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#2935

South African Class 24 2-8-4

🇬🇧 United Kingdom ·built by North British Locomotive Company· from 1949· class of 100 South African 2-8-4 locomotives

🚂 steam locomotive steam preserved
10 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
  1. 1. 243696-Beaconsfield-1983-Apr-13-HGG: H.G.Graser· CC BY-SA 3.0
  2. 2. SAR Class 24 3655 (2-8-4): Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
  3. 3. SAR Class 24 3632 (2-8-4) Tootsie: User:Robert Maidment-Wilson· CC BY-SA 3.0
  4. 4. SAR Class 24 3654 (2-8-4): Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
  5. 5. SAR Class 24 3693 (2-8-4): User:Robert Maidment-Wilson· CC BY-SA 3.0
  6. 6. "Outeniqua Choo Tjoe" Steam locomotive class 24, at Knysna, Western Cape, South Africa, 2005: Nils Öberg· CC0
  7. 7. Class 24 (2-8-4) Playing Cards: SAR Museum· Public domain
  8. 8. SAR Class 24 3608 (2-8-4): Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
  9. 9. SAR Class 24 3635 (2-8-4): Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
  10. 10. SAR Class 24 3668 (2-8-4): Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
Read about it on Wikipedia ↗
South African Class 24 2-8-4, photo 1 of 10
1/10 H.G.Graser· CC BY-SA 3.0

what is it?

The South African Railways Class 24 2-8-4 of 1949 is a steam locomotive. In 1949 and 1950, the South African Railways placed 100 Class 24 branch line steam locomotives with a 2-8-4 Berkshire type wheel arrangement in service.

who runs it

South African Railways and Harbours Administration

base stats

  • built 100made 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 77 years ago, in 1949.
  • Served for 31 years (1949–1980).

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

spec sheet

built
1949–1950
in service from
1949
retired
1980
status
preserved
number built
100
kind
Steam
traction
steam
origin
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
builders
North British Locomotive Company
designer
South African Railways, (Dr. M.M. Loubser)
operators
South African Railways and Harbours Administration
top speed
—
power
—
gauge
1,067 mm Cape gauge
wheel arrangement
2-8-4 (Berkshire)

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

Sources: Wikidata Q2204898, Wikipedia: South African Class 24 2-8-4 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.

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