Construction of the extension was nearing completion by the end of 1920 when it became clear that more substantial rolling stock would be required for the line to fulfill its purpose.

[1] In December 1920 the British government put up for sale the 18 in (457 mm) gauge railway at the Deptford Meat Depot.

The depot had been established by the Corporation of London shortly before 1900 and had a standard-gauge connection to the LB&SCR as well as an internal 18 in (457 mm) gauge tramway system.

Around 1916 the army took over the running of the depot as a strategic supply for the war effort and introduced steam locomotives to work the narrow-gauge tramway.

After the end of the war, the depot was surplus to requirements and the entire system was bought by Walker, who realised that the substantially larger Hunslet 0-4-0 well tank locomotives would be suited to his plans at Sand Hutton.

This line ran from Warthill station on the NER to Kissthorn's Siding near the main hall, as well as a substantial branch serving the brickworks at Claxton.

There was one brake van (or possibly two - the Ministry of Transport Railway Statistics of 1927 list two), built by Robert Hudson.