#2610

South African Class GM 4-8-2+2-8-4

🇬🇧 United Kingdom ·built by Beyer, Peacock and Company· from 1938· 1938 articulated steam locomotive

3 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. SAR Class GM 2298 (4-8-2+2-8-4): User:Peter Bagshawe· CC BY-SA 3.0
2. Class GM (4-8-2+2-8-4): Dave Parsons (1930's Railway Circle, members Frank Garrison, A. Butchard, Dr Eric Manken, Arthur Arnold, Frank Holland, A. Spence, S.H. Carter, Bill Schutz, Dave Parsons and others)· Public domain
3. SAR Class GM (4-8-2+2-8-4): Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain

what is it?

The South African Railways Class GM 4-8-2+2-8-4 of 1938 was an articulated steam locomotive. During 1938 and 1939, the South African Railways placed sixteen Class GM Garratt articulated steam locomotives with a 4-8-2+2-8-4 Double Mountain type wheel arrangement in goods train service on the Mafeking line out of Johannesburg.

who runs it

South African Railways and Harbours Administration

base stats

built 16made 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 36 years (1938–1974).

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: 1974
status: retired
number built: 16
kind: Steam
traction: steam
origin: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
builders: Beyer, Peacock and Company
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+2-8-4 (Double Mountain)

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

Sources: Wikidata Q7565637, Wikipedia: South African Class GM 4-8-2+2-8-4 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.