#1898

South African Class 12B 4-8-2

🇺🇸 United States ·built by Baldwin Locomotive Works· from 1920· class of 30 South African 4-8-2 locomotives

1 photo from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. Class 12B no. 1931: Frank Holland· Public domain

what is it?

The South African Railways Class 12B 4-8-2 of 1920 was a steam locomotive. In 1920, the South African Railways placed thirty Class 12B steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain type wheel arrangement in service.

who runs it

South African Railways and Harbours Administration

base stats

built 30made 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 106 years ago, in 1920.
Served for 64 years (1920–1984).

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

spec sheet

built: 1920
in service from: 1920
retired: 1984
status: retired
number built: 30
kind: Steam
traction: steam
origin: 🇺🇸 United States
builders: Baldwin Locomotive Works
designer: South African Railways, (D.A. Hendrie)
operators: South African Railways and Harbours Administration
top speed: —
power: —
gauge: 1,067 mm Cape gauge
wheel arrangement: 4-8-2 (Mountain)

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

Sources: Wikidata Q7565457, Wikipedia: South African Class 12B 4-8-2 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.