Locomotive arrives at National Railway Museum (From York Press)

Union Of South Africa locomotive arrives at National Railway Museum in York

8:19am Tuesday 18th September 2012 in News

THE sister locomotive of the world-famous Mallard has arrived in York ahead of a “family reunion” next year at the National Railway Museum.

The A4 class locomotive Union Of South Africa will be on display from tomorrow alongside Mallard in the museum’s Great Hall.

The visit comes ahead of celebrations in 2013 to mark the 75th anniversary of Mallard becoming the fastest steam locomotive of all time.

It is hoped next year will see the six remaining A4 class locomotives alongside each other at the museum, including two from North America, which will be shipped over next month.

Director Steve Davies said: “We wanted to do something really special to mark the 75th anniversary and what could be more spectacular than an international family reunion of the A4s?

“When these mighty machines were exported across the Atlantic in the sixties, no one thought they would ever come back.”