Yeovil-Dorchester linespeed

[Wilts Wanderer]

Does anyone recall when the above route had a 40mph limit imposed for anything heavier than a Sprinter? It still has this differential to this day, which made the Weymouth Wizard HST something of a trundle as it was not permitted to use the SP differential which is as high as 75mph in places.

Was this one of the routes Regional Railways saw as a cost-cutting opportunity which would date the reduced linespeed to the early 1990s? Or was this done later.

 

[The exile]

It seems unlikely that regular loco-hauled working would have continued as long as it did if such a restriction was in place but you never know.