#1115

South African Class E 4-6-4T

🇿🇦 South Africa ·built by Neilson and Company· from 1902· class of 10 tank locomotives that first saw service on the Natal Government Railways in 1902

🚂 steam locomotive steam retired

1 photo from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. SAR Class E 87 (4-6-4T) NGR Neilson Reid 1: Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain

Read about it on Wikipedia ↗

what is it?

The South African Railways Class E 4-6-4T of 1902 was a steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Colony of Natal. In 1902, the Natal Government Railways placed ten Class F 4-6-4 Baltic type tank steam locomotives in service.

who runs it

Transnet Freight Rail

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 124 years ago, in 1902.
Served for 35 years (1902–1937).

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

spec sheet

built: 1902
in service from: 1902
retired: 1937
status: retired
number built: 10
kind: Steam
traction: steam
origin: 🇿🇦 South Africa
builders: Neilson and Company
designer: Natal Government Railways, (G.W. Reid)
operators: Transnet Freight Rail
top speed: —
power: —
gauge: 1,067 mm Cape gauge
wheel arrangement: 4-6-4T (Baltic)

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

Sources: Wikidata Q1960609, Wikipedia: South African Class E 4-6-4T (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.