45596 Bahamas

45596 Bahamas

45596 Bahamas

LMS Jubilee Class 4-6-0

Jubilee class locomotive No. 5596 was constructed in 1934 by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow for the LMS. It was a standard Jubilee Class locomotive. In June 1936, 5596 received the name Bahamas after the islands in the Atlantic Ocean, which were part of the British Empire. Following he nationalisation of Britain's railway companies, in January 1948, Bahamas, which had become the property of British Railways, was renumbered to 45596, and transferred to Edge Hill, Liverpool.

In 1967, Bahamas was purchased from British Railways for preservation by the Bahamas Locomotive Society. Bahamas was removed from service in 1973 due to the expiry of its boiler certificate. During this overhaul the livery was returned to the British Rail green scheme it had worn in regular service (this was authentic for its double chimney). In 1990, the Bahamas Locomotive Society relocated to Ingrow West railway station near Keighley in West Yorkshire.

In July 2013, work commenced on a major boiler overhaul to mainline standard at Tyseley Locomotive Works in Birmingham, with the aim of returning it to traffic during 2017/2018. 45596 worked "The Bahamas Renaissance", its first railtour for 25 years, on 9 February 2019, the tour originated at Oxenhope on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and ran both ways over the Settle and Carlisle line via Ribblehead and Appleby to Carlisle. The locomotive is now enjoying a welcomed renewed main line running period.

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