AN historic locomotive will soon leave the National Railway Museum at the start of a £900,000 restoration project.

The 45596 Bahamas, built in December 1934, was the last steam engine to take part in British Rail’s experiments to improve the performance of its steam powered fleet.

It has been off the rails since 1997 and is currently on static display at the National Railway Museum.

But now with a £775,180 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), the Bahamas Locomotive Society is starting a full restoration with the aim of putting it back on the rails by early 2017.

The first stage is to move the locomotive to the society’s headquarters at Ingrow Loco on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.

John Hiller of the society, said: “We are extremely grateful to the HLF for endorsing our plans to enable this famous steam locomotive to be restored to running order once more. We are also delighted that the restoration of an historic coach which will provide a unique setting for an Educational and Exhibition Resource Centre will be sited adjacent to our Museum at Ingrow.

The project will provide employment, training and skill development opportunities at our contractors and at our base on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. We would also like to acknowledge the support of our partners and countless individuals in helping us progress our plans towards a successful conclusion.”

The engine will make the move in mid-April.

The society will contribute £130,000 towards the restoration project, which will be run entirely by volunteers.

The Bahamas was built in Glasgow and worked on the London Midland & Scotland Railway from 1935. It ran more than 1.4 million miles before being withdrawn from service in July 1966.

In May 1961, it was given an unique double chimney and blast-pipe as part of British Rail’s experimental engine modifications to try and improve steam engine performance. But in August 1968 all steam engines were permanently replaced by diesel and electric engines.