East Lancs Railway set for No. 9’s last gala

THE East Lancashire Railway

(ELR) says its October 15-17 Autumn Steam Gala is likely to be the last chance to ride behind ‘A4’ No. 60009 Union of South Africa at a steam gala before the loco’s planned retirement.

Owner John Cameron hopes to display the 4-6-2 with his ‘K4’

No. 61994 The Great Marquess at a new visitor centre in Balbuthie in due course.

Other performers set to appear during the gala include: GWR ‘56XX’ 0-6-2T No. 5643, L&Y Class 27 0-6-0 No. 52322, SR Bulleid 4-6-2 No. 34092 City of Wells,

L&Y 0-6-0ST No. 752 (Saturday and Sunday only) and Sentinel 0-4-0VBT No. 7232 Ann (Saturday only shunting wagons around Bury).

■ See advertisement on p60 for more details.

GAVIN THOMSON PASSING PACIFICS: LNER ‘A4’ No. 60009 Union of South Africa waits at Ramsbottom with the 09.30 service to Rawtenstall as ‘A3’ No. 60103 Flying Scotsman passes through the station nonstop with the 09.35 special service to Bury at the East Lancashire Railway on August 30. Flying Scotsman operated on the ELR on August 29/30 and September 3–5.