#1114

South African Class 8R 4-8-0

🇿🇦 South Africa ·built by American Locomotive Company· from 1902· class of 1 South African 4-8-0 rebuilt from a class 8X 2-8-0

🚂 steam locomotive steam retired

what is it?

The South African Railways Class 8R 4-8-0 of 1930 was a steam locomotive. In 1901 and 1902, the Cape Government Railways placed sixteen 8th Class 2-8-0 Consolidation type steam locomotives in service.

who runs it

South African Railways and Harbours Administration

base stats

built 16made 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 124 years ago, in 1902.
Served for 9 years (1930–1939).

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

spec sheet

built: 1902
in service from: 1930
retired: 1939
status: retired
number built: 16
kind: Steam
traction: steam
origin: 🇿🇦 South Africa
builders: American Locomotive Company
designer: Cape Government Railways, (H.M. Beatty)
operators: South African Railways and Harbours Administration
top speed: —
power: —
gauge: 1,067 mm Cape gauge
wheel arrangement: 4-8-0 (Mastodon)

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

Sources: Wikidata Q23020081, Wikipedia: South African Class 8R 4-8-0 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.