The original station buildings and platforms (numbered 1–3) were located a few yards to the west of the current station. These consisted of a train shed designed by George Townsend Andrews and similar to his work at Filey and . Platform 3 was an extension to the original scheme and was a bay platform used for many years by the 'Malton Dodger' until the 1950s. Bridlington expanded as a resort at the start of the 20th century largely as a result of the railway. Direct trains ran from the industrial heartlands via Selby and in the summer. The new holiday market led to a huge expansion of the resort and the need for a larger station to take the long excursion trains.