Peter Kerslake says "Class "2P" 40563 emerges from Devonshire tunnel and now drops down the gradient into Lyncombe Vale with indications of recent trackwork evident in the foreground, running on the single line section of track which extended from Bath Junction down as far as Midford viaduct some four miles to the south here on the Somerset and Dorset.
Both Devonshire and Combe Down tunnels were of restricted headroom meaning that coal would often be dislodged from locomotive tenders as they traversed through, with the larger classes being especially at risk of losing some of their essential load from tenders well filled on Bath depot.
This single line section of track posed somewhat of a headache for the signalmen down at Midford, particularly on busy Summer Saturdays, when additional long distance and heavily loaded passenger workings all added to the many scheduled workings heading between Bath and Midford on this single line."