TRAIN enthusiasts will have the chance to see two more steam locomotives tomorrow (Sunday) as they passes through Herefordshire.

The Glorious Jubilee Class steam train 45596 'Bahamas’ will be chugging its way through the county as part of the Great Britain tour.

It is set to pass through Pontrilas at 10.05am before then heading towards Hereford. The loco is due to arrive in the city at 1021am, where it will stay for over an hour.

OTHER NEWS:

Upon departure, the Bahamas will head north through Shelwick Junction, Moreton-on-Lugg, Leominster and Woofferton before going through Shropshire and the Cheshire border. It will stop at Chester at 1.49pm. 

When and where to see Britannia on Sunday, April 16

  • Abergavenny 9.50am
  • Pontrilas 10.05am
  • Tram Inn 10.11am
  • Hereford 10.21am (departs 11.29am)
  • Shelwick Junction 11.32am
  • Moreton-on-Lugg 11.35am
  • Leominster 11.45am
  • Woofferton 11.53am
  • Bromfield 12pm
  • Craven Arms 12.06pm
  • Marsh Broom Level Crossing 12.12pm

The 45596 was constructed in 1934 by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow for the London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS).

It was a standard Jubilee Class locomotive, designed by William Stanier, the chief mechanical engineer of the LMS.

In June 1936, 45596 received the name Bahamas after the West Indian islands in the Atlantic Ocean which were part of the British Empire.

OTHER NEWS:

The Bahamas was saved from being turned into scrap after several members of the public came together to attempt to purchase it with the hope of using the locomotive to operate special excursion trains.

British Rail showed a lack of enthusiasm when it was approached by the preservation society as the group encountered great difficulty in raising the funds.

In early 1967, British Rail had agreed the sale of Bahamas to a scrap merchant in Hull. But the society had enough money, largely due to the offer of a sympathetic businessman of a £3,000 loan to cover the purchase, and high-level intervention within British Rail resulted in the sale to the Bahamas Locomotive Society – in the hands of which it remains.

In addition to the 45596 Bahamas, the 35018 British India will also pass through Herefordshire during the afternoon.

Times you can see the 35018 British India on Sunday, April 16

  • Abergavenny 12.33pm
  • Pontrilas 12.48pm
  • Tram Inn 12.54pm
  • Hereford 1.06pm
  • Hereford (signal 41) 1.08pm (service reverses here at 1.13pm)
  • Hereford 1.16pm (departs 1.36pm)
  • Shelwick Junction 1.39pm
  • Moreton-on-Lugg 1.42pm
  • Leominster 1.51pm
  • Woofferton 1.58pm
  • Bromfield 2.05pm
  • Craven Arms 2.11pm
  • Marsh Brook Level Crossing 2.17pm

It will be the second time this week that steam trains have travelled through Herefordshire, following the 7000 Britannia last Tuesday (April 11).