skip to content

#2608

South African Class 15F 4-8-2

🇿🇦 South Africa ·built by Berliner Maschinenbau· from 1938· class of 255 South African 4-8-2 locomotives

South African Class 15F 4-8-2, photo 1 of 10
1/10 User:Robert Maidment-Wilson· CC BY-SA 3.0

what is it?

The South African Railways Class 15F 4-8-2 of 1938 is a steam locomotive. The Class 15F was the most numerous steam locomotive class in South African Railways service. Between 1938 and 1948, 255 of these locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain type wheel arrangement entered service.

who runs it

base stats

  • built 255made 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 88 years ago, in 1938.
  • Served for 42 years (1938–1980).

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

spec sheet

built
1938–1947
in service from
1938
retired
1980
status
retired
number built
255
kind
Steam
traction
steam
origin
🇿🇦 South Africa
builders
Berliner Maschinenbau, Henschel & Sohn, North British Locomotive Company, Beyer, Peacock and Company
designer
South African Railways
operators
South African Railways and Harbours Administration
top speed
—
power
—
gauge
1,067 mm Cape gauge
wheel arrangement
4-8-2

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

Sources: Wikidata Q7565472, Wikipedia: South African Class 15F 4-8-2 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.

stan runge 7f71e88 source