responded by buying the Cawood company for £32,000. The sale was fully effective from 1 January 1900 and confirmed by the NER Act of 30 July 1900. The NER decided not to proceed with the extension to Church Fenton. The Cawood company was formally wound up on 27 February 1900, having, unusually for such ventures, paid a dividend to shareholders throughout its short life. Thereafter the NER operated the line as a branch, as did its successors, the LNER then finally the North Eastern Region of British Railways. An early passenger benefit from the NER's takeover occurred on 1 July 1904 when Cawood branch trains were diverted to run through to the main station. The Brayton Gates terminus thereby became redundant. It was closed and soon demolished. The passenger service was withdrawn on 1 January 1930, but a goods service continued. A "Farewell" railtour ran on 22 April 1960 using two brake vans. Another party of enthusiasts was carried in the same month. The line closed on 2 May 1960. The very last train, sent out to collect a stranded van and Cawood station's office equipment, ran on 23 May 1960, hauled by a diesel shunter. As a boy, Mr John Woodall had travelled on the first train in 1898, British Railways agreed to his request to travel in the guard's van of this final trip. Operation The line was called a "Light Railway", but it was authorised before the Light Railways Act 1896, so it received none of the benefits of that legislation. It was soundly built as a "heavy" line, but with a route availability of "two", which severely restricted the axle weight of locomotives and rolling stock which could be used. Being almost dead level and single track throughout, with a terminus at the country end, the line lent itself to one engine in steam working. The route had just one signal of its own – a fixed distant on the approach to the junction with the main line – and needed no signalboxes. Traffic passing to and from the NER was controlled by that railway using signals of their own on Cawood line territory. For this the NER used what was "Brayton Gates" signalbox, which was subsequently renamed "Wistow Junction" and in 2018 remained operational as "Selby West" signalbox. The line had seven gated level crossings and eight sets of sidings, five near level crossings, one