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#2569

South African Class 21 2-10-4

🇬🇧 United Kingdom ·built by North British Locomotive Company· from 1937· class of 1 South African 2-10-4 locomotive

🚂 steam locomotive steam retired
5 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
  1. 1. SAR Class 21 2551 (2-10-4): 1930's Railway Circle, (members Frank Garrison, A. Butchard, Dr Eric Manken, Arthur Arnold, Frank Holland, A. Spence, S.H. Carter, Bill Schutz, Dave Parsons and others)· Public domain
  2. 2. Class 21 no. 2551 (2-10-4) a: Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain
  3. 3. Class 21 no. 2551 (2-10-4) b: Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain
  4. 4. SAR Class 21 2551 (2-10-4) a: Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain
  5. 5. Class 21 2551 (2-10-4) Playing Cards: SAR Museum· Public domain
Read about it on Wikipedia ↗
South African Class 21 2-10-4, photo 1 of 5
1/5 1930's Railway Circle, (members Frank Garrison, A. Butchard, Dr Eric Manken, Arthur Arnold, Frank Holland, A. Spence, S.H. Carter, Bill Schutz, Dave Parsons and others)· Public domain

what is it?

The South African Railways Class 21 2-10-4 of 1937 was a class of steam locomotives used in South Africa. In 1937, the South African Railways placed a single Class 21 steam locomotive with a 2-10-4 Texas type wheel arrangement in service, designed as a mixed traffic locomotive suitable for use on light rail. A simultaneously proposed heavier mainline version Class 22 2-10-4 was never built.

who runs it

South African Railways and Harbours Administration

base stats

  • built 1made 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 89 years ago, in 1937.
  • Served for 15 years (1937–1952).

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

spec sheet

built
1937
in service from
1937
retired
1952
status
retired
number built
1
kind
Steam
traction
steam
origin
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
builders
North British Locomotive Company
designer
South African Railways, (A.G. Watson)
operators
South African Railways and Harbours Administration
top speed
—
power
—
gauge
1,067 mm Cape gauge
wheel arrangement
2-10-4 (Texas)

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

Sources: Wikidata Q1313310, Wikipedia: South African Class 21 2-10-4 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.

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