#1549

South African Class 3B 4-8-2

🇬🇧 United Kingdom ·built by North British Locomotive Company· from 1911· class of 10 South African 4-8-2 locomotives

4 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. Umgeni Steam Railway, locomotive 1486 Maureen, Kloof station 06-Jun-2010: SoftwareSimian· CC BY-SA 3.0
2. Class 3B 1482 (4-8-2): Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
3. SAR Class 3BR 1485 (4-8-2): Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
4. SAR Class 3BR 1487 FG9 (4-8-2): Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0

what is it?

The South African Railways Class 3B 4-8-2 of 1912 was a steam locomotive. In 1912, the South African Railways took delivery of ten Class 3B steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain type wheel arrangement which had been ordered by the Natal Government Railways the year before.

who runs it

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 115 years ago, in 1911.
Served for 64 years (1912–1976).

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

spec sheet

built: 1911–1912
in service from: 1912
retired: 1976
status: retired
number built: 10
kind: Steam
traction: steam
origin: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
builders: North British Locomotive Company
designer: Natal Government Railways, (D.A. Hendrie)
operators: 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 Q7565527, Wikipedia: South African Class 3B 4-8-2 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.