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#1875

South African Class 12A 4-8-2

🇿🇦 South Africa ·built by North British Locomotive Company· from 1919· class of 75 South African 4-8-2 locomotives

🚂 steam locomotive steam retired
10 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
  1. 1. Class12AR-Susan-02: Steamhunter· CC BY-SA 3.0
  2. 2. Class 12A 1548 (4-8-2): Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
  3. 3. Class 12A no. 2111: Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain
  4. 4. Class 12A no. 2131: Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain
  5. 5. SAR Class 12AR 1542 Kimberley 270383: User:Malcolm Best· CC BY-SA 3.0
  6. 6. SAR Class 12A 1526 De Aar 060479: User:Malcolm Best· CC BY-SA 3.0
  7. 7. SAR Class 12A 1547 Visrivier - 140479: User:Malcolm Best· CC BY-SA 3.0
  8. 8. 051. 1980-12. Class 12A shunting at De Aar Station - South African Railways: michelhuhardeaux· CC BY-SA 2.0
  9. 9. 093. 1979-08. De Aar depot (Class 12A 1547) (5371969935): Michel Huhardeaux from Brussels, Belgium· CC BY-SA 2.0
  10. 10. SAR Class 12AR 1540 Kaserne 160481: User:Malcolm Best· CC BY-SA 3.0
Read about it on Wikipedia ↗
South African Class 12A 4-8-2, photo 1 of 10
1/10 Steamhunter· CC BY-SA 3.0

what is it?

The South African Railways Class 12A 4-8-2 of 1919 was a steam locomotive. Between 1919 and 1929, the South African Railways placed 67 Class 12A steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain type wheel arrangement in service. Between 1947 and 1953, eight were also built for industrial use.

who runs it

South African Railways and Harbours Administration

base stats

  • built 75made 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 107 years ago, in 1919.
  • Served for 61 years (1919–1980).

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

spec sheet

built
1919–1929
in service from
1919
retired
1980
status
retired
number built
75
kind
Steam
traction
steam
origin
🇿🇦 South Africa
builders
North British Locomotive Company, Henschel & Sohn
designer
South African Railways, (D.A. Hendrie)
operators
South African Railways and Harbours Administration
top speed
—
power
—
gauge
1,067 mm Cape gauge
wheel arrangement
4-8-2 (Mountain)

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

Sources: Wikidata Q7565454, Wikipedia: South African Class 12A 4-8-2 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.

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