#0978

South African Class 7E 4-8-0

🇬🇧 United Kingdom ·built by Neilson and Company· from 1899· 1899 design of steam locomotive

1 photo from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. SAR Class 7E 1347 (4-8-0) ex NCCR 4: Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain

what is it?

The South African Railways Class 7E 4-8-0 of 1899 was a steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Cape of Good Hope. In 1899, the New Cape Central Railway placed one Cape 7th Class 4-8-0 Mastodon type steam locomotive in service. Another three were commissioned in 1900, two more in 1903 and another one in 1904.

who runs it

Transnet Freight Rail New Cape Central Railway Pauling & Co.South African Railways and Harbours Administration

base stats

built 7made 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 127 years ago, in 1899.
Served for 73 years (1899–1972).

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

spec sheet

built: 1899–1904
in service from: 1899
retired: 1972
status: retired
number built: 7
kind: Steam
traction: steam
origin: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
builders: Neilson and Company, North British Locomotive Company
designer: Cape Government Railways, (H.M. Beatty)
operators: Transnet Freight Rail, New Cape Central Railway, Pauling & Co., South African Railways and Harbours Administration
top speed: —
power: —
gauge: 1,067 mm Cape gauge
wheel arrangement: 4-8-0 (Mastodon)

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

Sources: Wikidata Q7565586, Wikipedia: South African Class 7E 4-8-0 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.