 In the 1920s the line was used to transport lime (chalk) from the quarry at Wharram (open 1918–1930) to the iron and steel industry on Teesside; the line handled around 100,000 tons per year.In 1922 a quarry opened and Burdale for the same purpose which provided work for the line until the quarry's closure in 1955.The route was closed to passenger traffic on 3 June 1950 but remained open for goods.