[1] It was opened as Goathland Mill,[2] and was so named due to its proximity to the watermill on the Murk Esk river adjacent to the station.

[3] The original Goathland station was located at the head of the incline, where there are still some Y&NM cottages, together with a single W&P one.

[4] The station buildings were to the design of the NER's architect Thomas Prosser and were very similar to those being built concurrently (by the same contractor, Thomas Nelson) on the Castleton to Grosmont section of the Esk Valley Line at Danby, Lealholm, Glaisdale and Egton.

The collection of buildings is very little altered since they were built – the last recorded change (apart from NYMR restoration) was in 1908.

[5] Hornby modelled Goathland as part of the Skaledale Junction series, which included the footbridge, waiting room and Hogwarts Express.