IN the 1950s, during the school holidays, my parents would buy runabout tickets which meant families could travel on the local rail branch lines (most of which Dr Beeching closed down in the 1960s).

We could ride along the coast to Whitby as an alternative to places like Staithes, Runswick Bay, Kettleness and Whitby Westcliff. When I think of how we squeezed into those old carriages (often without a corridor) how did the little boys hold on? But you got to know other families – for a day.

In the week we would manage to fit in the Richmond line, Barnard Castle, and on a longer day trip perhaps Scarborough, Seaton Carew or Roker.

They were happy days.

Long live the Esk Valley line as well as Danby, Glaisdale and Ruswarp etc.

Colin Johnson, Darlington.