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South African Class 19A 4-8-2

🇨🇭 Switzerland ·built by Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works· from 1929· class of 36 South African 4-8-2 locomotives

🚂 steam locomotive steam retired
10 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
  1. 1. SAR Class 19A (4-8-2): 1930's Railway Circle (members Frank Garrison, Dr Eric Manken, Arthur Arnold, Frank Holland, Bill Schutz and others)· Public domain
  2. 2. SAR Class 19A 685 (4-8-2): User:Richard Niven· CC BY-SA 3.0
  3. 3. Class 19AR 685 (4-8-2): Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
  4. 4. Class 19AR no. 693 domeless: Leith Paxton· CC BY-SA 3.0
  5. 5. Class 19AR no. 706: Leith Paxton· CC BY-SA 3.0
  6. 6. Class 19A no. 705: User:Peter Bagshawe· CC BY-SA 3.0
  7. 7. Class 19A 685 (4-8-2): Col André Kritzinger· CC BY-SA 3.0
  8. 8. Class 19A no. 685: User:Peter Bagshawe· CC BY-SA 3.0
  9. 9. Class 19AR no. 693: Leith Paxton· CC BY-SA 3.0
  10. 10. Class 19AR no. 696: Leith Paxton· CC BY-SA 3.0
Read about it on Wikipedia ↗
South African Class 19A 4-8-2, photo 1 of 10
1/10 1930's Railway Circle (members Frank Garrison, Dr Eric Manken, Arthur Arnold, Frank Holland, Bill Schutz and others)· Public domain

what is it?

The South African Railways Class 19A 4-8-2 of 1929 was a steam locomotive. In 1929, the South African Railways placed 36 Class 19A steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain type wheel arrangement in service.

who runs it

South African Railways and Harbours Administration

base stats

  • built 36made 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 97 years ago, in 1929.
  • Served for 41 years (1929–1970).

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

spec sheet

built
1929
in service from
1929
retired
1970
status
retired
number built
36
kind
Steam
traction
steam
origin
🇨🇭 Switzerland
builders
Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works
designer
South African Railways, (Col F.R. Collins DSO)
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 Q2204889, Wikipedia: South African Class 19A 4-8-2 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.

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