South African Class 7 4-8-0

{{Short description|1892 design of steam locomotive}} {{About|one of several different Cape Government Railways locomotive types to be designated "7th Class"|the others|Cape Government Railways 7th Class locomotives}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Use South African English|date=November 2013}} {{Infobox locomotive | name = CGR 7th Class 4-8-0 1892 South African Class 7 4-8-0 | image = SAR Class 7 975 (4-8-0) ex CGR 344.JPG | alt = | caption = Midland System no. 344, SAR no. 975, with [[South African type ZA tender|type ZA tender]], Bloemfontein, 6 April 2006 | hatnote = ♠ [[South African type ZA tender|Type ZA tender]] (2-axle bogies, Dübs) {{font color|red|♥}} [[South African type ZB tender|Type ZB tender]] (3-axle, Neilson) ♣ Original locomotive, as built {{font color|red|♦}} Locomotive equipped with superheating | powertype = Steam | designer = [[Cape Government Railways]] (H.M. Beatty) | builder = [[Dübs and Company]] [[Neilson and Company]] | ordernumber = | serialnumber = Dübs 2882-2887 Neilson 4446-4477 | buildmodel = CGR 7th | builddate = 1892 | totalproduction = 38 | rebuilder = | rebuilddate = | numberrebuilt = | whytetype = [[4-8-0]] (Mastodon) | uicclass = 2'Dn2 | driver = 2nd coupled axle | gauge = {{Track gauge|Cape|allk=on}} | leadingdiameter = {{convert|28+1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | coupleddiameter = {{convert|42+3/4|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | trailingdiameter = | tenderdiameter = ♠ {{convert|33+1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} as built ♠ {{convert|34|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} retyred {{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|37|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | minimumcurve = | wheelbase = ♠ {{convert|41|ft|4+3/8|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|46|ft|2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | engine total = {{convert|21|ft|3+1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | leading = {{convert|5|ft|3|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | coupled = {{convert|12|ft|mm|0|abbr=on}} | trailing = | tender total = ♠ {{convert|14|ft|7|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|10|ft|mm|0|abbr=on}} | tenderbogie = ♠ {{convert|4|ft|7|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | pivotcentres = | wheelspacing = | length = | over couplers = ♠ {{convert|51|ft|7|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|50|ft|1|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | over bufferbeams = | width = | height = ♣ {{convert|12|ft|4+1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♦}} {{convert|12|ft|10|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | frametype = [[Locomotive frame#Plate frames|Plate]] | axleload = ♣ {{convert|9|lt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♦}} {{convert|9|lt|14|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} | leadingbogie/pony= ♣ {{convert|10|lt|9|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♦}} {{convert|11|lt|2|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} | coupled all = | coupled 1 = ♣ {{convert|8|lt|14|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♦}} {{convert|9|lt|8|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} | coupled 2 = ♣ {{convert|8|lt|11|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♦}} {{convert|9|lt|14|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} | coupled 3 = ♣ {{convert|9|lt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♦}} {{convert|9|lt|10|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} | coupled 4 = ♣ {{convert|8|lt|16|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♦}} {{convert|9|lt|8|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} | coupled 5 = | coupled 6 = | coupled 7 = | coupled 8 = | trail bogie/pony = | tenderbogieload = | tenderaxle = {{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|9|lt|13|lcwt|3|qtr|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} av. | weightondrivers = ♣ {{convert|35|lt|1|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♦}} {{convert|38|lt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} | locoweight = ♣ {{convert|45|lt|10|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♦}} {{convert|49|lt|2|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} | tenderweight = {{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|29|lt|1|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} | locotenderweight = {{font color|red|♥}}♣ {{convert|74|lt|11|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♥}}♦ {{convert|78|lt|3|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} | tendertype = [[South African type ZA tender|ZA (2-axle bogies)]] or [[South African type ZB tender|ZB (3-axle)]] ZA, ZB, [[South African type ZC tender|ZC]], [[South African type ZE tender|ZE]] permitted | fueltype = Coal | fuelcap = ♠ {{convert|3|lt|10|lcwt|t|1|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|5|lt|t|1|abbr=on}} | watercap = ♠ {{convert|2220|impgal|L|sigfig=3|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♥}} {{convert|2370|impgal|L|sigfig=3|abbr=on}} | tendercap = | sandcap = | fireboxtype = Round-top | firearea = ♣ {{convert|17.5|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♦}} {{convert|18|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} | boiler = | pitch = ♣ {{convert|6|ft|6|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♦}} {{convert|6|ft|10|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | boilertype = | diameterinside = ♣ {{convert|4|ft|2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♦}} {{convert|4|ft|6|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | lengthinside = ♣{{font color|red|♦}} {{convert|10|ft|9|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | smalltubediameter= ♣ '''185:''' {{convert|1+3/4|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♦}} '''100:''' {{convert|1+7/8|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | largetubediameter= {{font color|red|♦}} '''18:''' {{convert|5+1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | boilerpressure = ♣ {{convert|160|psi|kPa|0|abbr=on}} as built ♣ {{convert|170|psi|kPa|0|abbr=on}} adjusted {{font color|red|♦}} {{convert|180|psi|kPa|0|abbr=on}} | safetyvalvetype = [[Safety valve#Ramsbottom safety valves|Ramsbottom]] | feedwaterheater = | totalsurface = ♣ {{convert|1010|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♦}} {{convert|919|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} | tubearea = ♣ {{convert|911|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♦}} {{convert|806|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} | fluearea = | tubesandflues = | fireboxarea = ♣ {{convert|99|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} {{font color|red|♦}} {{convert|113|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} | superheatertype = | superheaterarea = {{font color|red|♦}} {{convert|206|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} | cylindercount = Two | cylindersize = {{convert|17|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} bore {{convert|23|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} stroke | frontcylindersize= | rearcylindersize = | hpcylindersize = | lpcylindersize = | valvegear = [[Stephenson valve gear|Stephenson]] | valvetype = | valvetravel = | valvelap = | valvelead = | transmission = | trainheating = | locobrakes = | trainbrakes = | safety = | coupling = [[Railway coupling#Johnston coupler|Johnston link-and-pin]] | maxspeed = | poweroutput = | tractiveeffort = ♣ {{convert|18660|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} @ 75% ♣ {{convert|19810|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} @ 75% adjusted {{font color|red|♦}} {{convert|22240|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} @ 75% | factorofadhesion = 4.20 | locobrakeforce = | operator = Cape Government Railways Imperial Military Railways [[South African Railways]] Zambesi Saw Mills | operatorclass = Class 7 | powerclass = | numinclass = 38 | fleetnumbers = CGR 315-352 17 renumbered 701-717 IMR C520, C521 & C524 SAR 950-987 | officialname = | nicknames = | axleloadclass = | locale = | deliverydate = 1892–1893 | firstrundate = 1892 | lastrundate = | withdrawndate = 1972 | preservedunits = | restoredate = | scrapdate = | currentowner = | disposition = | notes = The leading coupled axle had flangeless wheels }}

