#1714

South African Class 15 4-8-2

🇿🇦 South Africa ·built by North British Locomotive Company· from 1914· class of 10 South African 4-8-2 locomotives

4 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. SAR Class 15 1563 (4-8-2): Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain
2. SAR Class 15AR 1566 Port Elizabeth 030478: User:Malcolm Best· CC BY-SA 3.0
3. Class 15 no. 1561: Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain
4. SAR Class 15AR 1568 Midlandia 010479: User:Malcolm Best· CC BY-SA 3.0

what is it?

The South African Railways Class 15 4-8-2 of 1914 was a steam locomotive. In 1914, the South African Railways placed ten Class 15 steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain type wheel arrangement in service.

who runs it

Eswatini Railways 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 112 years ago, in 1914.
Served for 66 years (1914–1980).

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

spec sheet

built: 1914
in service from: 1914
retired: 1980
status: retired
number built: 10
kind: Steam
traction: steam
origin: 🇿🇦 South Africa
builders: North British Locomotive Company
designer: South African Railways, (D.A. Hendrie)
operators: Eswatini Railways, 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 Q7565474, Wikipedia: South African Class 15 4-8-2 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.