#1227

South African Class 2 4-6-2

🇬🇧 United Kingdom ·built by North British Locomotive Company· from 1904· class of 2 South African 4-6-2 locomotives

1 photo from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. Class 2 763 (4-6-2) NGR 326 Playing Cards: SAR Museum· Public domain

what is it?

The South African Railways Class 2 4-6-2 of 1905 was a steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Colony of Natal. In 1905, the Natal Government Railways placed two Class A steam locomotives with a 4-6-2 Pacific type wheel arrangement in service. In 1912, when these locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered and designated Class 2.

who runs it

Natal Government Railways South African Railways and Harbours Administration

base stats

built 2made 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 122 years ago, in 1904.
Served for 31 years (1905–1936).

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

spec sheet

built: 1904
in service from: 1905
retired: 1936
status: retired
number built: 2
kind: Steam
traction: steam
origin: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
builders: North British Locomotive Company
designer: Natal Government Railways, (D.A. Hendrie)
operators: Natal Government Railways, South African Railways and Harbours Administration
top speed: —
power: —
gauge: 1,067 mm Cape gauge
wheel arrangement: 4-6-2 (Pacific)
nicknames: Hendrie A

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

Sources: Wikidata Q16258312, Wikipedia: South African Class 2 4-6-2 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.