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This junction has had several different layouts and refers to several slightly different locations. The original junction was for the Macmerry Branch (North British Railway) the present version is between the East Coast Main Line (former North British Railway) and line to Millerhill Marshalling Yard (British Railways).

The first junction opened in 1866 to the east of the viaduct over the River Esk. Here the single track Macmerry Branch (North British Railway) left the main line as a double track which quickly became single. The junction allowed trains from Edinburgh to take the branch. The box was on the north side of the junction.

A new box opened in 1912 on the west side of the viaduct, south side of the line. The branch was doubled. The new box was in preparation for the opening of the Lothian Lines (North British Railway).

The Lothian Lines (North British Railway) opened in 1915, approaching Monktonhall from Wanton Walls Junction [1st], to the north west, with a double track line. It crossed the River Esk on a new double track viaduct south of the original to meet the Macmerry Branch (North British Railway), passing the new box to the south. To protect the main line from runaways from the Macmerry line, which carried a considerable amount of coal traffic and climbed to the south, the branch was fitted with a run-off siding off its southbound line.

Immediately west of the new box a connection was made from the main line to the new line such that a westbound train on the main line could join the new line and to Wanton Walls Junction [1st].

The junction was re-signalled in 1961 in preparation of the opening of Millerhill Marshalling Yard (British Railways) which was approached from the east by a double track line. This connected to the Lothian Lines (North British Railway) west of Monktonhall and ran west, then south, then west again to reach the yard. Although the connection to this new line was some way to the west, it still came under the name Monktonhall Junction.

The eastbound line (up line) from Niddrie West Junction to Monktonhall ceased to be used in 1971, lifted by 1976.

The box closed in 1977 when the Edinburgh Signalling Centre took over.

The stub of the Macmerry Branch (North British Railway) (serving just Dalkeith Colliery latterly and singled before closure) was closed in 1980.

The Lothian Lines (North British Railway) running north west to Niddrie West Junction closed in 1984 - in effect replaced by the route through Millerhill Yard which remained open. (It was included in the 1977 Monktonhall re-signalling as a bidirectional single line.)

The main line now runs over the southern viaduct and the northern viaduct, the original, is disused.

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