#1662

South African Class 4A 4-8-2

🇬🇧 United Kingdom ·built by North British Locomotive Company· from 1913· class of 10 South African 4-8-2 locomotives

7 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. SAR Class 4A 1559 (4-8-2): M. Leendertz· Public domain
2. Class 4AR 1554 (4-8-2): Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain
3. Class 4A (4-8-2) a: 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
4. Class 4A (4-8-2) b: Frank Garrison· Public domain
5. SAR Class 4AR 1554 (4-8-2): User:Leith Paxton· CC BY-SA 3.0
6. Class 4AR 1560 (4-8-2): Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
7. Class 4A (4-8-2) Playing Cards: SAR Museum· Public domain

what is it?

The South African Railways Class 4A 4-8-2 of 1913 was a steam locomotive. In 1913 and 1914, ten Class 4A steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain type wheel arrangement were placed in service by the South African Railways.

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 113 years ago, in 1913.
Served for 61 years (1913–1974).

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

spec sheet

built: 1913
in service from: 1913
retired: 1974
status: retired
number built: 10
kind: Steam
traction: steam
origin: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
builders: North British Locomotive Company
designer: Cape Government Railways, (H.M. Beatty)
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 Q7565531, Wikipedia: South African Class 4A 4-8-2 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.