If you turned the clock back 100 years then this tiny UK village would look very much the same.

With its quaint railway station, quirky little platform tea room and gorgeous shop – visiting Goathland on the North Yorkshire Moors really is like stepping back in time.

In fact, it’s famous for being gloriously vintage – and because of its historic charm has been used as a setting for films including Harry Potter and TV favourite Heartbeat.

And that is why people from all over the world visit this marvellous little place that boasts daily steam trains that you can hop on and off – and even commute by if you’d like.

John Bruce lives in Goathland and is station master at Goathland Station.

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He has worked on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway line as a volunteer since 1969.

He said: “You name it, I have done it.

“I have always been interested in railways,” says Mr Bruce who absolutely adores where he lives.

He works on the signal boxes for the charity which runs the daily services for the world famous railway, which is opperated by around 1000 volunteers and around 100 paid staff.

He said: “There are other vintage railways but very few of this size – we are most definitely one of the biggest with probably the most passengers.”

And, he said, visitors never fail to be delighted. At the peak of the season around eight trains run on the line every day – and they’re mostly steam powered, with residents and tourists from as far away as Australia able to hop on board.

The must-see celebrity station was Hogsmeade Station in the first Harry Potter film and featured as Aidensfield in the ITV programme Heartbeat.

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Mr Bruce, who recently met King Charles who was visiting the station, said: “They certainly enjoy the experience.

“The majority of people know about us before they get to the railway.

“Some people know about Harry Potter as it was used in Harry Potter scenes and of course Heartbeat.

“The railway was used quite a lot to film for that series.”

He added: “They [the visitors] are very much into Heartbeat – it’s repeated in the UK but shown every day in Australia and New Zealand.”

Locals use the train too, with villagers sometimes hopping on to get to market day in Pickering.

He said: “Some of the local Grosmont and Goathland residents go to Pickering on market day by the steam train”.

But despite knowing the whole North York Moors line like the back of his hand, Goathland is where his heart is.

Mr Bruce added: “My favourite is Goathland Station as I have been involved from the start and look after it with a team of volunteers.

“It’s the archetypal railway station with a booking office, tearoom and sidings.

“It’s got everything you would expect from a country station.”

He added: “I am absolutely passionate about it.”

To hop aboard yourself or find out more about the line that runs from Whitby to Pickering visit this site.

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