#0634

South African Class A 4-8-2T

Colony of Natal ·built by Dübs and Company· from 1888· 4-8-2T tank locomotive dating from 1888, originally known as a Natal Government Railways Class D (or Dübs) locomotive

🚂 steam locomotive steam preserved

5 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. Dubs - Masons Mill: SAR Connecta· CC BY-SA 3.0
2. Class A 4-8-2T NGR no. 87: Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain
3. NGR Class A (4-8-2): Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain
4. Class A (4-8-2T) Playing Cards: SAR Museum· Public domain
5. Ex NGR-SAR Class A 4-8-2T Nbr 103 (Builder- Dubs & Co) (15084622832): Bob Adams from Amanzimtoti, South Africa· CC BY-SA 2.0

Read about it on Wikipedia ↗

what is it?

The South African Railways Class A 4-8-2T of 1888 is a steam locomotive class from the pre-Union era in the Colony of Natal. In 1888, the Natal Government Railways placed the first five of its eventual one hundred Class D 4-8-2T steam locomotives in service. The last was delivered in 1899.

who runs it

Natal Government Railways Transnet Freight Rail

base stats

built 102made 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 138 years ago, in 1888.
Served for 74 years (1888–1962).

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

spec sheet

built: 1888–1915
in service from: 1888
retired: 1962
status: preserved
number built: 102
kind: Steam
traction: steam
origin: Colony of Natal
builders: Dübs and Company, Transnet Freight Rail
designer: Natal Government Railways, (William Milne)
operators: Natal Government Railways, Transnet Freight Rail
top speed: —
power: —
gauge: 1,067 mm Cape gauge
wheel arrangement: 4-8-2T (Mountain)

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

Sources: Wikidata Q1960596, Wikipedia: South African Class A 4-8-2T (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.