Bahamas Stanier Jubilee

The Bahamas appeal continues, let us hope she will one day steam again. Here on view at Oxenhope till it goes down to the workshops at Ingrow in the late autumn

 
History in Preservation

Bahamas was purchased for preservation by the society in July 1967 (for £3000!) and following overhaul returned to operation in March 1968.  Having moved to the Dinting Railway Centre (established by BLS in 1968 and closed in 1990) a further overhaul saw it on the main line again between 1989-1994, then heritage line operation until its ticket expired at the end of 1997. Bahamas has subsequently been displayed in the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway’s Oxenhope shed.

Research by BLS has established that when the double chimney and blastpipe were fitted at Crewe in May 1961 this was BR’s final experiment aimed at improving steam locomotive performance.  The significance of this – and launching the appeal in the year of its 50th anniversary – explains the title of the appeal.

Overhauling No. 45596 will cost at least £400,000. With around £115,000 in the kitty, BLS has set an appeal target of £300,000. To get the overhaul moving, a new chimney casting is being fabricated to replace the existing life expired one.
Work will begin in earnest this autumn when the overhaul of LNWR 0-6-2T ‘Coal Tank’ No. 1054 is completed at BLS’s Ingrow base. Progress will depend on funding, but BLS aims to have the overhaul significantly advanced, if not complete, during 2015, No. 45596’s 80th anniversary.

An incentive scheme for donors has been prepared, see http://www.bahamas45596.co.uk/  for details or contact appeal coordinator, John Hillier on 01572 747706 or email jrh@johnhillier.co.uk