Yesterday, Wednesday 22th of April 2020, saw the mainline boiler certificate expire for London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) A4 Class No.60009 “Union of South Africa”. We take a brief look back through recent years.
Mainline Career between Summer 2012 and April 2020
Following an overhaul carried out LNWR’s workshop at Crewe, 60009 underwent a series of test runs starting on Monday 16th of July 2012, where ‘running in’ showed issues such as hot boxes on the tender.
These issues were sorted in time for “Union of South Africa”‘s first booked mainline tour, the North Wales Coast Express on Sunday 22nd of July 2012, which the engine hauled throughout the summer.
From then onwards 60009 has mainly been based on mainline, travelling to destinations across the UK, from North Wales as mentioned above to the length of the famous East Coast Mainline. Visits to heritage lines have been made where possible, such as the East Lancashire Railway.
On several dates between 2013 and 2014, “Union of South Africa” took part in celebrations for the 4468 “Mallard”‘s 75th anniversary since breaking the world speed record for steam traction on Sunday 3rd of July 1938.
This saw 60009 displayed with the five other surviving LNER A4’s, 4489 (60010) “Dominion of Canada”, 60008 (4496) “Dwight D. Eisenhower”, 60007 (4498) “Sir Nigel Gresley”, 4464 (60019) “Bittern” and 4464 (60022) “Mallard”.
The next event 60009 took part in was the reopening of the Borders Railway between Edinburgh Waverley and Tweedbank on Wednesday the 9th of September 2015, with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Prince Phillip Duke of Edinburgh and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on board.
“Union of South Africa” almost didn’t haul the train, as a few weeks before it suffered a hot box on one of the coupled wheel axleboxes and required repairs at the South Devon Railway.
On Saturday the 7th of March 2020, 60009 hauled its last mainline tour on its current mainline boiler certificate, which was The Yorkshireman.
“Union of South Africa” is planned to operate on the East Lancashire Railway until the end of 2020, when its heritage boiler ticket expires – more information on this can be found by clicking here.
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Responses
Hi All, I was lucky enough to attend Both the York Museum’s 4 x A4 and the 6 x xA4 dinner
Celebrations on the Turn-Table at York and they will almost never happen again in the next 100 Years,
I feel so lucky as both the events were A1 Super in every respect. Well Done everybody
that made it happen ( Much more exciting than going to the moon ) and maybe he should put his money looking after our Heritage, far more important than a Planet Full of Dust !!.
Bob.
He didn’t get planning permission to build the museum in scotland
Brings back lots of childhood memories where I lived close to three railway lines within walking distance L N E R, L M S and Great Central railways regular 7PM fish train by Britannia class
Hi Anonymous,
Just spotted your comment, I used to make my way to the Aintree bridge for the 7.oopm
Carlisle, as you say, pulled by a Brit, some times a double “header” Ah! those memories! KF
I have seen 4 of the surviving A4 class in
T
I have seen 4 of the surviving A4 Pacific class locos in the last 20 or so years, the exception being Dwight D Eisenhower.
All were magnificent!
Bittern was actually pulling carriages at Barrow Hill Round house, near Chesterfield and I was privileged to ride. Sir Nigel was in the repair shop at the North Yorkshire
Moors Railway. The other 2 were at the 150 years celebration of steam at Doncaster, where I was also privileged to sit on the driver seat of The Flying Scotsman!!!
I was brought up 20 yards from the now ‘Robin Hood Line’ station at Whitwell in the 1950’s and have been crazy about Steam ever since.
I feel so sorry for those who have only ever known the soul less diesels and electrics.
Long live the wonderful enthusiasts who keep the dream alive.
I Like Steam Trains and Model Railway Engines and Locomotives and diesel Locomotives
That’s great
I wouldn’t mind If plans were creatively drawn up for A Potential new-build A4 Pacific,
I think it would be very interesting.
What An Amazing and Well-Restored ex-LNER Mainline Express Locomotive.
This A4 Pacific of A Locomotive is of Nostalgia and Full of Character, Even the other 5 surviving/fellow preserved remaining A4s are also of Nostalgia and Full of Character.
The name ”Union Of South Africa” is one of the most popular and surprisingly well recognized locomotive names within the UK Preservation Movement/Sector.
It’s A Disappointing Shame this Classic Streamlined Locomotive may never again roam the modern/present day mainline within the foreseeable future, Let’s Hope we can all still see this loco (which maybe restricted to Heritage Railway metals) in anyways possible.
At least some other fellow preserved steam locos may still roam the mainline when it coems to steam-hauled rail-tours.
John Cameron intends to display it in his own museum in Scotland when it finishes at the end of 2020 and has no plans to put it through another overhaul. We won’t see Union Of South Africa again unless it changed hands. Jeremy Hoskin has no plans to overhaul Bittern in the foreseeable future with all efforts going towards A2 Blue Peter and he has entered into an agreement to run A4 Sir Nigel Greeley which makes me think that Bittern is a long way down the overhaul queue.