The station opened on 17 June 1847 by the York, Newcastle & Berwick Railway.[1] It was resited in 1875 and the first station remained open for goods traffic until 1964.[2] Between the 1875 and 1886, the first service of the day to Harrogate would originate at Boroughbridge, and the last service of the day would terminate here also, so the engine shed was retained for overnighting purposes.[3] The 1847 station had two dead end platforms, with the goods yard only being accessible from the southernmost platform via a reversal.[4]
The second station opened on 1 April 1875 and closed for passengers on 25 September 1950.[5] Images of the station show the station signs being stylised as Borough Bridge instead of Boroughbridge; as these were hand-painted, it is thought this was a mistake by the sign writer.[6][7] The newer station had eight goods lines, including two which were located within the old station environs,[8] and two platforms adjacent to double track, making Borougbridge the only station on the line with a passing loop.[9] The 1904 Handbook of stations, lists Boroughbridge as having a 5-tonne (5.5-ton) crane, and being able to handle most types of goods traffic.[10] Typical freight traffic handled at Boroughbridge included cleaning products and sugar beet outbound, and coal, animal feed and oil inbound.[11]