#2176

South African Class 18 2-10-2

🇩🇪 Germany ·built by Henschel & Sohn· from 1927· class of 2 South African 2-10-2 locomotives

4 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. Class 18 2-10-2: Linton Brothers, photographer (c. 1920-c. 1930)· Public domain
2. Class 18 Type HT tender: Leith Paxton· CC BY-SA 3.0
3. SAR Class 18 (2-10-2): South African Railways· Public domain
4. Class 18 (2-10-2) Playing Cards: SAR Museum· Public domain

what is it?

The South African Railways Class 18 2-10-2 of 1927 was a steam locomotive. In December 1927 and January 1928 the South African Railways placed two Class 18 three-cylinder steam locomotives with a 2-10-2 Santa Fe type wheel arrangement in service on the Witbank-Germiston coal line.

who runs it

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 99 years ago, in 1927.
Served for 24 years (1927–1951).

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

spec sheet

built: 1927
in service from: 1927
retired: 1951
status: retired
number built: 2
kind: Steam
traction: steam
origin: 🇩🇪 Germany
builders: Henschel & Sohn
designer: South African Railways, (Col F.R. Collins DSO)
operators: South African Railways and Harbours Administration
top speed: —
power: —
gauge: 1,067 mm Cape gauge
wheel arrangement: 2-10-2 (Santa Fe)
nicknames: Henschel Giant

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

Sources: Wikidata Q2204882, Wikipedia: South African Class 18 2-10-2 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.