Tuesday 5th February came around and it was finally time for LMS Jubilee No. 45596 Bahamas to make its anticipated return to Keighley under its own power.

Departing Tyseley Steam Trusts base, where the loco has been overhauled, at 1030, the loco made its way up the country wowing crowds as she neared ‘home’.

Finally arriving home at the KWVR at 1620 to a hero’s welcome, which I was a part of. She gracefully glided in through the mainline station silencing the crowds.

After a few minutes, the loco backed onto the KWVRs platform 3 and soon settled in on her home line. After a quick run around, she was on her way back up to Haworth sheds via a short stop at the Bahamas Locomotive Society’s Ingrow West base.

LMS Jubilee No. 45596 ‘Bahamas’

45596 Bahamas was built in 1934 by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow for LMS. Bahamas is a unique member of the Jubilee class, as it was the only member to receive a double chimney and blastpipe. This modification was installed very later in the engine’s life, in May 1961. British Railways wanted to improve the classes’ performance, the trial with Bahamas proved successful, but by the early 60s, steam was starting to be phased out, meaning 45596 was the only member fitted with this equipment.

Bahamas was preserved in 1967 when the Bahamas Locomotive Society purchased the locomotive from British Railways. Bahamas has been under overhaul for the past 6 years and has not seen service for 25 years.

Bahamas is soon to take the mainline by storm with its ‘Bahamas Renaissance’ and ‘Bahamas Renaissance 2’ tours on the 9th and 16th February respectively.

The loco will traverse the inclines, viaducts and beautiful countryside of the Settle and Carlisle, a line where the Jube will be very much in its element!

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