Bahamas LocomotiVE Society
The ‘Bahamas’ Locomotive Society was formed in 1967 to purchase the former LMS Railway ‘Jubilee’ class steam locomotive No.45596 Bahamas. As a volunteer group, the Society established the Dinting Railway Centre in Derbyshire – a working museum to house Bahamas and an ever-growing collection of locomotives and rolling stock. The Centre was to attract thousands of visitors before closure became necessary in 1990, the nucleus of the collections moving to Ingrow on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.
The Society was invited to utilize the former goods warehouse as a base to create a workshop and museum. The initial focus was building the workshop facility to allow maintenance to continue on the locomotives. Once established, it provided the facilities to develop and create the museum space. With financial assistance from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the museum opened in May 2003.
The Society is a Registered Charity for educational purposes (No.259626) and the museum is fully Accredited (No.1883) under the Arts Council scheme of Museum Accreditation.
The Society
The Bahamas Locomotive Society is one of the few mainline locomotive-owning groups that:
- is volunteer led
- has its own operational base,
- has its own support structure for the repair and maintenance of its locomotives and rolling stock,
- is an accredited museum with an interpretative exhibition on locomotive and railway history open to the public
- offers a formalised learning programme for schools
- has its own archive and library available for research.
The Society works closely with its partners, the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway and the Vintage Carriages Trust, as part of the Rail Story attraction at Ingrow, while remaining a wholly independent organisation. The Society has its own aims, managerial and locomotive operational structures, and procedures.
The headquarters is the former Midland Railway goods shed at Ingrow, on a long-term lease from the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. Created as the Ingrow Loco Museum, it is now the Engine Shed, an integral part of the Rail Story concept.
The tasks undertaken in the museum and workshop, as well as outreach events, provide any member with the opportunity to become involved with any of the Society’s activities as it continues to pursue its aims. No particular skills are required for anyone wishing to partake in these activities, for relevant training, mentoring, or guidance is concurrent with our work. Indeed it is found that new volunteers bring their skills and experience, which greatly assist the work of the Society.
We consider that the dedicated volunteer workforce is its own community, working, maturing and changing as it faces the challenge of continuing to care for the Society’s collections. It is understood, however, that not all members wish to participate in the activities but are willing to support our aims in other ways.
All Members have free entry to the Engine Shed and are welcome to attend the Annual General Meeting when there is the opportunity to hear the departmental reports and question any of the Officers about current or future plans. We look forward to seeing you.
In addition, each Member receives the Journal, published quarterly, which reports on the Society’s activities and includes articles on railway or locomotive topics.
JOIN US – Membership of the Bahamas Locomotive Society
We welcome those interested in our activities and want to keep in contact. Membership in the Society is available and is the ideal way to be kept up-to-date with our ongoing projects. Each member receives a copy of the Journal, published quarterly, and a copy of the Members Handbook. This provides information on the Society, the available benefits and opportunities, its achievements, and the Rules and Operating Working Instructions.
