On the 60009 Facebook page, it has been announced that 60009 Union of South Africa will not be able to haul upcoming tours.
The reason for the cancellation is that the locomotive needs new piston rings and valve rings, the locomotive’s boiler is also being examined and tested.
This news means that ‘Steam on the Settle and Carlisle’ from York to Carlisle has been postponed until 27th April 2019, and ‘The Cumbrian Mountaineer’ from Cardiff to Carlisle is also expected to be either diesel hauled, cancelled or postponed.
It is hoped that the work will be completed in time for the locomotive to visit the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
After its visit the NYMR, the locomotive should then be able to pick up its mainline tours after the visit.
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Up until about 10 years ago, only the Chinese were producing new steam trains.
The US started replacing steam with diesel engines at the end of WWII.
Many of the men that knew how to overhaul them are now long gone.
Of the 3 excursion trains in the US that I climbed on that were supposed to be
pulled with steam engines in the last 10 years, all were pulled by diesels.
This old iron horse, # 819: http://arkansasrailroadmuseum.org/819images/BeingMoved.jpg
is not allowed on the tracks any more
Yep I agree. Workshy malingerer.
So it’s well enough to go on holiday, but not to go to work. sounds very much like it’s on a sickie to me.