Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 7 hours ago
From time to time we are treated to some exceptional steam spectacles and on the 29th March 2025, LMS Jubilee 45596 'Bahamas' was unleashed over Shap as it hammered its way over the famous gradient on route to Carlisle on Vintage Trains Shap Mountaineer excursion. I'm reliably informed that this is the first time Bahamas has tackled Shap in the preservation era on a full train. It did run light engine a few years ago but that was rather ignored.
What was so special about this run over Shap was that it smashed the time set by fellow loco 45699 Galatea, which topped Shap summit at 29mph back in February 2018, albeit Bahamas had one coach less with Galatea taking 11 coaches and 45596 taking load 10. I'm now reliably informed that this was second highest summit speed by a Jubilee class, 45690 Leander holds the record with an amazing 41mph on load 9, though this was way back in 2006 and ironically, on another Vintage Trains trip. Unfortunately I haven't been able to locate any footage of this particular run.
Anyway, three angles capture the action with two shots at Salterwath, which is halfway up the bank and then finally near the top at Shap Wells with a long whistle as the crew were clearly enjoying themselves.
I hope you enjoy the roar of a double chimney Jubilee !
At the end of the video I've attached that Galatea scene from 2018 so you can compare performances !
From time to time we are treated to some exceptional steam spectacles and on the 29th March 2025, LMS Jubilee 45596 'Bahamas' was unleashed over Shap as it hammered its way over the famous gradient on route to Carlisle on Vintage Trains Shap Mountaineer excursion. I'm reliably informed that this is the first time Bahamas has tackled Shap in the preservation era on a full train. It did run light engine a few years ago but that was rather ignored.
What was so special about this run over Shap was that it smashed the time set by fellow loco 45699 Galatea, which topped Shap summit at 29mph back in February 2018, albeit Bahamas had one coach less with Galatea taking 11 coaches and 45596 taking load 10. I'm now reliably informed that this was second highest summit speed by a Jubilee class, 45690 Leander holds the record with an amazing 41mph on load 9, though this was way back in 2006 and ironically, on another Vintage Trains trip. Unfortunately I haven't been able to locate any footage of this particular run.
Anyway, three angles capture the action with two shots at Salterwath, which is halfway up the bank and then finally near the top at Shap Wells with a long whistle as the crew were clearly enjoying themselves.
I hope you enjoy the roar of a double chimney Jubilee !
At the end of the video I've attached that Galatea scene from 2018 so you can compare performances !