The '''South African Railways Class 7 4-8-0''' of 1892 is a steam locomotive from the pre-[[Union of South Africa|Union]] era in the [[Cape Colony|Cape of Good Hope]].

In 1892, the [[Cape Government Railways]] placed six 7th Class [[steam locomotive]]s with a [[4-8-0]] Mastodon type wheel arrangement in service and, until 1893, another 32 were acquired. They were initially placed in service on the Midland System, but were later distributed between the Midland and Eastern Systems. The locomotives were renumbered in 1912, when they were assimilated into the South African Railways, but retained their Class 7 classification.<ref name="Holland 1">{{Holland-Vol 1|pages=40–41, 61}}</ref><ref name="SAR Renumber">Classification of S.A.R. Engines with Renumbering Lists, issued by the Chief Mechanical Engineer's Office, Pretoria, January 1912, pp. 8, 12, 15, 37 (Reprinted in April 1987 by SATS Museum, R.3125-6/9/11-1000)</ref><ref name="Paxton-Bourne">{{Paxton-Bourne|pages=46–48}}</ref><ref name="Pattison 1"/>

==Manufacturers== In 1890, Michael Stephens, then Chief Locomotive Superintendent of the Cape Government Railways (CGR), accompanied General Manager C.B. Elliot on a visit to Durban, to examine and report on the new [[South African Class A 4-8-2T|Dübs A {{nowrap|4-8-2T}}]] (later NGR Class D) tank locomotives which had been placed in service by the [[Natal Government Railways]] (NGR) in 1888. In Elliot's subsequent report, he stated his conviction that locomotives with eight-coupled wheels should be adopted for the coastal sections of the Midland and Eastern Systems, where fog and the damp atmosphere were detrimental to tractive adhesion at night in the summer months.<ref name="Holland 1"/><ref name="Pattison 1"/><ref name="SAR&H Jan 1944">Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1944). ''The Locomotive in South Africa – A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter II – The Cape Government Railways'' (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, January 1944. pp. 9-12.</ref>

[[File:H.M. Beatty.jpg|thumb|left|150px|H.M. Beatty]] [[File:SAR Class 7 976 (4-8-0) ex CGR 345 ID.JPG|thumb|left|150px|CGR Number plate]] [[File:SAR Class 7 976 (4-8-0) ex CGR 345 BP.JPG|thumb|left|150px|[[Works plate]], no. 345]] Following this report, a complete design for such a locomotive was prepared at the Salt River works, under the supervision of Western System Locomotive Superintendent H.M. Beatty. The last six of an order for 36 [[CGR 5th Class 4-6-0 1891|Cape 5th Class 4-6-0]] locomotives from [[Dübs and Company]] were cancelled and substituted with an order for six of these new 7th Class locomotives. They were delivered in 1892, numbered in the range from 315 to 320 for the Midland System. Two of them, numbers 318 and 320, were later renumbered to 701 and 702 and re-allocated to the Eastern System.<ref name="Holland 1"/><ref name="Pattison 1"/><ref name="SAR&H Jan 1944"/>

These six locomotives were equipped with [[South African type ZA tender|type ZA tenders]] which rode on two two-axle bogies, the first proper bogie tenders to enter service in South Africa. They had a capacity of {{convert|3|lt|10|lcwt|t|1|abbr=off}} coal and {{convert|2220|impgal|L|sigfig=3|abbr=off}} water.<ref name="Diagram-book 1">South African Railways & Harbours/Suid Afrikaanse Spoorweë en Hawens (15 August 1941). ''Locomotive Diagram Book/Lokomotiefdiagramboek, 3'6" Gauge/Spoorwydte''. SAR/SAS Mechanical Department/Werktuigkundige Dept. Drawing Office/Tekenkantoor, Pretoria. p. 41.</ref><ref name="Diagram-book 2">South African Railways & Harbours/Suid Afrikaanse Spoorweë en Hawens (15 August 1941). ''Locomotive Diagram Book/Lokomotiefdiagramboek, 2'0" & 3'6" Gauge/Spoorwydte, Steam Locomotives/Stoomlokomotiewe''. SAR/SAS Mechanical Department/Werktuigkundige Dept. Drawing Office/Tekenkantoor, Pretoria. pp. 6a-7a, 41-42.</ref>

The first six locomotives were followed by an order for another 32 of these engines, which were delivered from [[Neilson and Company]] in 1892 and 1893. These engines were initially numbered in the range from 321 to 352 for the Midland System. Fifteen of them were later renumbered in the range from 703 to 717 and re-allocated to the Eastern System. They were equipped with [[South African type ZB tender|type ZB tenders]], which rode on three-axle bogies. They had a larger capacity of {{convert|5|lt|t|1|abbr=off}} coal and {{convert|2370|impgal|L|sigfig=3|abbr=off}} water, with an average maximum axle load of {{convert|9|lt|13|lcwt|3|qtr|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=off}}.<ref name="Holland 1"/><ref name="Pattison 1"/><ref name="Neilson">Neilson, Reid works list, compiled by Austrian locomotive historian Bernhard Schmeiser</ref><ref name="Diagram-book 1"/><ref name="Diagram-book 2"/>

