Before Beeching, this station (then known as "Fairfield for Droylsden") was a junction, with a pair of lines from the east breaking off and running to the south; this thereby facilitated a route to Longsight, south Manchester and Manchester Central railway station. By means of a switchback to Gorton and Openshaw, this branch enabled the turning round of locomotives without need for a turntable in the area. This could have been invaluable for servicing both the Guide Bridge yards and the facilities of "Gorton Tank" and Beyer, Peacock loco factories. This line was known as the Fallowfield Loop Line; it was closed to passengers in July 1958 and to all traffic in 1988.