There was a serious collision on 20 September 1847, near Wool; the mail train from Dorchester was very late in reaching Wareham, and the stationmaster there sent a pilot engine out on the single line to find out what was wrong. At a point on the line where forward visibility was limited on a curve, there was a collision "of a fearful character". There were apparently only two passengers in the train, and they escaped without injury, but "considerable damage is done to both engines, and several carriages are said to be shattered".