Couple Restores 1882 Train Station Into Dream Getaway

A train-loving couple turned a forgotten piece of railway history into the vacation spot of travelers' dreams.

Mark and Carol Benson purchased Ebbertson Station in North Yorkshire in 1996, four decades after it closed its doors for the last time. The Victorian-era depot on the Forge Valley Line had been sitting empty since the last passenger train departed in 1950.

The Bensons invested tens of thousands of dollars and three decades of elbow grease to bring the station back to life. They converted the station master's house into their family home and got to work on the rest of the property.

Today, visitors can stay overnight in one of three restored First Class train cars complete with kitchens, bedrooms, and cozy seating areas. The former ticket office is now a charming cottage with two bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms.

The couple salvaged every detail they could. In 2021, they carefully demolished the men's bathroom and porter's room, saving each brick to use in the cottage renovation.

Their latest project restored the original platform canopy and waiting area. The work earned them a blue plaque recognizing the station's historic value as an example of celebrated architect William Bell's design.

"It has been a lot of hard work," Carol told reporters. "We are very proud of what we have achieved."

Sunny's Take

The Bensons created more than a business. They rescued a 142-year-old piece of community heritage that could have crumbled into nothing.

Mark worked full-time as a quantity surveyor while renovating on evenings and weekends. Carol left her nursing job at a school to focus on the station, turning what could have been a stressful career change into a passion project.

Now tourists from around the world book stays at The Old Station, keeping the memory of Britain's railway golden age alive. Guests wake up on historic platforms where travelers once rushed to catch steam locomotives heading to Scarborough.

The Bensons prove that with patience and dedication, forgotten places can find new purpose while honoring their past.