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South African Class 23 4-8-2

🇿🇦 South Africa ·built by Berliner Maschinenbau· from 1938· class of 136 South African 4-8-2 locomotives

🚂 steam locomotive steam retired
9 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
  1. 1. SAR Class 23 2556 (4-8-2) 1: Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
  2. 2. Class 23 no. 3282 Vrystaat: J. Stuart Grossert· CC BY-SA 3.0
  3. 3. Class 23 no. 3300 Kroonstad Wing: Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
  4. 4. SAR Class 23 3300 (4-8-2): User:Robert Maidment-Wilson· CC BY-SA 3.0
  5. 5. SAR Class 23 2556 (4-8-2) 2: Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
  6. 6. SAR Class 23 3300 (4-8-2): Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
  7. 7. SAR Class 23 3300 ~ Agtertang-Joubert 120799: User:Malcolm Best· CC BY-SA 3.0
  8. 8. Class 23 (4-8-2) Playing Cards: SAR Museum· Public domain
  9. 9. SAR Class 23 3209 (4-8-2) Tender: Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
Read about it on Wikipedia ↗
South African Class 23 4-8-2, photo 1 of 9
1/9 Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0

what is it?

The South African Railways Class 23 4-8-2 was a class of South African steam locomotives. In 1938 and 1939, the South African Railways placed 136 Class 23 steam locomotives in service. The Class 23 was the last and the largest 4-8-2 Mountain type locomotive to be designed by the South African Railways.

who runs it

South African Railways and Harbours Administration

base stats

  • built 136made 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 45 years (1938–1983).

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

spec sheet

built
1938
in service from
1938
retired
1983
status
retired
number built
136
kind
Steam
traction
steam
origin
🇿🇦 South Africa
builders
Berliner Maschinenbau, Henschel & Sohn
designer
South African Railways, (W.A.J. Day)
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 Q1684278, Wikipedia: South African Class 23 4-8-2 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.

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