STANIER ‘5XP’ 4-6-0 No. 45596 Bahamas was the undoubted star of Tyseley Locomotive Works (TLW) 50th anniversary Open Weekend on September 29-30, making its first public moves in steam for 21 years.
The Bahamas Locomotive Society’s (BLS) flagship ‘Jubilee’ was officially unveiled on Friday 28th during a special event for invited guests and dignitaries.
Performing the honours was Lady Judy McAlpine, widow of the late preservationist and BLS president Sir William McAlpine, and BLS chairman Keith Whitmore.
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Once the formalities were over No. 45596 made a number of demonstration runs through the TLW yard, taking the opportunity to pose with Tyseley’s own ‘5XP’ No. 5593 Kolhapur.
On the Saturday and Sunday, Bahamas was joined in steam by Tyseley’s ‘Hall’ No. 4965 Rood Ashton Hall and ‘Castles’ Nos. 7029 Clun Castle and 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, the latter having made a temporary return to steam following its withdrawal in July.
The ‘Castles’ made a number of appearances around the remaining 84E turntable during the two days, enabling the many visitors to look upon four of the class side-by-side with static Nos. 5080 Defiant and 7027 Thornbury Castle.
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