The branch line from Eryholme, then known as Dalton Junction, to Richmond, was opened in 1846 by the York & Newcastle Railway Company, under the Chairmanship of George Hudson "The Railway King".

This was at the height of what became known as the period of "Railway Mania" when between 1845 and 1846, 272 Acts of Parliament were passed authorising some 2,170 miles of new railway.

The Richmond branch had been authorised by the Great North of England Railway Act of 21st July 1845, and the line was speedily constructed with the first public train leaving Richmond at 7:25 a.m. on September 10th 1846.

Three trains a day provided passenger links via Darlington to York, Newcastle and London. Lead from the extensive Swaledale mines and agricultural materials provided the freight although by the early years of the 20th century, lead mining had almost ceased. However the advent of World War I provided a new lease of life when the branch to Catterick Camp was hastily constructed in 1914. Richmond Station continued in use, handling large numbers of troops in both World Wars and up to 1960 when National Service for 18 year-olds ceased.

The Passenger Station closed in 1968, whilst the line continued in occasional freight use, finally closing on March 3rd 1969.

Before the line was closed the station was included in the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, it's Grade II* rating reflecting the national importance attached to this fine building.

Eventually the Passenger Station became a popular Farm & Garden Centre, referred to in the 1978 television series, Six English Towns in which Alec Clifton-Taylor expressed delight that a real use had been found for the redundant station - "This is a shining example of what enterprise and imagination can do to save a good building no longer required for its original purpose. All over the country there are still stations - well over a thousand of them, which stand empty and a prey to vandals. This is an object lesson to us all".

The Preservation Trust seeks to continue that object lesson...