- Der w ent ▁and ▁Se amer . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁The ▁line ▁was ▁built ▁by ▁George ▁Hudson ' s ▁York ▁and ▁North ▁Mid land ▁Railway ▁and ▁opened ▁on ▁ 7 ▁July ▁ 1 8 4 5 . ▁The ▁line ▁was ▁constructed ▁remark ably ▁quickly ▁by ▁the ▁standards ▁of ▁the ▁time , ▁taking ▁just ▁one ▁year ▁and ▁three ▁days ▁to ▁complete ▁the ▁ 4 2 - mile ▁route . ▁This ▁fe at ▁was ▁possible ▁because ▁the ▁Y & N MR ▁decided ▁against ▁the ▁more ▁cost ly ▁and ▁time - consum ing ▁option ▁of ▁building ▁a ▁tunnel ▁through ▁the ▁Howard ian ▁Hills ▁south ▁of ▁Mal ton . ▁Instead ▁the ▁chosen ▁route ▁me and ers ▁with ▁the ▁River ▁Der w ent ▁for ▁around ▁four ▁miles , ▁creating ▁a ▁slower ▁but ▁more ▁scen ically ▁pleasant ▁experience ▁for ▁passengers ▁ ▁The ▁railway ▁line ▁was ▁opened ▁with ▁a ▁ceremony ▁for ▁invited ▁guests ▁who ▁were ▁taken ▁by ▁George ▁Hudson ▁on ▁a ▁train ▁of ▁two ▁engines ▁and ▁ 4 0 ▁first ▁class ▁coach es , ▁which ▁left ▁York ▁at ▁ 1 1 . 0 0   am . ▁The ▁line ▁was ▁initially ▁single ▁track ▁and ▁the ▁journey ▁to ▁Sc ar borough ▁took ▁three ▁and ▁a ▁half ▁hours . ▁In ▁Sc ar borough ▁the ▁guests ▁were ▁treated ▁to ▁a ▁l unch . ▁After ▁a ▁return ▁journey ▁to ▁York , ▁the ▁guests ▁were ▁treated ▁to ▁dinner ▁in ▁the ▁Gu ild hall , ▁hosted ▁by ▁the ▁Lord ▁Mayor ▁of ▁York . ▁ ▁The ▁new ▁railway ▁included ▁a ▁ 6 - mile ▁branch ▁from