York Railway Station

York Railway Station is the main railway station in York, North Yorkshire. The present station was built between 1872 and 1877 and opened outside the city walls, replacing the earlier station inside the walls. It was designed for the North Eastern Railway by architects including Thomas Prosser, Benjamin Burley and William Peachey, and is a Grade II* listed building. The station is known for its long curved platforms, yellow-brick station buildings, wrought-iron train shed, footbridges and its position close to the historic centre of York. On screen, it is often used when a production needs a large Victorian railway station that can stand in for London or another period setting.

York Railway Station has appeared in Chariots of Fire (1981) and The Dresser (1983). In Chariots of Fire, the station stands in for both King’s Cross and London Victoria. In The Dresser, it is used as part of the travelling theatre company’s wartime journey. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001) is sometimes incorrectly linked to York Railway Station because of the King’s Cross footbridge scenes. Those scenes were filmed at King’s Cross in London, using the former Handyside Bridge.

In Chariots of Fire (1981), York Railway Station appears in the railway scenes connected to the British athletes’ journey and return from the 1924 Olympics. The station stands in for King’s Cross in an earlier shot and later for London Victoria during the athletes’ return to England. The north bay of York station was used for the arrival scene, with period railway stock and locomotives from the National Collection placed on the platforms to create the 1920s setting.

In The Dresser (1983), York Railway Station appears during the travelling theatre company’s journey to its next performance. Sir, the ageing Shakespearean actor-manager, moves slowly and grandly through the station while Norman hurries ahead to keep the train from leaving without him. When the train begins to pull out, Sir commands it to stop, turning the platform into one of the film’s comic but revealing moments about his theatrical personality and the strain placed on the people around him.

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