The Kentish Belle has travelled on a route through Thanet today (August 9).
Bahamas Locomotive Society owned Jubilee No. 45596 Bahamas hauled The Kentish Belle on the journey from London Victoria to Faversham. The route took the loco through stations including Minster, Ramsgate, Margate and Broadstairs.
Loco “Bahamas”, number 45596, a 4-6-0 Jubilee locomotive, is one of 191 which were built between 1934 and 1936, concurrently alongside “Black 5s” 4-6-0s for the London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) both of which were designed by William Stanier.
BAHAMAS was formerly based at Stockport, Manchester working passenger services from Manchester Central to London St Pancras along the former “Cheshire Lines” route, and following withdrawal from service at the end of steam operation, 4 of the class were preserved:
45593 KOLAPHUR – Withdrawn October 1967
45596 BAHAMAS – Withdrawn July 1966
45960 LEANDER – Withdrawn March 1964
45699 *GALATEA – Withdrawn April 1936
*GALATEA contains many parts from loco 45562 ALBERTA all used on GALATEA
BAHAMAS was stored for many years at Stockport Depot before she was moved to Leeds for repair and onto the Dinting Railway Museum.
She returned to mainline service in 1972 and did many trips on the mainline, another overhaul began in 2013 and BAHAMAS returned to service in 2019.
It is the only preserved Jubilee to sport a double chimney.
Details with thanks to John Horton and David Burrin