The Bahamas Locomotive Society has announced that Coal Tank No. 1054 has been handed over to their ownership from the National Trust.
The BLS has cared for the locomotive since 1973, originally at the Dinting Railway Museum and now at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.
However, now the locomotive has been handed over and will now be cared for and owned by the Bahamas Locomotive Trust, whose base is at Ingrow West on the KWVR.
Ceri Williams, General Manager at Penrhyn Castle and Garden, National Trust Cymru said, “We're grateful to the Bahamas Locomotives Society for the care they've given Coal Tank over the last 51 years, and their tremendous efforts to continue allowing public access to this locomotive through a number of exhibitions and roadshows.””As we redevelop our experience at Penrhyn Castle to better showcase its industrial history and rehome some of the locomotives that unconnected to the Penrhyn story, it's the right time for us to be placing Coal Tank officially in the care of the Bahamas Locomotives Society.”
“Thanks to the Bahamas Locomotive Society and their dedicated team of staff and volunteers, Coal Tank is the only operational example of an LNWR locomotive and one of the few from the Victorian era existing today. It's a privilege to play our part in this journey and we're looking forward to seeing this loco continued to be celebrated widely.”
Chairman of the Society, Keith Whitmore, said: “We are delighted to receive the Coal Tank into our collection, and wish to thank the National Trust who, for many years, have supported us in our endeavours to maintain and operate this unique locomotive for the benefit of all.”
