| Weight | 95t 14cwt |
| Driving Wheels | 4ft 0ins |
| Boiler Pressure | 180psi |
| Cylinders | Outside – 18½in x 20in |
| Tractive Effort | 23,110lbf |
| Valve Gear | Stephenson |
The above details are as originally built.
The first class 8 locomotive of the Cape Government Railways (CGR) was a 2-8-0 designed by H.M. Beatty, the Chief Locomotive Superintendent of the CGR from 1896 to 1910. It was later to be designated the South African Railways (SAR) class 8X.
While these first Schenectady- and ALCO-built were being subjected to exhaustive testing on all types of traffic and under varying conditions, some trouble was experienced with the leading two-wheeled pony truck. When designs were prepared at Salt River for a later order for more locomotives, the pony truck was replaced with a four-wheeled bogie.
The locomotives were ordered from Neilson, Reid and Company in 1902 and were delivered in four batches in 1903. While they were being built, Neilson, Reid amalgamated with Dübs and Company and Sharp, Stewart and Company to form the North British Locomotive Company (NBL). As a result, the last four of these locomotives were delivered as having been built by NBL at the Hyde Park shops of the former Neilson, Reid.
Neilson Reid and Company built thirty four locomotives in 1902 and 1903 (CGR 366-381, 783-794) & 807-812) and four by the North British Locomotive Company (CGR 382-399). The locomotives were delivered with type XE1 tenders and distributed between the CGR’s Midland, Eastern and Western systems.
- Twenty were allocated to the Midland System, nineteen of them numbered in the range from 366 to 384 and the twentieth numbered 399.
- Twelve, numbered in the range from 783 to 794, went to the Eastern System.
- Six, numbered in the range from 807 to 812, went to the Western System.
When the Union of South Africa was established on 31 May 1910, the three Colonial government railways (CGR, Natal Government Railways and Central South African Railways) were united under a single administration to control and administer the railways, ports and harbours of the Union. Although the South African Railways and Harbours came into existence in 1910, the actual classification and renumbering of all the rolling stock of the three constituent railways were only implemented with effect from 1 January 1912.
In 1912, these 38 locomotives were renumbered in the range from 1192 to 1229 and designated class 8D on the South African Railways (SAR).
These locomotives, together with the rest of the CGR’s class 8 2-8-0 and 4-8-0 as the class 8 4-8-0 from the Central South African Railways (CSAR), were grouped into ten different sub-classes by the SAR. The 4-8-0 locomotives became SAR classes 8 and 8A to 8F and the 2-8-0 locomotives became classes 8X to 8Z.
During A.G. Watson’s term as the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the SAR from 1929 to 1936 nine of the class 8D locomotives were fitted with superheated boilers, 19 inches bore cylinders and outside admission piston valves but retaining their class 8D classification.
Fourteen were equipped with superheated boilers, 20 inches bore cylinders and inside admission piston valves, and were reclassified to class 8DW.
In SAR service, the 4-8-0 class 8 family of locomotives served on every system in the country and, in the 1920s, became the mainstay of motive power on many branch lines. Their final days were spent in shunting service and they were all withdrawn by 1972 although some saw further service under industrial ownership.
Preservation
Neilson, Reid and Company Works No 6286 – CGR 368 & SAR 1200
Neilson, Reid and Company Works No 6300 – CGR 788 & SAR 1223
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Preserved British Steam Locomotives 