The first of the line from Malton included severe gradients, ascending, including at 1 in 70, and required heavy civil engineering works. The highest point of the line was within the tunnel, where the southbound gradient changed from 1 in 70 up to 1 in 85 down. As built the line included a number of timber bridges, and a timber viaduct at Wharram. Land had been acquired for a double track line but only a single track was laid, using weight rails, on cross sleepered track. The line was to be worked by the York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway, under the same rules as the Thirsk and Malton Line.