#0408

CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1880

🇿🇦 South Africa ·built by Robert Stephenson and Company· from 1879· class of 18 South African 4-6-0TT locomotives

2 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1880 no. E28: Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain
2. CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1880 no. M50 (450): F.W. Neave· Public domain

what is it?

The Cape Government Railways 4th Class 4-6-0TT of 1880 was a South African steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Cape of Good Hope. In 1880 and 1881, the Cape Government Railways placed eighteen 4th Class 4-6-0 tank-and-tender locomotives in mainline service on its Midland and Eastern Systems, working out of Port Elizabeth and East London respectively. It was the first South African locomotive to be built to a local design.

who runs it

Cape Government Railways Transnet Freight Rail

base stats

built 18made 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 147 years ago, in 1879.

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

spec sheet

built: 1879–1880
in service from: 1880
number built: 18
kind: Steam
traction: steam
origin: 🇿🇦 South Africa
builders: Robert Stephenson and Company
designer: Cape Government Railways, (Michael Stephens)
operators: Cape Government Railways, Transnet Freight Rail
top speed: —
power: —
gauge: 1,067 mm Cape gauge
wheel arrangement: 4-6-0TT (Tenwheeler)

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

Sources: Wikidata Q16257246, Wikipedia: CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1880 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.