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Description

Double-chimney 'Jubilee' No. 45596 'Bahamas', fresh from major overhaul, climbs towards Oakworth on thee Keighley & Worth Valley Railway on 29th March 2019 - the occasion of its official re-entry into traffic.

'Bahamas' was built in 1934 by North British Locomotive for the company of LMS [London, Midland and Scottish] Railway.

Given multiple modifications in 1961, which was the double chimney and blast pipe allowing it 30% increase in steam capacities and allow it to be fueled by poorer grade coal

45596 was withdrawn from service in 1966. While waiting to be scrapped, a Society was formed to raise money to purchase it from British Railway and prevent that occurring.

In 1967, 'Bahamas' was agreed by British Rail to be sold for scrap to a merchant in Hull, and it was only a generous business man giving a £3,000 loan allowed the Society be able to step in and buy Bahamas from the jaws of the scrapman. But high level intervention within the company of British Rail itself allowed Bahamas Locomotive Society to purchase the locomotive otherwise the pleas, the calls and the funds would have gone to waste or go elsewhere.

The locomotive has been owned by the Society ever since.

Its first boiler license in preservation ran out in 1973.

It took fifteen years [1988] before it was able to move under its own steam again, and pull trains as well as have a Mainline license which allowed it Main Line access until 1994, then after that heritage tracks until 1997.

For the next fifteen year period, it was either in storage or static exhibit at various locations. So in 2011, another appeal for funds for another boiler overhaul and license, and its overhaul began in 2013 and through a lot of hard work allowing for its return occurring for the main line in 2018.

Description

Double-chimney 'Jubilee' No. 45596 'Bahamas', fresh from major overhaul, climbs towards Oakworth on thee Keighley & Worth Valley Railway on 29th March 2019 - the occasion of its official re-entry into traffic.

'Bahamas' was built in 1934 by North British Locomotive for the company of LMS [London, Midland and Scottish] Railway.

Given multiple modifications in 1961, which was the double chimney and blast pipe allowing it 30% increase in steam capacities and allow it to be fueled by poorer grade coal

45596 was withdrawn from service in 1966. While waiting to be scrapped, a Society was formed to raise money to purchase it from British Railway and prevent that occurring.

In 1967, 'Bahamas' was agreed by British Rail to be sold for scrap to a merchant in Hull, and it was only a generous business man giving a £3,000 loan allowed the Society be able to step in and buy Bahamas from the jaws of the scrapman. But high level intervention within the company of British Rail itself allowed Bahamas Locomotive Society to purchase the locomotive otherwise the pleas, the calls and the funds would have gone to waste or go elsewhere.

The locomotive has been owned by the Society ever since.

Its first boiler license in preservation ran out in 1973.

It took fifteen years [1988] before it was able to move under its own steam again, and pull trains as well as have a Mainline license which allowed it Main Line access until 1994, then after that heritage tracks until 1997.

For the next fifteen year period, it was either in storage or static exhibit at various locations. So in 2011, another appeal for funds for another boiler overhaul and license, and its overhaul began in 2013 and through a lot of hard work allowing for its return occurring for the main line in 2018.