60009

She will be on display at the ELR's Gala, after that it'll probably sit there until its decided where she heads next.

 

That leaves just no.7 still standing from the A4s at present. A far cry from 2012 when we had three in steam and six round the turntable.

No.9 has been magnificent and we should all be grateful to JC - and the teams behind him - for providing the sight and sound of her for all these years.

 

Although i got to ride behind her at a NYMR gala, fate has always got in the way for a mainline run.

In the late 70's i think, was due to ride behind her from Edinburgh to Sterling Perth, triangle, on a NELPG excursion.

Deltic hauled to Edinburgh, but then the news she was a failure, so another Deltic on the front, for a thrash around Scotland instead.

Although a couple of chances appeared lately, you always got the feeling the tail gunner was going to be present, looking back that was a mistake.

I would like to add my thanks to John Cameron, his long serving support crew (their book is excellent), ELR for keeping her going, Ian Riley, et al.

Here is my favourite picture of her, chime whistle wide open, as she heads south through Chester le Street.

 

Now I wonder who would have been blowing that whistle......

Peter

 

Very sad to hear No.9 has bowed out. Many happy days, thank you to JC, JFG, FB etc.

12th June 2004 13 coaches, Newcastle - York (80.2 miles) in 74 m 54 sec (net time 73 minutes without signal check approaching York).

I know 'Bittern' did better with the advantage of 90 mph running but this was a splendid run by 9 averaging 68.2 mph until the signal check and still 64.2 mph start to stop. 73.2 mph average from Chester-le-Street to Skelton Junc and 75.5 mph average Darlington to Skelton Junc.

Down in the South West 60009 currently has the 4th fastest climb of Hemerdon in preservation (5 min 15 sec) {third fastest with load 9}, minimum of 30.5 mph at the summit.

It's a pity 9 didn't get a last chance for a run at Whiteball Eastbound with the non-stop path through Exeter used recently. Nevertheless the famous 1995 is still 4th quickest from a standing start. Going west a 2005 run produced an impressive time of 11 min 57 sec from standing start at Taunton to entering Whiteball Tunnel, 4th fast time I am aware of and all three faster times are 9 coach trains whereas 60009 had 10 coaches behind the tender.

Thank you for the memories.

 

Union of South Africa was the first A4 I ever saw, on 9 May 1964, still in BR service on 'the Pegler Pulman', southbound through Longhirst Station and it's always had a place in my heart since then. Thank you Mr Cameron for all those years

This photo is the last time I saw her free and unhindered, not shackled by a 25mph limit. Again southbound on the ECML approaching Alnmouth on 20th April 2019, only a few miles north of Longhirst where I had first seen her 55 years earlier. At that time I was fully expecting to see her at least once more on the main line, but it wasn't to be.

I think it's appropriate that when I pressed the shutter button for this shot that the last rays were catching No9 only moments before the setting sun sank behind a bank of cloud over the hill behind me. As the train was approaching I was anxiously checking the sun's progress over my shoulder. For once the sun behaved itself.

 

I only had the one mainline trip behind 60009 and that was a West Somerset Express in 2018. Probably not one of her most impressive runs, but glad to have had a mainline trip behind her, I managed 2 round trips I think when she visited the Bluebell later that year and was in the Obo for my last trip behind her.

Sadly I was thwarted on having 2 further trips during December 2019, the Lindum Fayre, where she sadly failed on her way down to haul it the day before and then missed the Christmas White Rose a week later, which is again why I appreciate the attempts to keep her going when John Cameron had no great need too do so.

 

Very sad to hear that No. 9 is no longer active. An engine I got to see quite a bit of in recent years due to a few tours around my local area. So glad I made the effort to see her twice this year on the ELR, in particular in September on what turned out to be her last day in traffic....

 

Following todays confirmation of the news, here is a compilation of No.9's final years:

 

Iv been blessed enough to run in to No.9 a few times over the years. The first at the SVR where the shed master kindly allowed me on to the footplate. I would have been 12 then. Smitten, I think about captures it.

On my own ECML travels sitting in York one afternoon, Aberdeen bound no doubt, she had the audacity to slip past almost unnoticed. There was me hanging out of the window of an HST and there she is, casually strolling through a mainline station looking in very fine form.

The last time was of course seeing her at home. On the table at Ferryhill. What a sight to see her back where she belongs.

That last trip was the standout for me. Nothing is going to beat seeing No.9 racing south on the ECML past Muchalls.

Many a time she's done that, but I didn't realise Id catch the last time. No one was around that day, I may well have been the last bystander to see it.

We all owe JC much, and we are all grateful, but I don't want to own that. I don't want to be the last bystander awing at her running down the North East coastline.

Don't we get attached to these old things?!

 

To quote a great Scottish band,back on the stamping ground.where it all began.

 

The way you lot have been going on for the last few pages, perhaps the Mods should move this to the Obituaries thread?

 

The news we all wanted to avoid but expected has been delivered. Union of South Africa will steam no more. While this doesn’t need to be an obituary of the engine (countless books, articles and posts will almost mourn its removal from traffic) its hard to understate just what a gap this will leave and how the standards set by one man, his machine and his support teams should inspire many more to follow.

You can tell when things or someone becomes special. One word terms are signs of endearment, even reverence for some. ‘Union’ became just that. While the class to which it belongs will always have a special place in history thanks to her sister’s speed record and the iconic design that captured imaginations and hearts since – ‘Union’ has become special for those that have more than just a passing interest in railways and steam.

