AMBITIOUS SCHEDULE

From a brief level at the site of Evershot station, just after the eponymous tunnel (308 yards), the line falls briefly at 1-in-95, then successively at 1-in-69/118/79 to meet the southward flowing River Frome which rises a mile or so to the west. Here the gradient slackens to 1-in-150 for a mile, leading to a level stretch through Maiden Newton. The schedule proved too ambitious and almost 6¾ mins were dropped on this section. Leaving Maiden Newton, gradients are slight as far as Grimston & Frampton Tunnel (651 yards), then fall at 1-in-118 to the site of Grimston & Frampton station, beyond which the pitch is at 1-in-133, easing to 1-in-249. A slight dip is followed by a mile at 1-in-207 up to Dorchester West. A further minute was lost on this stage of the journey. It would have been interesting to see what the two locomotives made of the 1-in-91 climb to Bincombe Tunnel, but unfortunately there was a signal check to 27mph half a mile from the summit. Thanks to time economised at the intermediate stops, the arrival at Weymouth was only 7 mins late. From Weymouth to Wareham, No. 45212 was at the head with the ‘U’ coupled on the rear, tender-first, and assisting on the climb to Bincombe summit. Northbound, this is a much more taxing prospect. The pair reached 37½mph at Upwey on 1-in-74, then slowed to 28½mph on the subsequent 1-in-50, completing the 1-in-52 through Bincombe Tunnel to the summit at the north end at 29mph – a sterling effort. We shall have to wait for another opportunity to see what No. 31806 is capable of on its own. With its 6ft driving wheels it should be quite a speedy machine for a mixed traffic locomotive.