The Mid Hants Railway’s October steam gala will be held this weekend (16th-18th October) and brings together a number of projects which have been supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, including LMS Jubilee No. 45596 Bahamas.

The Watercress Line was recently awarded a £250,000 grant to help with the impact of coronavirus from the Heritage Emergency Fund.

Meanwhile, Bahamas is able to operate and visit the Watercress Line thanks to a £775,800 grant from the Heritage Fund for its overhaul, which was completed in 2019.

John Hillier, Commercial Director of the Bahamas Locomotive Society who was responsible for facilitating the visit of Bahamas from its usual home on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway in Yorkshire said: “We are really pleased to have been able to arrange for ‘Bahamas’ to visit the Mid Hants Railway for the Gala and to stay in Hampshire throughout October, particularly during this period of difficulty for the country.  Both businesses have been badly affected by the impact of COVID-19 and the fact that the visit of No.45596 can play a role in assisting their path to recovery is important.”

The Steam Gala follows on from the visit of 60103 Flying Scotsman in 2020 which visited to reopen the line to Alton.

The MHR is partway through the overhaul of Merchant Navy No. 35005 Canadian Pacific – which is also a National Lottery Heritage Fund-supported project.

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