While the [[South African Class 6 4-6-0|Cape 6th Class]], which was designed and ordered at the same time as the 7th Class, was conceived as a fast passenger locomotive, the 7th Class was conceived as its heavy goods locomotive counterpart. The 7th Class turned out to be a most useful and well liked locomotive type. It continued the attractive appearance of the Cape's locomotives, with a strong construction and sound design. Some remained in service for nearly eighty years.<ref name="Holland 1"/>

==Characteristics== The 7th Class represented a considerable advance in design and power. They were the first South African locomotives to be equipped with sight feed lubricators which allowed a sight glass to be positioned in the cab, where the rate of oil feed to the cylinders could be observed. The reversing gear was of the quick-threaded screw type instead of the reversing lever which had earlier been used.<ref name="SAR&H Jan 1944"/>

[[File:Class 7 984 (4-8-0).jpg|thumb|left|SAR no. 984 at Walvisbaai with the stoker's seat swung out, c. 1955]] The seats of the driver and stoker were mounted on poles which allowed them to be swung around to outside the cab. This was popular amongst crews, who could often be seen riding outside the engine when working in the hotter areas of the country and in [[South West Africa]].<ref name="Soul of a Railway 7-7">[https://sites.google.com/site/soulorailway/home/system-7-1/system-7-part-7-germiston-steam-and-diesel-running-sheds-2nd-section-by-les-pivnic Soul of A Railway, System 7, Western Transvaal, based in Johannesburg, Part 7. Germiston Steam and Diesel Running Sheds (2nd section) by Les Pivnic. Caption 2.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024151644/https://sites.google.com/site/soulorailway/home/system-7-1/system-7-part-7-germiston-steam-and-diesel-running-sheds-2nd-section-by-les-pivnic |date=24 October 2020 }} (Accessed on 7 April 2017)</ref>

In his report for 1892, Stephens compared the hauling power of the 7th Class to that of older locomotives working between [[Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape|Port Elizabeth]] and [[Cradock, South Africa|Cradock]] on the Midland System as 22 to 14. Their even distribution of weight and flexibility rendered them very easy on the permanent way, while the crews declared them to be the steadiest engines they had yet had on the System, in spite of their height. Stephens regarded the 7th Class as maximum-power goods-train engines, although he believed that the limit of power on [[Cape gauge]] had not yet been reached.<ref name="SAR&H Jan 1944"/>

==Class 7 sub-classes== When the [[Union of South Africa]] was established on 31 May 1910, the three Colonial government railways (CGR, [[Natal Government Railways|NGR]] 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 was only implemented with effect from 1 January 1912.<ref name="SAR Renumber"/><ref name="SAR History">''The South African Railways – Historical Survey''. Editor George Hart, Publisher Bill Hart, Sponsored by Dorbyl Ltd., Published c. 1978, p. 25.</ref>

[[File:SAR Class 7 970 (4-8-0) ex CGR 703 ID.JPG|thumb|left|x100px]] When these 38 locomotives were assimilated into the SAR in 1912, they were renumbered in the range from 950 to 987, but they retained their Class 7 designation.<ref name="SAR Renumber"/><ref name="Holland 2">{{Holland-Vol 2|pages=138–139}}</ref>

The rest of the CGR's 7th Class locomotives, together with 7th Class locomotives from the [[Central South African Railways]] (CSAR), Pretoria-Pietersburg Railway (PPR), [[Rhodesia Railways]] (RR), the NGR and, in 1925, the New Cape Central Railways (NCCR), were grouped into six different sub-classes by the SAR and designated Classes 7A to 7F.<ref name="Diagram-book 1"/><ref name="Diagram-book 2"/>

==Modifications== During the 1930s and later, many of the Class 7 series locomotives were equipped with superheated boilers and piston valves. On the [[South African Class 7B 4-8-0|Class 7B]] and [[South African Class 7C 4-8-0|Class 7C]], this conversion was sometimes indicated with an "S" suffix to the class number on the locomotive's number plates, but on the rest of the Class 7 family this distinction was rarely applied.<ref name="Diagram-book 1"/><ref name="Diagram-book 2"/>