Even when working on tours, at the head of the train, Union captured that image of power, speed and performance. Waving at those watching it go past often brought a look of delight, followed soon by one of envy. It planted an image within the memory of many and those that took more of an interest and researched more soon found following this engine and those responsible for it to be one of the nicest rewards in railway enthusiasm.

Everything about Union was and looked right. Everything from the consistent image of BR Green Late crest, to the powerful and regular performances the engine put in. Countless times it would be brought in to rescue another engine on the network. Filling in to haul another tour, pushing design, support teams and logistics even further than before. John Cameron brought a knowledge and wealth of information few other locomotive owners would be able to get close to. Others such as Ian Riley engineering brought more in terms of support and reliability – yet the former rightly takes the credit and appreciation for having had Union grace the rails of the UK for so many years.

For many of us, myself included, we followed an engine that we knew was special – that went seen would conjure up an evocative image with the soundtrack to match. The three cylinder beat majestically matching the sight of power and speed thundering towards you. The chime whistle of Union, perfectly in tune with the occasion would penetrate deep into the heart of anyone watching its approach. Yes, Union is a machine, but like many have said about steam engines – it lives and breathes. Or at least it did.

Now Union will be stored, its reverence held in the memory of those that saw it working and can remember what it was for them. Its absence will be massive – with fast powerful engines all the more in demand as a network speeds up and as locomotive groups get signed up to TOCs on contracts that will fast become the norm. Those still running on the network might acknowledge the past achievements that Union, Cameron and their crews accomplished – few might even understand the need for those that followed Union, et al, to then hold them to the same expected standard.

That Union will be removed from traffic is the decision of John Cameron, and while many respect his decision, others long to see it changed. Fact remains that no matter what equipment, item or possession we might have – we are all merely custodians of them during our time of ownership. Whether it be a house, a CD, a car, a pint… an A4 locomotive. Each has a life cycle as a product or item and each of us makes the decision to buy into it according to our means. Many of us have dreamed to have had the position John Cameron was deemed by fate to enjoy. Being the owner of an A4 locomotive and operate it to reach the pinnacle of steam performance on a modern railway network.

Indeed, we have all been thankful for such efforts and for a lifetimes work to have been so richly shared with us all. But as it’s been often said, “All good things come to an end.” We have reached a point now where Union will run no more – the future could still see a change and return, or it could see permanent withdrawal. Yet, we all would selfishly like to see it keep going, even if we can understand and respect the wishes of John Cameron, his trust and wishes of a legacy of his work. So, as the romance of steam continues into the future and we are all left admiring other engines in other places at other times – a part of us will still miss Union’s presence. Our romance for an engine will still remain even as others attempt to emulate her place in our hearts. But for many of us there will only be one number 9 and few other engines will be able to be described with such affection with even fewer able to use a one word term of love and endearment but also now, loss.

https://www.theblackhat.co.uk/p116226317

 

I can't complain, having had five runs behind her, including her last main line run from Ealing Broadway to York on 7 March last year. And we're not totally deprived: one other A4 should be back on the main line fairly soon, and another some time later. Maybe even Mallard some time.

 

Not an A4 maybe, but give A1SLT time (and a few pints) and we could even have 60701 some day. Think of all that lovely footplate space.

 

Crewe 2012 after a CME - S&C Northbound and Shap Southbound
Nr 9 at Crewe by Paul Simpson, on Flickr

King's Cross 2018 prior to The Talisman - London - King's Cross to Newcastle
Nr 9 at The Cross by Paul Simpson, on Flickr

Of my 12 mainline trips 3 were double headers with a Riley Black 5,

 

My final encounter with No.9 was in September 2019 when she made her last appearance on the SW Main Line. I nearly didn't go out for this trip as I was feeling quite unwell (later found out I had a nasty infected abscess under a tooth) but such is the appeal of No.9 and the A4 Class I ventured out to Brookwood to see the Streak one last time. Glad I did.
A big thank you to Mr Cameron and everyone who has been involved with operating and looking after this fine thoroughbred of the preservation scene.


Sent from my XQ-BT52 using Tapatalk

 

A personal memory of John Cameron when I collected the sponsored headboard from Bluebell officials and I insisted that John Cameron - modest man that he is - have his photograph taken.



I think John's most proud moment was working the Royal Train on the day that (a) the Waverley Route was officially recommissioned and (b) HM The Queen became the longest serving monarch in UK history.



John Cameron has given so much pleasure with his efforts - and those of his support crew(s) - that I hope he is aware of how much his efforts have been appreciated.

A modest man with much to be proud of - Thank You JC.

 

When RAF Leuchars held its Open Day in the 1970s, No 9 would come up from Markinch and be shunted onto the airfield railway to be parked near to the static aircraft display. She was always a very popular attraction with the crowds who descended on the base for that day - dare I say she was more of an attraction than the Red Arrows as dads and little boys could climb on the footplate and pretend they were driving; something they couldn't do with the Reds

 

In a downpour of biblical proportions at Leuchars on 21st September 1991 as everyone gave up on the air display en masse when the heavens opened and stampeded to the staion to get the train back to Dundee, only to be stranded on the crowded platform in the deluge as DMUs came in, filled to capacity and left the remaining drowned rats on the platform to wait for the next one. (I was one of the drowned rats. I stopped to take pictures of 60009 instead of joining in with the folks in the backgound of the picture, who were only marginally less-drowned)