60009 steams through Southern England - 'Dorset Coast Express' and 'Swanage Belle' - Summer of 2019

The Summer of 2019 saw LNER A4 No. 60009 'Union of South Africa' make regular appearance on excursions in the South of England, heading to Weymouth and Swanage. Affectionately known as 'Number Nine', the A4 took charge of all four of the Railway Touring Company's 'Dorset Coast Express' charters on the 25th July, 8th and 25th August, and the 5th September. These ran from London Victoria to Weymouth, with the outward legs running via Winchester and Eastleigh. The return journeys would be diesel hauled as far as Southampton Central, where the A4 would take charge for the journey back to London, via Romsey, Laverstock and Andover. The Pacific would also head the Railway Touring Company's 'Swanage Belle' on the 12th September, which would follow a similar itinerary to the 'Dorset Coast Express'. This would see the loco venture onto Swanage Railway metals for potentially the final time before withdrawal.

In early 2017, owner John Cameron announced that the A4 would be permanently withdrawn from service at the end of its boiler ticket, before being placed on static display in a museum in Scotland, alongside the sole surviving LNER K4 No. 61994 'The Great Marquess'. With the A4's boiler ticket expiring next year, this may well be the final sighting of 60009 'Union of South Africa' on the Southern Region!

All scenes were captured on the 25th July, 8th and 25th August, 5th and 12th September 2019.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
00:18 Worting Junction (05/09)
02:17 Shawford Junction (25/07)
03:10 Shawford (12/09)
04:02 Totton (08/08)
04:54 Beaulieu Road (25/08)
06:42 Redbridge (47802, 12/09)
07:43 Redbridge (60009, 12/09)
09:30 Test Lane (25/08)
11:14 Lee (08/08)
12:48 Andover (05/09)

Have we seen 60009 in Southern England for the very last time? Only time will tell.

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