The superheated versions could be visually identified by the position of the chimney on the smokebox, the chimney having been displaced forward to provide space behind it in the smokebox for the superheater header. They were equipped with larger [[South African type ZE tender|type ZE tenders]], which rode on two two-axle bogies and had a capacity of {{convert|8|lt|t|1|abbr=off}} coal and {{convert|2850|impgal|L|sigfig=3|abbr=off}} water.<ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/><ref name="Diagram-book 1"/><ref name="Diagram-book 2"/>

==Service== ===South Africa=== The 7th Class became the main goods locomotive during the last twenty years of the existence of the CGR. The Class has been described as the [[South African Class 15F 4-8-2|Class 15F]] of its generation. For thirty years they handled most trains between [[Port Elizabeth]] and [[Cradock, South Africa|Cradock]] and on many other SAR mainlines. Three of them also saw service with the Imperial Military Railways (IMR) during the [[Second Boer War]] from 1899 to 1902, having been allocated to the IMR for the duration of the war. In SAR service, the Class 7 family did duty on every system in the country.<ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/><ref name="Pattison 1"/><ref name="Soul of a Railway 3-10">[https://sites.google.com/site/soulorailway/home/system-3-1/the-midland-main-line---part-2-paterson-to-alicedale Soul of A Railway – System 3 – Part 10: The Midland Main Line – Part 2: Paterson to Alicedale – Caption 3] (Accessed on 15 February 2017)</ref>

===South West Africa=== In 1915, shortly after the outbreak of the First World War, the [[German South West Africa]] colony was occupied by the Union Defence Forces. Since a large part of the territory's railway infrastructure and rolling stock was destroyed or damaged by retreating German forces, an urgent need arose for locomotives for use on the [[Cape gauge]] lines in that territory. In 1917, numbers 950, 952, 954, 957, 962, 967 to 969, 973, 979 and 984 were transferred to the Defence Department for service in South West Africa. One of the engines was lost at sea in the process and was subsequently replaced with Class 7A number 1000. The lost locomotive had been documented as being no. 984 but, since no. 984 was photographed in service at [[Walvis Bay|Walvisbaai]] c. 1955, this was an error.<ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/><ref name="Pattison 1"/><ref name="SAR&H Dec 1947">Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1947). ''The Locomotive in South Africa – A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VII – South African Railways (Continued).'' South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, December 1947. p. 1033.</ref>

These eleven locomotives remained in South West Africa after the war. They proved to be so successful in that territory, that more were gradually transferred there in later years. By the time the [[South African Class 24 2-8-4|Class 24]] locomotives arrived in SWA in 1949, 53 locomotives of the Class 7 family were still in use there.<ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/><ref name="Pattison 1"/>

Most remained there and were only transferred back to South Africa when the [[South African Class 32-000|Class 32-000]] diesel-electric locomotives replaced them in 1961. In South Africa, they remained at work in branchline service, particularly at [[Tarkastad]] and [[Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal|Ladysmith]] and also on the [[Touws River (town)|Touws River]]-[[Ladismith]] branchline, until they were finally withdrawn in 1972.<ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/>

===Industrial service=== In 1966, two Class 7 locomotives, numbers 955 and 956, as well as four [[South African Class 7A 4-8-0|Class 7A]] and two [[South African Class 7B 4-8-0|Class 7B]], were sold to the Zambesi Saw Mills (ZSM) in [[Zambia]]. The company worked the teak forests which stretched {{convert|100|mi|km|abbr=off}} to the north-west of [[Livingstone, Zambia|Livingstone]] in Zambia, where it built one of the longest logging railways in the world to serve its sawmill at [[Mulobezi]]. These eight locomotives joined eight ex Rhodesia Railways 7th Class locomotives which had been acquired by the ZSM between 1925 and 1956.<ref name="Pattison 1">{{Pattison-Seventh|pages=4–7, 22–23, 38–39}}</ref> Railway operations ceased at Mulobezi around 1972, whilst operation of the line to Livingstone was taken over by the Zambia Railways in 1973. While most of the Class 7 locomotives remained at Mulobezi out of use, no. 955 was preserved at the Livingstone Railway Museum.<ref name="Pattison 2">Pattison, R.G. (2005). ''Thundering Smoke'', (1st ed.). Sable Publishing House. p42-48. {{ISBN|0-9549488-1-5}}</ref>

