Home»All my photos»2019 Railway Photographs»Bahamas relaunches on the S&C

A special day, strong on personal reminiscences. The first phase of my passion for railways was kindled by the Jubilees on the Midland main line through Sheffield in the 1950s, including Leander and Galatea. The second phase was triggered by the appearance of the newly restored Bahamas at Dinting Railway Centre in 1970. That second phase persists until the present day, so it follows that the long awaited reappearance of Bahamas on the main line was not to be missed.
There was a fear that Storm Erik would abort the trip, as a tree blew down onto the overhead wires just outside Keighley. However it was Bahamas to the rescue as its footplate and support crew assisted the solo NR employee to clear the line.
So we were 33 late away from Skipton where I boarded, but still only ambled up the Aire valley through Gargrave at around 40 to the water stop at Hellifield. Still 24 late, we got away much more smartly, hearing satisfying chatter from the double chimney in the second of ten coaches, with a 37 on the end. We reached 40 at Long Preston and flew through Settle Junction at 58, but started to lose speed as soon as we hit the 1 in 100, dropping to 42 at Settle, 39 at Langcliffe and 29 as we entered Stainforth tunnel on a damp morning. We recovered to 33 at Helwith Bridge and blasted to 39 along the level stretch but the gradient then took its toll again and we were down again to 35 through Horton, 31 at Selside, and 29 at Selside Shaw, well before having to acknowledge the Ribblehead restriction. We plugged away at the same sort of speed to enter Blea Moor tunnel at 30, but flew out at 52 and along the head of Dentdale, hitting 57 before the station slowing. Still in the high fifties across the tops, we were over Ais Gill at 57, then we rattled down briskly, either side of 60, right down to Appleby, reached only 14 late.
On our way again, only eight minutes down, we ran briskly up to 55 at Long Marton, 58 at Kirkby Thore and thereafter at 60-ish all the way to Cumwhinton, where we started blowing off! Finally slowing down after Scotby, we were into Carlisle on time after an exhilarating downhill run.
The whole train was turned at Carlisle so those in posh class were still enjoying the sound from the second coach. Only the punters at the back with the growler just behind could evaluate how much it had contributed to the northbound run, but its role on the return became unmistakeable. We set off steadily, passing Low House and Lazonby on time, the latter at 59. We hit 62 at Eden Lacy and were still on time at Culgaith, doing 59. Bright running continued almost to Appleby, also on time. Leaving a little early, we reached 50 at Ormside viaduct then speed fell to 36 as we entered Helm tunnel and 25 at Griseburn. We recovered to 35 at Crosby Garrett but speed fell again to 27 through Kirkby Stephen and 24 on entering Birkett Tunnel and 22 as we came out. Then suddenly we sprouted wings: 28 at Shoregill and up to 36 at Angerholme, maintained right to the summit at Ais Gill. Speeds after that ceased to mean anything, though it was nice to hit 62 again at Settle Junction, and that could have been Bahamas’ own work. After the water stop at Hellifield, we were back at Skipton on time. It had been great to be behind Bahamas again, and hopefully we shall soon be allowed a true test of what she can do. You can’t beat a Jubilee with the right colour scheme!