The book is titled 'Rails at Random' written by a gentleman called John Keavey. It's only a small volume, amounting to some 36 pages in A5 format and is a summary of the authors memories of journeys undertaken on the various lines in the period between the mid 1930's up to 1950 when he was growing up. Chapter one deals with the Malton - Driffield route which he travelled in the late summer of 1936. I would love to repeat his words here as he wrote them, but I may be breaching copywrite by doing so, however he recalls boarding the last train of the day from Malton in one of the bay platforms comprised of NER clerestory coaches headed by a grimy G5 0-4-4T loco. The train left for Driffield around 6pm and he details the things he saw en route including his surprise at encountering the tunnel at Burdale. 'Definitely dark and somewhat sulphurous' he writes. He refers to an extended stop at Fimber whist an errand boy goes off to deliver a package. Finally arriving at Driffield where he and his father changed trains to continue to Bridlington.
Another chapter deals with a journey from Scarborough to Whitby along the coast, where he describes travelling over the Larpool viaduct to the West Cliff station and then reversing down into Whitby town underneath the viaduct itself.
I walked the last part of this route very recently with the same friend who loaned the book to me. It was during that unseasonably warm few days we had at the end of February and if you get the chance I would recommend you do so yourselves. Access is quite good, the views from the viaduct itself are stunning and its interesting to see and walk along the trackbed heading down from West cliff to join the remaining line into Whiby alongside the River Esk. Gradient is about 1 in 50.
Back to the book itself. Subsequent chapters deal with various routes (mostly now closed) Pickering to Seamer via Forge valley, Boroughbridge to Pilmoor and even the short Easingwold branch. I found it a fascinating read.
