Jubilee 45596 'Bahamas' with 'The Kentish Belle' - Seven location chase! - Thursday 22nd July 2021

#Bahamas #TheKentishBelle #Steam

In spring 2021 the Railway Touring Company and the Steam Dreams Railway Company announced a series of tours using the Bahamas Society's Jubilee no.45596 'Bahamas', which would see her travel on a number of routes and visit a number of destinations in the south of England for the first time in preservation. For me only one date matched my availability, Thursday 22nd July's Railway Touring Company tour 'The Kentish Belle', a U shaped loop around the middle then top of Kent and return, so a date was planned in to chase the tour. Leaving London Victoria the tour ran through Bromley South-Maidstone-Ashford-Canterbury West-Ramsgate-Faversham, before turning on the Sheerness Branch for servicing at Sittingbourne before returning the same as the outward leg.

We start at Bearsted, and the bridge on the minor road leading to the golf club just before Bearsted station and near the summit of the 1 in 60 climb of Bearsted bank, two cameras see 'Bahamas' crest the summit and pass through the station. Next its Charing, where most of Kent seemed to have come to look at Bahamas as she took water in the station. We see some detail shots before 'Bahamas' departs towards Ashford. A pathing stop allowed me to cut the corner and head for Wye and we see 'Bahamas' pass through the station. On to Whitstable, and a footbridge over looking the sea off Joy Lane and running around 5 minutes late 'Bahamas' powers past heading for the final destination at Faversham. Finally for the outward leg its Kemsley and the turning move, we see 'Bahamas' coast through heading north to Swale before 20 minutes later the Class 47 at the rear brings the tour back through heading for Rochester. I did see 'Bahamas' head the tour through Newington back towards Sittingbourne for servicing but the video file corrupted, 'Bahamas' was being pushed by the Class 47 anyhow so it wasn't really worth including.

For the return we start at Faversham, as 'Bahamas' arrives and departs heading towards Ramsgate. Finally its Chilham, having seen a 45mph speed restriction at Chartham and I moved one station west and it proved a good move as 'Bahamas' powers through in the evening light getting back up to speed. 270 miles of driving, 12 hours out the house for 8 locations certainly was a great day. Thanks as always to everyone involved in running the tour!

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Видео Jubilee 45596 'Bahamas' with 'The Kentish Belle' - Seven location chase! - Thursday 22nd July 2021 канала alts1985