They were initially a disappointment; their moderate degree of superheating often left them short of steam.

Until the late 1950s, Jubilees were the largest express engine normally found on the lines running out of St Pancras.

They practically monopolized the role of the main express engine, with the occasional Royal Scot popping up, or radiating from Derby.

[5] In January 1951 the classification was revised to 6P and in November 1955 to 6P5F but this change was not applied to the locomotives' cabsides, which continued to show 6P.

[8] These two one-offs were have said to be a direct upgrade in performance in both power and steaming abilities from the non-rebuilt Jubilees, and similar in performance to the Rebuilt Patriot Class, however they were 3 tons heavier than the non-rebuilds, thus limiting their route availability.

However, once the problem with these engines was found and fixed after several extensive trials took place (the problem being that the diameter of the blast pipe was too large for the engines to make proper steam), the Jubilees went from being a theoretical success to an actual success thanks to some modifications.

45637 Windward Islands was destroyed in a severe accident in 1952, making it the first Jubilee engine to be scrapped.

The first of the standard withdrawals being 45609 Gilbert and Ellice Islands in September 1960 and the last engine to be withdrawn was No.

As of 2024[update] two members of the class are operational and mainline certified: 45596 Bahamas, and 45699 Galatea.

[26] A large number of parts were taken from sister engine 45562 Alberta, which was the subject matter of a few preservation attempts, one of them even tried to persuade Sir Billy Butlin to buy it, that failed before she was scrapped in 1968 and most parts exist on preserved sister engine Galatea.

(Sierra Leone) Returned to service in Jan 2023 working first test run in Feb 2023.

[31] In early 2008, Bachmann introduced a OO gauge model of 45611 Hong Kong in BR green livery.