LMS Jubilee Class 4-6-0 No. 45596 Bahamas is to have its first mainline run of 2024 on Sunday, 27th October when it hauls “The Shakespeare Express” from Derby to Stratford-upon-Avon.

This will only be the second time that The Shakespeare Express has started at Derby, and will see Bahamas take over duties from the Castle Class locomotives normally used on Vintage Trains‘ rail tours.

By starting the train at Derby, passengers in the East Midlands will have the chance to travel to Stratford-upon-Avon behind a steam locomotive.

Leaving Derby, at 10.15, the train will pick up at Burton-on-Trent, Tamworth High Level, and Coleshill Parkway, to arrive in Stratford-upon-Avon at 12.45.

After four hours exploring Stratford’s historic streets, the train will depart from Stratford-upon-Avon at 16.45 and follow the same route as outward to arrive back in Derby at 19.20.

Built by the London, Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) in January 1935, Bahamas was originally numbered 5596.

In line with other members of the class which were named after Commonwealth countries, it was named after The Bahamas in 1936.

In 2022, Bahamas was temporarily renamed as its long-lost sister locomotive 45606 Falkland Islands to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the South Atlantic conflict in the Falkland Islands.

Bahamas has the distinction of being the last steam locomotive to be modified by British Railways when it was fitted with a double chimney which it still carries today.

It was purchased for preservation by the Bahamas Locomotive Society, and is now based at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway when not hauling railtours.

‘We are absolutely delighted to once again be working with Vintage Trains and Tyseley Locomotive Works where 45596 was overhauled to perfection following the awarding of the lottery grant and most of our return to the mainline excursions were run by Vintage Trains in partnership with ourselves and we have always worked well together and will enjoy doing so again.”

Keith Whitmore, Chairman of Bahamas Locomotive Society

“I’d like to extend my thanks to the Bahamas Locomotive Society, for allowing us to use their fantastic locomotive, 45596 Bahamas, on our upcoming Shakespeare Express departure from Derby. This is particularly fitting as Bahamas was based at Derby for a time and would have been a regular performer in the area during its LMS days. As this will be Bahamas first mainline passenger run since 2023, I hope this will prove an exciting opportunity to both passengers and the public in equal measure to see the locomotive once again at speed hauling passenger trains on the mainline.”

Michael Whitehouse, Chairman of Vintage Trains