23 April 2012 Last updated at 06:52 ET

Railway roundhouses foundations unearthed in York

The roundhouses feature on a map of the area dating from the 1880s

The foundations of Victorian railway buildings have been uncovered during work near York station.

The remains of the North Eastern Railway roundhouses were unearthed during site inspections for a planned rail operating and training facility.

The roundhouses, used to service steam engines, are thought to date from 1864 and were abandoned in the 1960s.

Network Rail said it was working with archaeologists to uncover and record the roundhouses.

The North Eastern Railway Company ran rail operations in Yorkshire and the North East from the 1850s until it merged into the London and North Eastern Railway in the 1920s.

'Respecting heritage'

The company's headquarters were based in York.

The roundhouses, which included engine sheds and turntables, feature on a map of York station dating from the 1880s.

Phil Verster, route managing director with Network Rail for the London North Eastern route, said: "This site is a great example of respecting our rail heritage whilst at the same time making exciting plans for our future.

"We are working closely with experts to make sure the roundhouses are recorded and looked after."

Network Rail has submitted a planning application for the proposed operating centre, which would eventually control all rail operations on the east coast mainline.

The plan also includes a training centre for rail staff.