AN independent school near Thirsk. which was once the favourite home of Railway King’ George Hudson. is featured in a new BBC 1 series about the history of the railways.

Presenter Liz McIvor is filmed being shown round Queen Mary’s School by Hudson’s biographer and local historian, Robert Beaumont, during “Railways: The Making of a Nation.”

The school is based at the Grade 1 listed Palladian country house at Baldersby Park, where Hudson - the 19th century entrepreneur who created Britain’s modern railway network - lived for almost ten years until 1854.

“He loved it the most and took refuge there when his career collapsed,” said Mr Beaumont. “It broke his heart when everything went wrong for him and he had to sell it in 1854.”

Now the writer has shared his experiences of working with the film crew in a talk to pupils, parents and staff.