The Bahamas Locomotive Society has announced a new partnership that will see 45596 Bahamas fitted with air brakes.

The Heavy Tractor Group has partnered with the BLS and has donated Westinghouse air brake components to support the overhaul of 45596 Bahamas.

The donation will allow Bahamas to operate with both air and vacuum stock, ensuring the successful return to mainline operation.

Additionally, the Heavy Tractor Group, who operate 37714 and D6700, will help in sourcing and acquiring components to keep the project on track.

Today’s announcement also marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration between the Bahamas Locomotive Society and the Heavy Tractor Group.

Keith Whitmore, Chairman of the Board of Trustees said “We welcome this collaboration with Heavy Tractor Group, which will go towards future-proofing the operation of Bahamas when it returns to the main line afteroverhaul.”

Steve Mitchell, Chairman of the BLS Locomotive Committee, said: “This is an incredibly exciting time to be teaming up with the Heavy Tractor Group. We are extremely grateful for them coming forward to donate key components to get us out of the blocks so that it will be all systems go for Bahamas after overhaul, doing what she does best on the main line with our operating partners. The knowledge the team at HTG has will prove invaluable as we advance the braking system on the Jubilee, which will allow both air and
vacuum operation. I would like to thank Andy, Nigel and the team for making this happen. This now firmly confirms our intentions to fit air brakes to ‘Bahamas’ during overhaul.”