The history of much-loved London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) Jubilee Class steam locomotive No. 45596 Bahamas is to be told in the latest in a series of heritage railway webinars organised by The Friends of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (KWVR).

The webinar will be held on Tuesday, 11th February and presented by award-winning author Pete Skellon, who will tell the story of Bahamas from when it was built by the North British Locomotive Company in 1934.

After its withdrawal by British Railways, it was saved from the scrap heap in 1967 and for 20 years was housed at the Dinting Railway Centre.

In the early 1990s, Ingrow West on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway became the base for the Bahamas Locomotive Society, from where Bahamas has been a regular attraction on the mainline, with crowds at stations, on footbridges, and in fields when it is scheduled to run. Bahamas last underwent a major overhaul in 2018.

The webinar host, Pete Skellon, has spent his working life in engineering, as a draughtsman and a design model maker.

He has volunteered with the Bahamas Locomotive Society for over 50 years, covering various duties including engine driver, footplate crew, examining officer, and museum designer and curator.

Pete is an accomplished author, with a portfolio including Steam Locomotive Lubrication, Bashers Gadgets and Mourners – the life and times of the LNWR Coal Tanks, Ingrow – a history of its industry and transport, and Bahamas – the story of a steam locomotive.

In 2013, Pete received a Lifetime Achievement Award from The National Transport Trust awarded in recognition of his long-term dedication and service to preservation.

The webinar starts at 19.30 on Tuesday, 11 February. Applications to join the webinar can be booked online at kwvrfriends.org.uk and should be accompanied by a donation. After Pete has finished his presentation, participants will be able to ask questions.

The railway’s first major event of the year will be the annual Spring Steam Gala from Thursday, 20th to Sunday, 23rd March when visiting LMS ‘Jinty’ No. 16440 will be a star attraction.

“Our webinars cover all aspects of heritage railway preservation from the comfort of your armchair. As we celebrate 200 years of rail transport, we’re delighted to join Pete Skellon, Bahamas Locomotive Society engineer on a journey into the history and preservation of this popular steam locomotive.”

Stuart Bray, Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Friends chair“