45596 Bahamas & S.R 506 - The Mid Hants Railway Autumn Steam Gala

The Mid Hants Railway aka The Watercress Line took the brave decision to hold their annual Autumn Steam gala in 2020 in the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. For the gala there would be numerous caveats, the main one would be the restriction on numbers, the maximum of 500 tickets a day were made available and were sold out over three days and and you must stay in in your allocated seats. Coloured wristbands were handed out so everyone knew which train they were on and everybody was given a chance to ride behind the main guest engines. The usual on board distancing guidelines were in place with limited seating and the consistent cleaning of carriages and compartments along with mandatory face coverings were all part of the event.

The main guest engine was the immaculate Jubilee class 45596 'Bahamas' which made the long trip south from the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway courtesy of the Bahamas Locomotive Society. This will be the first visit ‘south’ for the engine since it was purchased in 1967 and the first time it has visited a heritage line (other than its KWVR home) since 1997. In essence this was the main reason for our trip and to see the S15 506 which returned to steam in June 2019. The other main guest was the 7F 53808 (owned by the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust on long term hire) Unfortunately the locomotive was facing smokebox towards Alresford and due to the lack of filming angles at the Alton end of the line and the clash of timings with Bahamas we were unable to capture the locomotive, so sorry about the exclusion but Bahamas and the S15 was our main targets. Action is taken from Bishops Sutton on the outskirts of Alresford which is at the bottom of the climb of the 'Alps' then at Bowers Grove and then not too far from the top at Wanders Curve.

As can bee seen in the video the weather was very kind to us especially in the morning and even when it clouded over the pristine condition of Bahamas could still be seen clear as day ! Another great visit to the Mid Hants Railway where the locomotives and locations never fail to delight ! I hope you enjoy the video.