ICONIC train Bahamas will be a star attraction at the Spring Gala on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.

The restored steam locomotive, which recently returned to the mainline, will pull carriages up and down the line during the March 8-10 event.

The weekend will also see the unveiling of a second flagship attraction by the Bahamas Locomotive Society at its Ingrow Station base.

The volunteer-run society was last year gifted the camera collection of Eric Treacy, a former Bishop of Wakefield and a leading railway photographer.Mr Treacy was a one-time canon at Keighley Parish Church and KWVR president.

Society chairman Keith Whitmore said the society was honoured to display Eric’s cameras at Ingrow Loco museum.

He said: “They will be a real draw, especially for railway enthusiasts who remember Eric standing on railway stations with his camera. He died at Appleby in Westmoreland Station in 1978 waiting for a steam special.

“It is very fitting that during our first trip out with Bahamas along the Settle and Carlisle Railway, we stopped at Appleby to service the loco.”

Tony Robinson, the current Bishop of Wakefield, will formally unveil the camera collection on March 9 at 1.30pm.

The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway said this year’s Spring Gala would build on the success of the 2018 event, which featured visiting locomotives Britannia 7MT 4-6-2 70013 Oliver Cromwell and SDJR 2-8-0 53808.

A spokesman said: “We will once again be hosting visiting locomotives plus newcomers from closer to home. The Spring Gala will mark the first gala appearance since overhaul of two Worth Valley based locomotives.

“Courtesy of the Bahamas Locomotive Society, LMS ‘Jubilee’ Class 4-6-0 45596 Bahamas will be making its first appearance on heritage railway services since returning after its overall at Tyseley.

“The Standard 4 Locomotive Society’s BR Class 2 2-6-0 78022 will be marking its gala debut after restoration to running condition.”

Also attending the Spring Gala will be LMS Class 2 2-6-0 No.46521, courtesy of Loughborough Standards Locomotive Group and the Great Central Railway.

Bahamas will operate on the Friday and Sunday, and on the Saturday will be in ‘light steam’ in Ingrow yard so visitors can get close to the loco.

Bahamas this month returned to the mainline for the first time in 25 years, for two sell-out excursions along the Settle and Carlisle Railway.

Bahamas Locomotive Society chairman Mr Whitmore said: “The locomotive performed well on both trips and delighted both passengers and crowds who turned out to see the loco pass. Passengers told us how much they enjoyed the day and how well turned out our loco was.

“It was so appropriate that our first run in over 25 years was in partnership with the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway where we are now based.

“Bahamas was one of the pioneering preserved locos to return to the mainline in 1972 following the lifting of the ban on steam after the final 1968 days of the end of BR steam.

“Our then members who are no longer with us from our days at the Dinting Railway Centre near Glossop, who saved Bahamas from the scrap merchants, would have been proud of what we have again achieved.”

“I am especially grateful to the Lottery Heritage Fund for their sterling support, without which we would not have been able to overhaul Bahamas, and to Tyesley Locomotive Works in Birmingham for their stewardship of the overhaul.”