Steam locomotive No.60009 Union of South Africa will be back in steam on the mainline and will be in Reading and Swindon on Saturday 28th July 2018.

The A4 locomotive is on a special rail tour from London Paddington to Minehead.

The steam locomotive will be assisted by a diesel locomotive due to the hot weather fire risk, will depart the London Paddington at approximately 08:20 am.

The railtour will then leave the London Paddington, bound for Minehead, where it will steam through Southall (08:40), Slough (08:50), Maidenhead (09:00) and Twyford (09:07) before stopping at Reading at 09:13.

After a 2-minute break, the locomotive will depart Reading for Minehead, where it will steam through Swindon (10:12), and Bath Spa (10:46), it will also make a stop at Bristol Temple Meads (11:27). At Bishops Lydeard, 60009 Union of South Africa will detach from the train and GWR Hall 6960 Ravingham Hall will take the tour to Minehead along the West Somerset Railway.

6960 Ravingham Hall will arrive at Minehead at 14:50.

On the return journey, 6960 Ravingham Hall will haul the train from Minehead on the West Somerset Railway, where it will depart at 16:15 and will then make a stop at Bishops Lydeard to detach and attach 60009 Union of South Africa.

Departing Bishops Lydeard at 18:05, the train will make the same route back to London Paddington. The train will make stops at Taunton (18:21), Reading (21:55) and Slough (22:18) before arriving back into London Paddington at 22:51.

These above timings in brackets are approximate timings, please click the links below, which tracks the train throughout the day to keep you up to date on when it will pass through your local station.

Timings

For timings on these movements, please click the links below:

• Outbound: 1Z09 0820 London Paddington to Minehead West Som Rwy via Slough, Reading and Bristol Temple Meads
• Return: 1Z10 1615 Minehead West Som Rwy to London Paddington via Taunton and Reading

If you do go out and see 60009 Union of South Africa, why not sign up to LocoStop, our brand new railway community, and share your photos from your adventures! Click here to sign up.

As always, please respect the dangers of the railway. Please do not trespass on the railway to see this iconic locomotive – stay to public access spots!

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