The scattered settlement of Pilmoor (in the civil parish of Brafferton), from which its name was derived, is located southwest of it.

[2] It was unusual in not having an access road when first constructed, due to it being purely an exchange station rather than one serving a local community.

The branch to Boroughbridge was extended through to Knaresborough in 1875, by which time Pilmoor was also served by trains on the Gilling and Pickering line to and from York.

[3] The station was rebuilt during the Second World War in 1942, when the main line was widened to 4 tracks north towards Thirsk.

A new main building and station master's house was provided as part of this work.