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| Historic Arrival: Vintage Steam Train 45596 Bahamas Debuts at Manchester Piccadilly Station |
A momentous occasion is set to unfold as the LMS Jubilee Class Locomotive 45596 Bahamas makes its historic debut at Manchester Piccadilly Station today. This vintage steam locomotive, boasting an incredible legacy, will arrive at Manchester Piccadilly on Saturday, October 21, as it hauls the Mancunian train from London's Euston Station. Notably, this marks the first time the 45596 Bahamas has graced Manchester Piccadilly with its presence.
The journey of this nearly 90-year-old locomotive carries with it a unique historical significance. The locomotive's journey into Manchester will include a special moment as it passes by its former base at the Stockport Edgeley engine sheds. The 45596 Bahamas concluded its service days at Stockport in 1968 before finding its home at the Dinting Railway Centre near Glossop. Remarkably, during its service, this venerable engine covered more than 1.4 million miles.
A memorable celebration took place in 1967 just before the closure of the Stockport sheds. The event featured a lineup of iconic locomotives, including the Flying Scotsman, Oliver Cromwell, and the Bahamas. Oliver Cromwell, one of these legendary locomotives, pulled the last-ever steam train under British Railways on August 11, 1968, at Manchester Victoria.
Following the closure of the railway museum in 1990, the 45596 Bahamas found a new home at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. In 2013, the Bahamas Locomotive Society (BLS) received a substantial £775,800 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which went toward the comprehensive overhaul of this vintage engine.
The extensive restoration work culminated in the Bahamas returning to mainline running five years ago, marking the locomotive's first steaming since 1997. Today, the train is a regular performer in the southern regions of England.
The much-anticipated arrival of the 45596 Bahamas at Manchester Piccadilly is scheduled for just after 1 pm. Following its debut, the locomotive will proceed to Manchester Victoria, with a departure time set for 4:13 pm, destined for London's Euston Station. Keith Whitmore, Chairman of the Bahamas Locomotive Society, shared his excitement, stating, "We are thrilled to see our locomotive back in the North West. When we were formed in 1967 to save the loco, we were called the Stockport Bahamas Loco Society, and it will be an emotional moment when the loco passes through Stockport. To travel into Manchester Piccadilly for the first time ever and to be back at Manchester Victoria following almost a 40-year gap will bring back many memories."
Don't miss this extraordinary opportunity to witness history in motion as the legendary 45596 Bahamas graces Manchester Piccadilly for the very first time, rekindling memories of a bygone era.
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