#2556

LNER Class A4 4488 Union of South Africa

🇬🇧 United Kingdom ·built by Doncaster Works· from 1937· LNER Class A4 steam locomotive built in Doncaster in 1937

10 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. 60009 Union of South Africa at Condover 01: CrossHouses· CC BY-SA 3.0
2. 60009 Union of South Africa (8254973108): Alan Wilson· CC BY-SA 2.0
3. Union of South Africa 60009 seen in excursion service in York (April 2019): Ryancasey93· CC BY-SA 4.0
4. Union of South Africa loco 9: Les Chatfield from Brighton, England· CC BY 2.0
5. 22840 Union of South Africa Retford (8236688581): penske666 from United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland· CC BY-SA 2.0
6. 60009 Union of South Africa (2): Les Chatfield from Brighton, England· CC BY 2.0
7. 60009 Union of South Africa (8254974522): Alan Wilson· CC BY-SA 2.0
8. 60009 Union of South Africa (A4 Pacific) - 36610214125: andreboeni· CC BY 2.0
9. 60009 Union of South Africa - 36723999066: andreboeni· CC BY 2.0
10. 60009 Union of South Africa at Weymouth: andreboeni· CC BY 2.0

what is it?

60009 Union of South Africa is a LNER Class A4 steam locomotive built at Doncaster Works on 16 April 1937. It is one of six surviving A4s. Its mainline certification expired in April 2020.

who runs it

London and North Eastern Railway British Rail Severn Valley Railway West Coast Railway Company Scottish Region of British Railways Lochty Private Railway Railway Touring Company

base stats

built 15made in total

Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.

fun facts

First built 89 years ago, in 1937.

steam locomotive: Burns coal, wood or oil to boil water; the steam drives pistons that turn the wheels.

spec sheet

built: 1937
retired: 1966
status: retired
number built: 15
kind: Steam
traction: steam
origin: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
builders: Doncaster Works
designer: Nigel Gresley
operators: London and North Eastern Railway, British Rail, Severn Valley Railway, West Coast Railway Company, Scottish Region of British Railways, Lochty Private Railway, Railway Touring Company
top speed: —
power: —
gauge: 1,435 mm standard gauge
wheel arrangement: 4-6-2

From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.

Sources: Wikidata Q6459251, Wikipedia: LNER Class A4 4488 Union of South Africa (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.