#0423

South African Class C 4-6-0T

Colony of Natal ·built by Robert Stephenson and Company· from 1879· class of 37 South African 4-6-0T locomotives

2 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. NGR K&S Class 26 (4-6-0T): Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain
2. Class C 4-6-0T no. 16 as built: Unknown author Unknown author· Public domain

what is it?

The South African Railways Class C 4-6-0T of 1879 was a steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Colony of Natal. Between 1879 and 1885, the Natal Government Railways placed thirty-seven 4-6-0 Ten-wheeler type tank steam locomotives in service. Of these, the first seven were built as 2-6-0T Mogul type locomotives and were subsequently modified to a 4-6-0T wheel arrangement.

who runs it

Natal Government Railways Transnet Freight Rail Eskom

base stats

built 37made 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.
Served for 61 years (1879–1940).

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

spec sheet

built: 1879–1885
in service from: 1879
retired: 1940
status: retired
number built: 37
kind: Steam
traction: steam
origin: Colony of Natal
builders: Robert Stephenson and Company, Kitson and Company
designer: Kitson & Company
operators: Natal Government Railways, Transnet Freight Rail, Eskom
top speed: —
power: —
gauge: 1,067 mm Cape gauge
wheel arrangement: ♠ 7 built as 2-6-0T (Mogul)

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

Sources: Wikidata Q7565606, Wikipedia: South African Class C 4-6-0T (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.