45596 'Bahamas' Whistles through Baldock at 68mph with The Windsor Flyer - 02/09/23

The beginning of meteorological autumn saw LMS Jubilee No. 45596 'Bahamas' taking The Railway Touring Company's 'The Windsor Flyer' from Norwich to Windsor. Leaving Norwich, the train would run up the Breckland line, picking up passengers at Thtetford and Ely before the first water stop at Chesterton Jn, just north of Cambridge. After a short drink, the train continued south on to Royston and Hitchin, where it followed the ECML to Finsbury Park. Crossing the WCML at Willesden Jn and the GWML at Acton Wells Jn to reach Southern metals, the train would run through Feltham to Staines where it would take the branch to Windsor.

First seen at Waterbeach, 'Bahamas' managed to attract a small crowd at Bannold Rd level crossing. The sun was trying to break through as the engine's exhaust cuts into the morning silence. A small trail of steam from the chimney and finely polished and shining tyres sees the train race over the crossing at 64mph with a little assistance from 47802 at the rear and onto the Cambridge water stop.

Hiding behind the clouds, the sun refused to come out to play for the next shot at Baldock. Although the 45596 left Cambridge only 4 minutes late, the crew were evidently keen to claw back at the deficit as the Jubilee's exhaust could once again be heard cutting through the ambience of the station. Sweeping through the reverse curve, a long, breathy whistle warns of her imminent approach and 'Bahamas' goes flying through the station at 68mph, easily hauling the 10 coach train, with no assistance from 47802, the driver was reading a book!


Great to see 'Bahamas' again in her usual immaculate condition demonstrating how a Jubilee acts at it's finest in firmly Eastern territory.


Timestamps:

00:00 - Waterbeach
01:17 - Baldock


Filmed on a Panasonic HC-X1500 with an AudioTechnica AT8024 microphone.


Enjoy.