The tests were undertaken to establish the following:
 | The price in terms of coal and water of hauling different train loads and different speeds over given routes |
| An indication of the level of efficiency of the locomotive |
| Means of comparing one locomotive with another on a common basis |
Testing was undertaken on the static test plant at Swindon and on the line between Wantage Road and Stoke Gifford, a distance of approx 50 miles. The amount of coal and water used was carefully monitored, the tender coal space being divided such that weighed bags of coal for the test were emptied into a designated area such that the firemen could easily access the loose coal and ordinary loose coal for transit and shunting moves was available in the remainder of the coal space.
Here are a few pictures of the tests and a summary graph.
