At the start of the 1950s, the line was almost the exclusive preserve of ex-LSWR motive power: Salisbury L12s, S11s, T9s and 700s. By 1952 there were six passenger trains each way on weekdays; the first was the Salisbury-Weymouth 03:52 which included a newspaper van 01:25 ex-Waterloo. During the 1952 timetable, longer distance trains started to use the line New Milton-Swansea, but by 1953 a Bournemouth West -Cardiff service was hauled by U class 31622 as far as Salisbury and on the same day a New Milton-Swansea train was in charge of BR 4mt 76016. In 1958, the last M7 duty on the line was performed by 30673 but this was a Sunday only service and by 1959 this ceased as an economy measure. It was not unusual to see double-heading on the branch, a particular example being the 07:42 Bournemouth Central-Salisbury but this was only for pathing purposes, the normal train being two coaches. However this particular service also saw the use of ex-SECR L Class 31771 on 21 March 1952, this loco having been transferred from Ashford to Eastleigh. In 1959, more ex-SECR locos displaced by the electrification of the Kent coast started to move westward, E1 Class 31497 became a regular performer on the 07:15 Salisbury-Bournemouth West. Other ex-SECR locos include N class 31835 from Exmouth Junction, transferred to Salisbury in 1964.