In the final days of the 'Jubilees' perhaps the most celebrated was No. 45562 'Alberta'. The Royal Train carrying HRH Prince Philip, had been diesel hauled to York on Tuesday 30th May 1967 where 45562 took over the train to Nidd Bridge, North Yorkshire via Ripon. 45562 was at Ripon being prepared for the return to York. This amazing event was the last steam-hauled Royal Train in BR days.

Neil MacKay adds some additional details "Alberta had brought the Royal train from York to Nidd Bridge via Starbeck on the previous evening. I was told that they chose a steam loco as it could provide heat to the train without the chug-chug of a diesel all night. The Duke left at Nidd Bridge on the morning of 30 May and went to a school visit near Pateley Bridge by helicopter from the field next to the station. After he had left, Alberta took the train to Ripon, ran round (as seen in the photo) and returned to York tender first. The reason for going to Ripon was that the line had already closed and the only crossover which wasn't spiked normal was at Ripon. (Only a couple of months later the line re-opened for Down ECML diversions after the Thirsk cement train derailment which bashed up DP2, but that's another story)."

© Stephen Barrett Archive. Steve Armitage Collection