#1230

South African Class 8Z 2-8-0

🇿🇦 South Africa ·built by North British Locomotive Company· from 1904· class of 8 South African 2-8-0 locomotives

2 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. SAR Class 8Z 904 (2-8-0) CGR 825: Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain
2. Class 8Z (2-8-0) Playing Cards: SAR Museum· Public domain

what is it?

The South African Railways Class 8Z 2-8-0 of 1904 was a steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Cape of Good Hope. In 1904, the Cape Government Railways placed its last eight 8th Class 2-8-0 Consolidation type steam locomotives in service. Most of its other 8th Class locomotives were built with a 4-8-0 Mastodon type wheel arrangement.

who runs it

Transnet Freight Rail Cape Government Railways South African Railways and Harbours Administration

base stats

built 8made 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 (1904–1935).

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: 1904
retired: 1935
status: retired
number built: 8
kind: Steam
traction: steam
origin: 🇿🇦 South Africa
builders: North British Locomotive Company
designer: Cape Government Railways, (H.M. Beatty)
operators: Transnet Freight Rail, Cape Government Railways, South African Railways and Harbours Administration
top speed: —
power: —
gauge: 1,067 mm Cape gauge
wheel arrangement: 2-8-0 (Consolidation)

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

Sources: Wikidata Q7565598, Wikipedia: South African Class 8Z 2-8-0 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.