2021 London railtours for steam locomotive 45596 Bahamas

Picture of Michael Holden

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2021 London railtours for steam locomotive 45596 Bahamas

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Picture of Michael Holden

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45596 Bahamas at Long Preston
45596 Bahamas at Long Preston // Credit: RailAdvent

The has announced that they have teamed up with to operate a number of tours in 2021.

A London to Penzance tour is the first to be announced by the Bahamas Locomotive Society and Steam Dreams, this is set to run on the 28th September, with more to be announced in due course.

This means that 45596 Bahamas will operate a tour out of London for the first time in preservation, and the locomotive will work over several new routes.

More plans for Bahamas will be announced in due course, and of course, details are to be subject to change due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A brief history of 45596 Bahamas

45596 Bahamas was built in 1934 by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow for the London Midland & Scottish Railway. 45596 was designed by Sir William Stanier and entered service in 1935. 45596 is the only ‘double chimney’ Jubilee locomotive after being fitted with it in 1961 as part of a trial.

In 1967, Bahamas was purchased from British Railways for preservation by the Bahamas Locomotive Society. After which, it was sent to the Hunslet Engine Company in Leeds for repairs and repainted into LMS Crimson Lake livery.

45596 Bahamas in Carlisle
Credit: RailView

The BLS secured the lease of a section of track to Dinting Railway Station near Glossop where it established the Dinting Railway Museum.

In 1994, the mainline ticket for 45596 Bahamas expired, with the locomotive spending the next three years running on heritage railways until its 10-year boiler ticket expired in 1997.

For the next 15 years, the locomotive moved between storage and static displays at the KWVR at Ingrow West and Oxenhope, as well as the National Railway Museum in York.

45596 Bahamas
Credit: ASH Railway Photography

A Heritage Lottery Fund application in 2012 was successful and allowed an overhaul to be completed. In September 2018, 45596 Bahamas was fully restored and in steam at the Tyseley Locomotive Works Open Day.

For more information and updates on 45596 Bahamas, please visit The Bahamas Locomotive Society Facebook page by clicking here.

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  1. rail tours and holidays shiuldnt be advertised until this Numonic Plage is cured or back to at least 85%normal..Same as advertising for jet2hols Tui and dating agencies[Those dont work anyway and were/are a con] especially at this time. Cure the plague and train treks will resume

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