60009 Union of South Africa

Wallpaper Description:

“60009” Union of South Africa

Union of South Africa had previously been allocated the name “Osprey”.
“Osprey” name plates were fitted to the locomotive during the 1980s and early 1990s due to the politics of the time.
 
Union of South Africa has accumulated the highest mileage of any locomotive in the class.
 
The springbok plaque on the side of the locomotive was donated on 12 April 1954 by a Bloemfontein newspaper proprietor. Only one plaque was fitted on the left hand side of the locomotive.
 
Union of South Africa was allocated to the Haymarket shed in Edinburgh from new and on 20 May 1962 she had her only shed transfer to Aberdeen.
 
It was one of five 1937 locomotives built in 1937 to pull the new Coronation express service, which took passengers between London and Edinburgh in just six hours.
 
In 1964 it was the last A4 to pull a service train from King’s Cross station. Arriving back on the return journey its final farewell whistle echoed across the platforms.