The line was conceived as part of a through line between Hull and the north east of England. The only hint of such services came with the Summer Saturday Scarborough to Newcastle and Glasgow holiday trains. Running from Scarborough they halted at Malton, attached a pilot engine at the rear, reversed up onto Malton and Driffield metals at Scarborough Road Junction where the pilot was uncoupled. This locomotive then acted as a banker to get the long train moving forwards once again towards , Pillmoor and the East Coast Main Line. These trains used a rich variety of motive power, with even LNER Class A4 4-6-2s on occasions, but most commonly LNER Class V2 2-6-2s. In summer 1950 at least the line was used for a Summer Saturday Filey to Newcastle train and return, which travelled via , and , joining the East Coast Main Line at Pilmoor Junction. The other service to use the Malton, Scarborough Road Junction then reverse route was the two trains six time per year beginning and end of term specials, one from King's Cross and the other from Liverpool, to Ampleforth College. This lasted until 28 April 1964.