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[[File: {{Infobox steam loco|image = 60009_20121020.jpg |thumb|200px|right| caption = 60009 Union of South Africa in October (2012]])|construc = LNER, Doncaster|wheels = 4-6-2|rating = BR: 8P6F|status = Non-operational, on static display|locono = 60009|othernos = LNER 4488, LNER 9|designed = Nigel Gresley|locotype = A4 '''Streak'''|built = 1937|years1 = 1966|events1 = Preserved|years2 = 1990|events2 = Arrived on the SVR as ‘guest’|years3 = 1995|events3 = First noted as part of SVR home fleet|years4 = 2006|events4 = Left the SVR|years5 = |events5 =|length = |weight = |power = |pressure =}}60009 Union of South Africa was a former SVR resident, having first arrived in 1990 1989 but being referred to as a 'guest' until 1995. The locomotive left in 2006.

==Service==The A4 Class of streamlined 4-6-2 ‘Pacific’ 'Pacific' steam locomotive was designed in 1935 by Nigel (later Sir Nigel) Gresley, the LNER CME. The locomotives were used to haul express passenger trains on the East Coast Main Line route from London Kings Cross via York and Newcastle to Edinburgh, Scotland. One of the class, 4468 Mallard, holds the world record as the fastest steam locomotive.

60009 Union of South Africa was built at Doncaster in 1937. The locomotive was originally numbered 4488 and was to have been named ‘Osprey’ 'Osprey' (Mallard and Bittern are the other surviving A4s named after birds), but was out-shopped as Union of South Africa after the newly formed Union. 4488 originally carried streamlined valances, but these were removed in 1942. Post-War the locomotive was renumbered 9 by the LNER in 1946; following nationalisation BR changed this to 60009.

Union of South Africa worked out of the Edinburgh Haymarket and Aberdeen sheds until withdrawn by BR in June 1966, and . The locomotive was purchased by John Cameron in July of the same year. The locomotive first arrived on the SVR in 1990, receiving repairs and working main line tours until 1995 while being referred to as a 'guest'. In autumn 1995 SVR News referred to the locomotive for the first time as part of the SVR ‘home fleet’, in which status it remained until leaving the SVR in 2006 to join John Cameron’s locomotive [[61994 The Great Marquess]] in Scotlandfollowing month<ref name=Wikipedia>Wikipedia</ref>.

==Preservation==60009 returned for Gala appearances was based in spring 1992 Fife, Scotland until 1994, first on the now defunct Lochty Private Railway and autumn 1994 while still a 'guest' locomotivesubsequently at Kirkcaldy (working occasional tours from there), Markinch and Thornton.<ref name=Wikipedia/>

60009 first arrived on the SVR on 24 February 1989 for a contract heavy overhaul.<ref>SVR News 92</ref> This was completed in just under a year with the locomotive, temporarily renamed 'Osprey', making test trips on the SVR on 17-18 February 1990.<ref>SVR News 95</ref> Following this overhaul, 60009 began to operate main line rail tours throughout the United Kingdom.<ref name=Wikipedia/> She returned to the SVR for minor repairs on 28 December 1991, having accumulated 25,000 miles since the overhaul and reverted to 'Union of South Africa'. During this visit she took part in the 'Mince Pie Specials' and the Spring Steam Gala, and also fitted in a return trip to Scotland before departing on 24 April 1992.<ref>SVR News 101/102</ref> 60009 visited the SVR for further repairs in early 1994, mainly involving a new liner for the middle cylinder.<ref>SVR News 111</ref> These repairs were completed in time for an appearance at the Autumn Steam Gala in September 1994 (at which she was still regarded as a guest), before departing again in October.<ref>SVR News 113/114</ref> In summer 1995, SVR News described the locomotive for the first time as part of the SVR 'home fleet', referring to a forthcoming return for that year's Autumn Steam Gala.<ref>SVR News 115</ref> Following further mechanical attention, including welding a steel patch insert into the top of the driver's side back plate to repair a deep fracture, the locomotive again returned to the main line duty. An early 1996 rail tour was notable a high speed pass through the Kidderminster main line station with 12 coaches in tow,<ref>SVR News 118</ref> while later that year the locomotive unfortunately set light to a length of the Settle and Carlisle line, requiring a diesel pilot for the rest of the trip and subsequent attention to the spark arrestor.<ref>SVR News 119/120</ref> Further main line work followed, although in December 1996 [[42968]] notably deputised for 60009 on a Crewe to Carlisle Cumbrian Mountain Express. 1997 marked the end of 60009's 7 year 'main line ticket' and she returned to the SVR in January of that year, spending the summer in service as a 'home' locomotive while awaiting another contract overhaul to return her to main line standard.<ref>SVR News 122/125</ref> This began in spring 1998<ref>SVR News 126</ref> but took considerably longer than the first overhaul, mainly due to problems with the rest of the SVR's fleet which culminated in the [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2000-2009#2000|2000 'boiler crisis']]. 60009 was eventually returned to steam in Summer 2001.<ref>SVR News 137</ref> Resuming her main line career, in February 2002 60009 became the first A4 to work over the South Devon Banks since 60033 'Seagull' in the 1948 locomotive exchanges.<ref>SVR News 139</ref> Further appearances on the SVR included the Autumn Steam Galas in 2002 and 2004.<ref>SVR News 141/144</ref> Summer 2005 was mostly spent in Bridgnorth Works for a valve and piston repair, replacement of small boiler tubes and finally the inspection and re-certification of the middle big end following the failure of a similar locomotive.<ref>SVR News 151</ref>  Late summer 2006 saw 60009 move to Crewe to be fitted with OTMR equipment, after which owner John Cameron expressed the wish to base the locomotive again at Thornton Depot near his Fife home,<ref>SVR News 155</ref> where she would join his other locomotive [[61994 The Great Marquess]]. In 2017 it was announced she that 60009 would be withdrawn from active service at the end of the existing boiler ticket and from 2019 be housed permanently in a new 'Farming and Railway Visiting Centre' at Balbuthie, St Monans with [[61994 The Great Marquess]].<ref>Steam Railway Magazine 27 January 2017</ref>Planning consent was refused and a revised application, excluding the railway aspect, was agreed in November 2019.<ref>[https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/fife/1020904/east-neuk-farm-visitor-centre-given-go-ahead-but-without-the-locomotives-previously-proposed/ 'East Neuk farm visitor centre given go-ahead but without the locomotives previously proposed', The courier.co.uk, 15 November 2019] (Retrieved 7 January 2020)</ref>  After ending main line service, 60009 continued to work at the East Lancashire Railway until being withdrawn in October 2021 with boiler problems, some three months before the planned end of ticket. The locomotive was moved into the Bury Transport Museum as a static exhibit in May 2022. Planning permission for 60009 & 61994 to be housed inside an existing building at Balbuthie was granted in October 2022. 60009 achieved several hundred railtours in preservation, and details of these may be found on dedicated railtour sites such as [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/trf/trfindex.htm Six Bells Junction] and [http://www.uksteam.info/tours/index.htm UK Steam].