45699 Galatea (45562 and 45627) blitzing and barking up Rattery Bank - The Royal Duchy - 30/07/2023

After Flying Scotsman hauled the First Royal Duchy of 2023, LMS Jubilee no. 45699 Galatea was in charge of the Royal Duchy on the 30th of July. This would be the first time that Galatea would visit the South Devon Banks and Cornwall in steam preservation. Amazingly, this is the third LMS Jubilee to visit the likes of Whiteball, Rattery, and Hemerdon since 2021 where before there was no sight of a Jubilee up the Devon Banks. The weather was pretty dreary and miserable with heavy drizzle streaking across the southern parts of the country however it got slightly better and the rain stopped.

My first shot was at Beambridge on Whiteball Bank. I waited a good half an hour and the rain was drizzling quite heavily whilst waiting for her. Galatea appeared nearly 10 minutes late as she streaks through the drizzle in poor lighting. However, she sounded as she should and hauled her 9 coach load up the first of many tough gradients later on. Afterwards was a drive to a bridge on the outskirts of Totnes to get Galatea roaring up Rattery Bank. I arrived in good time and even though I was drenched whilst waiting for the Jubilee, it cleared as she entered Totnes. She was a few minutes early and sounded absolutely incredible as her loud bark from her single chimney drowns the peace and quiet of the Devon countryside as she got into her stride up the fierce Rattery Bank. My last shot of The Royal Duchy, was over into Cornwall to see the Jubilee accelerating nicely away from Slatash at Wearde Quay. I arrived in good time and heard that they did vegetation work and it shows as I can film at a much wider angle than before. The engine was slightly late, but that didn't stop her ready to take the Royal Duchy on the final hilly stretch to its destination of Par. Galatea was great as ever and goes to show you why I really like Jubilees.

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