By the 1930s the line was worked by L and L1 class 4-4-0 locomotives. The "Schools" class 4-4-0s were introduced in 1930; the width of these was measured across the cab, and measured across the cylinders. The service was again reduced during World War II, with fourteen trains daily in 1942, of which four were fast; there were seven trains on Sundays. As built, it was envisaged that the "West Country" and "Battle of Britain" class locomotives would be able to work the line. Forty-eight locomotives of the "West Country" and 22 of the "Battle of Britain" class were built with cabs that were wide and paired with tenders of the same width. It was subsequently decided not to work these locomotives over the line. Locomotives from these two classes that were rebuilt gained a cab. Unrebuilt locomotives retained their narrow cab.