurch, where a station was opened on 27 March 1848.[2][3]
Construction of the line onwards to Bacup resumed in 1851, and this was opened on 1 October 1852.[2] The ELR amalgamated with the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway on 13 May 1859.[4] The whole line between Rawtenstall and Bacup was single-track at first; work to double the track began in 1878, and was completed in 1881.[5]
The station, originally named Newchurch, was renamed Waterfoot for Newchurch on 1 August 1881;[3][6] and the name was simplified to Waterfoot by 1922.[6]
