From the West Coast main line in the Trent Valley, the colliery line crossed the A5 trunk road at an ungated crossing. It rose about 240ft in a distance just short of two miles - an average gradient of 1 in 47 and with 1 in 23 at its steepest grades. For this something powerful was required and Garratt William Frances built in 1937 was the answer. It was Beyer Peacock works number 6841 named after Sir William Francis Dugdale, the son of the founder of the colliery. In appearance this locomotive was virtually identical to the other three Garratt locomotives supplied by Beyer Peacock for industrial service in this country. The design is a genuine Garratt, the relatively small size not precluding the full use of the basic principles of the type. The engine was returned to the makers in 1956 for general overhaul but by 1966 was worn out, only handling 18 wagon rakes compared to 16 for an Austerity 0-6-0ST. William Frances was preserved at Bressingham in Norfolk arriving there in 1968..