#2008

South African Class GK 2-6-2+2-6-2

🇿🇦 South Africa ·built by Beyer, Peacock and Company· from 1923· 1923 articulated steam locomotive

1 photo from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. Class GK 2341 ex NCCR G2 (2-6-2+2-6-2): 1930s Railway Circle (members Frank Garrison, Frank Holland, Bill Schutz and others).· Public domain

what is it?

The South African Railways Class GK 2-6-2+2-6-2 of 1923 was an articulated steam locomotive from the New Cape Central Railway era. In 1923, the New Cape Central Railway placed two Garratt articulated steam locomotives with a 2-6-2+2-6-2 Double Prairie type wheel arrangement in service.

who runs it

New Cape Central Railway South African Railways and Harbours Administration

base stats

built 2made 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 103 years ago, in 1923.
Served for 34 years (1923–1957).

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

spec sheet

built: 1923
in service from: 1923
retired: 1957
status: retired
number built: 2
kind: Steam
traction: steam
origin: 🇿🇦 South Africa
builders: Beyer, Peacock and Company
designer: Beyer, Peacock and Company
operators: New Cape Central Railway, South African Railways and Harbours Administration
top speed: —
power: —
gauge: 1,067 mm Cape gauge
wheel arrangement: 2-6-2+2-6-2 (Double Prairie)

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

Sources: Wikidata Q7565635, Wikipedia: South African Class GK 2-6-2+2-6-2 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.