#2181

South African Class U 2-6-2+2-6-2

🇩🇪 Germany ·built by Maffei· from 1927· articulated steam locomotive

3 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. Garratt Lokomotive Baureihe U südafrikanische Eisenbahn: Unknown photographer· Public domain
2. Class U 2-6-2+2-6-2: Linton Brothers, photographer (c. 1920-c. 1930)· Public domain
3. Class U (2-6-2+2-6-2) Playing Cards: SAR Museum· Public domain

what is it?

The South African Railways Class U 2-6-2+2-6-2 of 1927 was an articulated steam locomotive. In 1927, the South African Railways placed ten Class U Union Garratt articulated steam locomotives with a 2-6-2+2-6-2 Double Prairie type wheel arrangement in service. The locomotive design embodied the Garratt design at the front end and the Modified Fairlie design at the rear end.

who runs it

South African Railways and Harbours Administration

base stats

built 10made 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 31 years (1927–1958).

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: 1958
status: retired
number built: 10
kind: Steam
traction: steam
origin: 🇩🇪 Germany
builders: Maffei
designer: Maffei
operators: South African Railways and Harbours Administration
top speed: —
power: —
gauge: 1,067 mm Cape gauge
wheel arrangement: 2-6-2+2-6-2 (Double Prairie)
nicknames: U Boat

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

Sources: Wikidata Q7565675, Wikipedia: South African Class U 2-6-2+2-6-2 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.