About: South African Class 6Z 2-6-4

The South African Railways Class 6Z 2-6-4 of 1901 was a steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in the Cape of Good Hope. In 1901, the Cape Government Railways placed four 6th Class steam locomotives with a 2-6-2 Prairie type wheel arrangement in service. The engines were soon modified to a 2-6-4 Adriatic type wheel arrangement. In 1902, another four locomotives were placed in service, built with the 2-6-4 wheel arrangement. These latter four were the first tender locomotives in the world to be built with this wheel arrangement. In 1912, when they were assimilated into the South African Railways, these eight locomotives were renumbered and designated Class 6Z.