#2084

South African Class 16D 4-6-2

🇺🇸 United States ·built by Baldwin Locomotive Works· from 1925· class of 7 South African 4-6-2 locomotives

7 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. SAR Class 16D 860 (4-6-2) (Big Bertha): User:John Faulkner· CC BY-SA 3.0
2. SAR Class 16D 860 & 16DA 879 (4-6-2): User:Robert Maidment-Wilson· CC BY-SA 3.0
3. Class 16D 4-6-2 no. 860: Linton Brothers, photographer (c. 1920-c. 1930)· Public domain
4. Class 16D no. 862 ID: Leith Paxton· CC BY-SA 3.0
5. SAR Class 16D 860 (4-6-2): User:LJ du Preez· CC BY-SA 3.0
6. SAR Class 16D 860 Dal Josafat 020799: User:Malcolm Best· CC BY-SA 3.0
7. Class 16D 860 (4-6-2) Playing Cards: SAR Museum· Public domain

what is it?

The South African Railways Class 16D 4-6-2 of 1925 was a steam locomotive. In 1925, the South African Railways placed two American-built Class 16D locomotives with a 4-6-2 Pacific type wheel arrangement in passenger train service. Five more of these locomotives were ordered and placed in service in 1926.

who runs it

South African Railways and Harbours Administration

base stats

built 7made 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 101 years ago, in 1925.
Served for 47 years (1925–1972).

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

spec sheet

built: 1925–1926
in service from: 1925
retired: 1972
status: retired
number built: 7
kind: Steam
traction: steam
origin: 🇺🇸 United States
builders: Baldwin Locomotive Works
designer: Baldwin Locomotive Works
operators: South African Railways and Harbours Administration
top speed: —
power: —
gauge: 1,067 mm Cape gauge
wheel arrangement: 4-6-2 (Pacific)
nicknames: Big Bertha

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

Sources: Wikidata Q7565477, Wikipedia: South African Class 16D 4-6-2 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.