LNER Class A4 4488 Union of South Africa

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**Union of South Africa**
Power type	Steam
Union of South Africa at Bridgnorth on the Severn Valley Railway
Build date	1937
Gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in)
Career	London and North Eastern Railway
Class	A4
Number	4488, renum 60009
Official name	Union of South Africa
Current owner	John Cameron
Disposition	operates in occasional excursion service

60009 Union of South Africa is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive.

Built for the LNER in 1937 and originally numbered 4488, it was named after the then newly-formed Union of South Africa although it had previously been allocated the name "Osprey", when it came out of the paint shop after 8 weeks, it had been renamed. "Osprey" name plates were fitted to the locomotive during the 1980s and early 1990s due to the politics of the time. She has since been renamed back to Union of South Africa.

On 24th October 1964 it hauled the last booked steam hauled train from Kings Cross, Engine No 60009 “Union of South Africa”, It was twenty minutes late through Grantham owing to broken rail at High Dyke. It was the last loco to be overhauled at Doncaster whilst in service.

Now owned by John Cameron it travels all over the country visiting many preserved railways and hauling mainline steam specials such as the Torbay Express. It has accumulated the highest mileage of any locomotive in the class. As of January 2007, It has left the Severn Valley Railway, where it was based for many years. It is now at Crewe for fitment of OMTR. It may then to go to the NYMR for their spring Gala, then move to a base in Scotland.

It also plays host, with the legandary 60007/4498 Sir Nigel Gresly, to the LNER Gala at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. This, nearly always, happens annually in either April or May.