skip to content

#1176

South African Class Experimental 4 2-8-2

🇿🇦 South Africa ·built by Kitson and Company· from 1903· 1903 design of steam locomotive

South African Class Experimental 4 2-8-2, photo 1 of 1
1/1 Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain

what is it?

The South African Railways Class Experimental 4 2-8-2 of 1903 was a steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Cape of Good Hope. In 1903, the Cape Government Railways placed two 9th Class steam locomotives with a 2-8-2 Mikado type wheel arrangement in service. In 1912, when they were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered and designated Class Experimental 4.

who runs it

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 123 years ago, in 1903.
  • Served for 27 years (1903–1930).

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

spec sheet

built
1903
in service from
1903
retired
1930
status
retired
number built
2
kind
Steam
traction
steam
origin
🇿🇦 South Africa
builders
Kitson and Company
designer
Cape Government Railways, (H.M. Beatty)
operators
Transnet Freight Rail, Cape Government Railways
top speed
—
power
—
gauge
1,067 mm Cape gauge
wheel arrangement
2-8-2 (Mikado)

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

Sources: Wikidata Q7565617, Wikipedia: South African Class Experimental 4 2-8-2 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.

stan runge 7f71e88 source