#3131

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

🇩🇪 Germany ·built by Henschel & Sohn· from 1953· Articulated steam locomotive

2 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. HGG-GMAM-1983-04-16-Vryburg: H.G.Graser· CC BY-SA 3.0
2. Class GMAM 4079 (4-8-2+2-8-4): Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0

what is it?

The South African Railways Class GMA 4-8-2+2-8-4 of 1954 is an articulated steam locomotive. Between 1954 and 1958, the South African Railways placed 120 Class GMA Garratt articulated steam locomotives with a 4-8-2+2-8-4 Double Mountain type wheel arrangement in service. All the locomotives could be configured as either a Class GMA branch line or a Class GMAM mainline engine.

who runs it

South African Railways and Harbours Administration

base stats

built 120made 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 73 years ago, in 1953.
Served for 34 years (1954–1988).

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

spec sheet

built: 1953–1958
in service from: 1954
retired: 1988
status: preserved
number built: 120
kind: Steam
traction: steam
origin: 🇩🇪 Germany
builders: Henschel & Sohn, Beyer, Peacock and Company, North British Locomotive Company
designer: South African Railways, (L.C. Grubb)
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 Q2204944, Wikipedia: South African Class GMA 4-8-2+2-8-4 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.