#1228

South African Class 5B 4-6-2

🇬🇧 United Kingdom ·built by Beyer, Peacock and Company· from 1904· class of 4 South African 4-6-2 locomotives

5 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. Class 5B 4-6-2 no. 723: User:Peter Bagshawe· CC BY-SA 3.0
2. Class 5BR no. 725: Frank Holland· Public domain
3. SAR Class 5B 723 (4-6-2) CGR 905: ”Lauston”· Public domain
4. SAR Class 5B 724 (4-6-2): Frank Holland· Public domain
5. Class 5B 723 (4-6-2): Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0

what is it?

The South African Railways Class 5B 4-6-2 of 1904 was a steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Cape of Good Hope. In 1904, the Cape Government Railways placed four Karoo Class 4-6-2 steam locomotives in service.

who runs it

Transnet Freight Rail Cape Government Railways South African Railways and Harbours Administration

base stats

built 4made 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 122 years ago, in 1904.
Served for 65 years (1904–1969).

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

spec sheet

built: 1904
in service from: 1904
retired: 1969
status: retired
number built: 4
kind: Steam
traction: steam
origin: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
builders: Beyer, Peacock and Company
designer: Cape Government Railways, (Hazlitt Beatty)
operators: Transnet Freight Rail, Cape Government Railways, South African Railways and Harbours Administration
top speed: —
power: —
gauge: 1,067 mm Cape gauge
wheel arrangement: 4-6-2

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

Sources: Wikidata Q7565535, Wikipedia: South African Class 5B 4-6-2 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.