LMS Jubilee Class 5699 Galatea


Jubilee Class No. 5699 Galatea is a preserved British steam locomotive.

History

5699 was built at Crewe Works in April 1936 and named Galatea after, which in turn was named after the Galatea of mythology.
From new it was allocated to Newton Heath shed in Manchester where it was to remain until October 1937 when it was transferred to Millhouses in Sheffield, it was to remain there for almost the whole duration of the Second World War as it was not transferred again until November 1944 when it was re-allocated to Derby. Further transfers were to follow in 1946 when it was to be transferred to Nottingham and Holbeck, Leeds. British Railways took over operation of Britain's railway network in 1948, it was renumbered from LMS number 5699 to British Railways number 45699 and in May was transferred to Bristol Barrow Road.
On 16 August 1953, Galatea was derailed whilst hauling a passenger train at Wilnecote. The derailment was caused by a combination of defects on the locomotive itself, and the condition of the track. Despite the locomotive ending up on its side, only two people were reported injured and it was hardly damaged.
Its final shed allocation was at Shrewsbury and it was to remain there until November 1964 when it was withdrawn from service. After withdrawal it was stored at Eastleigh Works in December 1964 and remained there until January of the following year when it was moved by rail to Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, Wales.

Allocation history

The locations of 5699 Galatea on particular dates.
18 April 1936 Newton Heath
2 October 1937Millhouses
4 November 1944Derby
12 October 1946Nottingham
3 November 1946Holbeck, Leeds, 22A then 55A
29 May 1948Bristol Barrow Road, 22A then 82E
9 October 1961 Shrewsbury, 84G then 89A
21 November 1964Withdrawn
December 1964Stored at Eastleigh Works
January 1965Transferred to Barry Scrapyard
April 1980Purchased for Preservation.
April 2013Restored to working order

Preservation

Galatea was rescued in April 1980 from Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, South Wales by the late Brian Oliver and was moved to the Severn Valley Railway originally to provide a spare boiler for preserved sister engine 45690 Leander.
45699 was at Tyseley Locomotive Works until 2002 when it was sold to the West Coast Railways and moved to Steamtown Carnforth where it was given a complete rebuild. This also included the manufacturing of a new middle driving wheel after the original was cut through after a shunting accident at Barry Island.
45699 returned to steam in April 2013 on test runs around the Hellifield circle. When 45699 emerged on its first test run it was wearing the identity of its fellow class member No. 5690 Leander. Galatea made its railtour debut on 19 May 2013 working a private charter from King's Lynn to Norwich. It is,, operating on the main line working on Railtours in the Northwest of England. In November 2019, 45699 was repainted into British Railways Brunswick green and renumbered as classmate No.45562 'Alberta' after running in British Railways crimson lake livery since April 2013.