Power type Steam Order number L885 Configuration 4-6-0 | Designer William Stanier Build date Jan 1935 | |
 | ||
Builder North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow | ||
London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Jubilee Class 5596 (BR number 45596) Bahamas is a preserved British steam locomotive.
Contents
History
5596 was built in 1935 by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow. It was named Bahamas in 1936 after the Bahamas, which were then part of the British Empire. After nationalisation in 1948, Bahamas was renumbered by British Railways to 45596, and transferred to Edge Hill, Liverpool.
In 1961 it was unusually fitted with a double blastpipe and chimney, and on return to traffic based at Carlisle. Bahamas was transferred to Stockport in July 1962, from which it was withdrawn from traffic in July 1966.
Allocations
The shed locations of 45596 on particular dates.
Bahamas Locomotive Society
Bahamas was purchased from British Railways in January 1967 for preservation by the newly formed Bahamas Locomotive Society. 45596 was then sent to the Hunslet Engine Company in Leeds for repair and repaint into its former LMS livery.
The society took a lease on track based close to Dinting railway station, and created the Dinting Railway Museum, which at its peak used to feature visits by such famous railway engines as Flying Scotsman, Mallard, and A2 Blue Peter and various members of the LMS Jubilee Class including sister engine 45690 Leander.
Closed in 1991, the society and its collection moved to Ingrow West railway station near Keighley, West Yorkshire.
Bahamas has been since July 2013 undergoing a major boiler overhaul at Tyseley Locomotive Works to mainline standard for a return to traffic in 2017. While the locomotive is being worked on at Tyseley, its tender is being overhauled inside the BLS's own building in Ingrow. In October 2015, a MK2 brake coach was purchased to act as 45596's support coach when it goes out on the main line. This is currently on loan to the Battlefield Line before certification work to get it to mainline standard is undertook at Tyseley.