In the 50th anniversary year since the closure of the Somerset & Dorset railway, Keith Farr concludes his performance analysis by looking at the Bulleid and BR Standard classes that worked the route to its final day.

PART one of this article (RM September) focused on â2Pâ, â7Fâ and âBlack Fiveâ performance over the Somerset & Dorset. During the Second World War, when the nationâs railway system was under Government control, the popular and reliable âFivesâ were transferred to areas of (allegedly) greater need.
The âDorsetâ was only partly recompensed by the loan of former London & South Western classes, including âS11â and âT9â 4-4-0s, although an LMS Compound 4-4-0, âCrabâ Class 5 2-6-0s and, briefly, â8Fâ 2-8-0s also did battle with the Mendip gradients. LNER âB12â 4-6-0s, with their low axleload and high-route availability, proved ideal for hauling ambulance trains.
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âBlack Fiveâ No. 5440 returned in 1944, to be joined by a number of the same class, and the Southern âstrangersâ were sent âhomeâ. Three new Ivatt Class 4 2-6-0s were allocated to Bath in 1949, but the double-chimneys they then carried did not match their boiler proportions, their steaming was poor, and in 1953 they migrated to less arduous duties elsewhere.
Read more in Novemberâs issue of The RM
