Bahamas locomotive in Surrey: When and where you can see the historic loco in 2021 – Surrey Live

As restrictions continue to ease, railway fans will be delighted that another historic locomotive is set to visit Surrey.

Following the news the Flying Scotsman will soon be steaming through the county, The Railway Touring Company has released information on when another historic loco will visit.

The 45596 Bahamas, built in 1935, is set to stop off at two Surrey stations during a trip from London Victoria on August 5.

The Dorset Coast Express journey is scheduled to stop at Staines,Woking and Basingstoke on its way to visit Bournemouth and Weymouth.

According to The Railway Touring Company, the historic locomotive was built more than 85 years ago for London Midland & Scottish Railways and following extensive restoration returned to mainline running in 2019.

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The Railway Touring Company has teamed up with Bahamas owners, the Bahamas Locomotive Society, to provide a number of steam days out as the loco spends much of this summer in the South including its first departures from the capital in decades.

Kelly Osborne at The Railway Touring Company, said: We are very excited to have secured these dates with Bahamas. We look forward to working with the Bahamas crew to provide some great days out recreating the golden age of rail travel.

"Already a number of our steam excursions for this summer are full. After a very tough 15 months for the heritage rail industry, its tremendous to see such enthusiasm and support from people.

The express is set to leave London Victoria at around 8.45am, steam-hauled by steam locomotive No. 45596 Bahamas, and travel westwards, crossing the river Thames at Barnes Bridge, through Kew and Feltham.

It will then stop at Staines at 9.35am and Woking at 10.05am to pick up Surrey passengers.

At Winchfield, the journey will pause for the steam locomotive to take on water before continuing to the final pick up point at Basingstoke.

The journey will then leave the South Western Main Line at Worting Junction and take the Bournemouth line, heading south through Winchester and Southampton. The locomotive will then stop at Bournemouth to set down those passengers wishing to visit.

After leaving Bournemouth, they journey will continue to Wareham and Dorchester set to arrive at Weymouth at around 1.45pm and remain for almost three hours.

The train will then return from Weymouth hauled by U Class steam locomotive No. 31806 at around 4.35pm as far as Southampton with the main steam locomotive banking on the rear, from here the main steam locomotive will take over for the remainder of the return journey.

The journey is set to continue through Andover to Basingstoke, where it will stop to set down passengers and for the steam locomotive to take on water. It will then stop at Woking at 8.40pm and Staines at 9.15pm before continuing to London Victoria.

In the event of a high fire risk the section from Weymouth to Southampton on the return leg would be diesel hauled.

Coronavirus restrictions are set to be relaxed from May 17, however any onlookers hoping to see the famous locomotive should not trespass or crowd at stations. For guidelines on how to stay safe, read this advice.

For more information and details on the trip click here.

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Bahamas locomotive in Surrey: When and where you can see the historic loco in 2021 - Surrey Live