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#1715

South African Class 15A 4-8-2

🇿🇦 South Africa ·built by North British Locomotive Company· from 1914· class of 119 South African 4-8-2 locomotives

🚂 steam locomotive steam retired
10 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
  1. 1. Class 15A no. 2100 Lenz: D.F. Holland· Public domain
  2. 2. SAR Class 15AR 1788 Graaff-Reinet 040478: User:Malcolm Best· CC BY-SA 3.0
  3. 3. Class 15AR at Sydenham Locomotive Shed: michelhuhardeaux· CC BY-SA 2.0
  4. 4. Port Elizabeth, SAR Class 15AR on Shunting Duties: michelhuhardeaux· CC BY-SA 2.0
  5. 5. SAR Class 15AR 1802 in Sydenham Depot: michelhuhardeaux· CC BY-SA 2.0
  6. 6. Sydenham SAR Depot, Class 15AR: michelhuhardeaux· CC BY-SA 2.0
  7. 7. SAR Class 15AR 1849 Olive ~ 080478: User:Malcolm Best· CC BY-SA 3.0
  8. 8. SAR Class 15AR 1850 (4-8-2) ID: Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
  9. 9. SAR Class 15AR 1855 Klipplaat 160479: User:Malcolm Best· CC BY-SA 3.0
  10. 10. Class 15AR 1966 (4-8-2): Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
Read about it on Wikipedia ↗
South African Class 15A 4-8-2, photo 1 of 10
1/10 D.F. Holland· Public domain

what is it?

The South African Railways Class 15A 4-8-2 of 1914 was a steam locomotive. Between 1914 and 1925, the South African Railways placed 119 Class 15A steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 wheel arrangement in service, delivered in ten batches from three manufacturers.

who runs it

Transnet Freight RailEswatini RailwaysSouth African Railways and Harbours Administration

base stats

  • built 119made 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
1914–1925
in service from
1914
retired
1980
status
retired
number built
119
kind
Steam
traction
steam
origin
🇿🇦 South Africa
builders
North British Locomotive Company, Beyer, Peacock and Company, Maffei
designer
South African Railways
operators
Transnet Freight Rail, Eswatini Railways, South African Railways and Harbours Administration
top speed
—
power
—
gauge
1,067 mm Cape gauge
wheel arrangement
4-8-2

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

Sources: Wikidata Q7565466, Wikipedia: South African Class 15A 4-8-2 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.

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