London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Jubilee Class No. 5562 (BR No. 45562) Alberta was 1 of among 191 London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Jubilee Class 4-6-0 Ten-Wheelers.
Operational history[]
5562 was built at North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow in August 1934 and was later named Alberta in February 1936 (Alberta being one of 13 provininces and territories in Canada which we're part of the British Empire).
The engine was first allocated to Leeds, Holbeck which was to end up being the engine's home shed for the majority of it's working career. In March 1964 the engine was transferred to Farnley Junction and was eventually returned to Leeds, Holbeck in November 1966 which was to be the engines final shed.
On 30th May 1967 the engine was chosen to haul the royal train conveying the Duke of Edinburgh from York to Nidd Bridge to allow HRH to visit the nearby army apprentice college. This trip was the final steam hauled royal train in BR days.
The engine was eventually withdrawn from service in November 1967 and placed into storage in Leeds, Holbeck from November 1967 until January 1968 and from February 1968 to April at Normanton, Wakefield. The engine was eventually taken to Cashmores, Great Bridge and was cut up in May 1968.
Fate[]
Following it's withdrawal from service, Alberta and classmate 45593 Kolhapur which we're the final two members of the class to be withdrawn from British Railways service we're offered for preservation to The Standard Gauge Steam Trust (later becoming Birmingham Railway Museum) who we're wanting to save a jubilee for preservation. Of the two engines Kolhapur was found to be in better condition than Alberta so 45593 was purchased for preservation and 45593 also aquired 45562's tender. Further attempts we're made to purchase the engine for preservation which included a request to Sir Billy Butlin to purchase the engine for preservation, but all these attempts failed and the engine was cut up in May 1968 at Cashmores, Great Bridge following a working life of 33 years.
Trivia[]
Prior to being cut up a number of the engines parts including the motion on Alberta was taken off the engine and would eventually find it's way onto preserved sister 45699 Galatea.
In November 2019 preserved sister 45699 Galatea following a repaint from BR lined crimson was outshopped as 45562 Alberta wearing BR lined green with the late crest and 55A shedcode for Leeds, Holbeck. The engine however didn't have the yellow cabside stripes. The engine retained it's full Alberta identity until July 2021 when it had it's 45562 smokebox numberplate and Alberta nameplates changed for fellow scrapped classmate 45627 Sierra Leone (the engine however retained 45562 on it's cabsides until withdrawal from traffic in March 2022 for it's first 10 year overhaul). After returning to traffic in February 2023 following it's overhaul the engine still wore 45562 on it's cabsides while it kept the smokebox numberplate and nameplates of 45627 Sierra Leone. It's 45562 cabside numbers we're eventually changed in April 2024 with the numbers 45627 but it still retains the 55A shedcode for Leeds, Holbeck.
Gallery[]
