A HISTORIC locomotive has visited Basingstoke as part of a tour across the region, giving enthusiasts a chance to spot the Jubilee class engine.

Steam locomotive number 45596, known as Bahamas, visited Basingstoke on August 5, on its route to visit Bournemouth and Weymouth as part of the Dorset Coast Express.

Bahamas, a Jubilee Class locomotive, was built more than 85 years ago for London Midland & Scottish Railways.

Following extensive restoration, it returned to mainline running in the North of England 2019 only to have to return to the engine shed to bide its time for over a year due to the pandemic.

It will be the engine’s first departure from the capital in decades, and will also haul trains to Kent, Somerset and Cornwall over the cause of July and August.

Last week, it departed from London Victoria before stopping at Staines, Woking and Basingstoke on its way to Bournemouth and Weymouth.

Lucky passengers travelled on vintage rail coaches and enjoyed a four-course dinner.

But it also gave members of the Basingstoke Gazette Camera Club the opportunity to snap some stunning shots as the historic engine passed through our part of the world.