WATCH: Streamlined steam locomotive's last tour?

WATCH: Streamlined steam locomotive’s last tour?

Saturday 7th March saw 60009 Union of South Africa potentially haul her final ever mainline railtour, hauling The Yorkshireman from Ealing Broadway to York.

Throughout preservation, 60009 Union of South Africa has hauled railtours across the United Kingdom and 7th March would see her haul what could be her last tour before withdrawal for potential retirement.

The tour she hauled was The Yorkshireman which is run by The Railway Touring Company, this being the 1st of the year.

The next Yorkshireman tours for 2019 are set for 20th June, hauled by 60103 Flying Scotsman & 17th October which is set to be hauled by 6233 Duchess of Sutherland

The Yorkshireman would see 60009 head through places such as Luton, Flitwick, Bedford, Kettering, Melton Mowbray, Loughborough, East Midlands Parkway, Ilkeston, Alfreton, Chesterfield, Swinton (South Yorkshire), Goldthorpe, Pontefract Baghill & Church Fenton.

Saturday 7th March would also see 70000 Britannia haul The White Rose from Crewe to York & return via the Hope Valley & Calder Valley Line. This tour would be diesel hauled from Shrewsbury to Crewe and return.

60009 Union of South Africa on the East Lancashire Railway

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The White Rose is a railtour ran by Saphos Trains and runs ‘steam-hauled’ from Crewe to York and return via the Hope Valley Line & the Calder Valley Line. There are two more White Rose tours due to run in 2020. 22nd August, starting at Wolverhampton and 19th December, running as The Christmas White Rose – also starting at Wolverhampton. Locos for these tours are to be announced but will be from this pool of locomotives:

34046 Braunton
45231 The Sherwood Forester
46100 Royal Scot
60007 Sir Nigel Gresley
70000 Britannia

The White Rose would see 70000 head through places such as Acton Bridge, Warrington Bank Quay, Salford Central, Manchester Victoria, New Mills Central, Edale, Hathersage, Grindleford, Sheffield, Meadowhall, Swinton (South Yorkshire), Goldthorpe, Pontefract Baghill, Church Fenton, Castleford, Wakefield Kirkgate, Brighouse, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden & Rochdale.

In this video, RailView would capture the A4 at places such as,

Slitting Mill, near Staveley, Derbyshire passing through at 12:52, 8 minutes late.
Goldthorpe, passing through at 13:10, on time.

In this video, RailView would capture Britannia at places such as,

Grindleford, passing through at 11:38, 2 minutes late.
Goldthorpe, passing through at 12:11, on time.

Info about 60009 Union of South Africa:

Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley
Built by The LNER in 1937 at Doncaster Works
She was withdrawn from BR in 1966
Her original name was Osprey
Her second/current name is Union of South Africa
John Cameron purchased her in 1966 who is her current owner

Info about 70000 Britannia:

Designed by Robert Riddles
Built by BR at Crewe Works in 1951.
She was the very first BR Standard Locomotive ever to be built.
In 1952, she hauled the funeral train for King George VI
Withdrawn from BR service in 1966.
She was purchased for preservation 1970.
She returned to steam in 1978
She is currently owned by the Royal Scot Locomotive & General Trust.
She is based at Crewe Diesel Depot
Her current livery is BR lined Brunswick green with late crest.
Britannia is operational and regularly hauls mainline railtours around the UK.

Here are some photos of 60009 Union of South Africa & 70000 Britannia at Goldthorpe.

Have you any fond memories of 60009 Union of South Africa? Let us know in the comments below.

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