===Preservation===

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Number !! Works nmr !! THF / Private !! Leaselend / Owner !! Current Location !! Outside South Africa !! ? |- | 950 || DUBS 2882 || THF || Plinth || Upington (Station) || || sole surviving Dübs example |- | 955 || NEILSON 4447 || Private || Zambia Railways || Livingstone Railway Museum || Zambia || |- | 970 || NEILSON 4450 || Private || Municipality || Riversdale (Town Centre) || || |- | 975 || NEILSON 4469 || Private || Anglo Boer War Museum || Anglo Boer War Museum (Plinth) || || |- | 980 || NEILSON 4457 || THF/PRASA || Plinth || Klerksdorp (Station) || || |- | 981 || NEILSON 4458 || THF || || Bloemfontein Locomotive Depot || || |- | 982 || NEILSON 4472 || THF || Plinth || Aliwal North (Station) || || |- | 987 || NEILSON 4477 || Private || Matjiesfontein Village || Matjiesfontein Village || || |}

==Renumbering== During their long service lives, some of the Class 7 locomotives were renumbered multiple times. All were initially numbered onto the Midland System roster. Some were later renumbered onto the Eastern System roster, three saw service with the IMR and were temporarily renumbered accordingly, and all were eventually renumbered onto the SAR's roster in 1912. The table lists their renumbering as well as their builders and works numbers.<ref name="Holland 1"/><ref name="SAR Renumber"/><ref name="Holland 2"/> {| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed sortable" style="margin:0.5em auto; font-size:100%;" |+'''Class 7 builders, works numbers and renumbering''' |- ! Builder !Works Number !CGR Midland !CGR Eastern !IMR Number !SAR Number |- |Dübs |2882 |315 | | |950 |- |Dübs |2883 |316 | |C520 |951 |- |Dübs |2884 |317 | | |952 |- |Dübs |2885 |318 |701 | |968 |- |Dübs |2886 |319 | | |953 |- |Dübs |2887 |320 |702 | |969 |- |Neilson |4446 |321 | | |954 |- |Neilson |4447 |322 | | |955 |- |Neilson |4448 |323 | | |956 |- |Neilson |4449 |324 | | |957 |- |Neilson |4450 |325 |703 | |970 |- |Neilson |4451 |326 |704 | |971 |- |Neilson |4452 |327 | | |958 |- |Neilson |4453 |328 | | |959 |- |Neilson |4454 |329 | |C524 |960 |- |Neilson |4455 |330 |705 | |978 |- |Neilson |4456 |331 |706 | |979 |- |Neilson |4457 |332 |707 | |980 |- |Neilson |4458 |333 |708 | |981 |- |Neilson |4459 |334 | | |961 |- |Neilson |4460 |335 | | |962 |- |Neilson |4461 |336 | | |963 |- |Neilson |4462 |337 |709 | |972 |- |Neilson |4463 |338 |710 | |973 |- |Neilson |4464 |339 |711 | |974 |- |Neilson |4465 |340 | | |964 |- |Neilson |4466 |341 | | |965 |- |Neilson |4467 |342 | |C521 |966 |- |Neilson |4468 |343 | | |967 |- |Neilson |4469 |344 | | |975 |- |Neilson |4470 |345 | | |976 |- |Neilson |4471 |346 | | |977 |- |Neilson |4472 |347 |712 | |982 |- |Neilson |4473 |348 |713 | |983 |- |Neilson |4474 |349 |714 | |984 |- |Neilson |4475 |350 |715 | |985 |- |Neilson |4476 |351 |716 | |986 |- |Neilson |4477 |352 |717 | |987 |}

==Illustration== The main picture shows ex Midland System Class 7 no. 344, later SAR Class 7 no. 975, plinthed at the Women's Memorial in Bloemfontein. Of the plinthed locomotives illustrated, CGR no. 345 (SAR no. 976) at Klerksdorp is actually Midland no. 332, later Eastern no. 707 and eventually SAR no. 980. It was restored bearing the CGR number plate and builder's works plate of CGR no. 345.<ref name="Middleton">{{Middleton-SA Loco Guide|page=18}}</ref>

The main picture shows an engine with a [[South African type ZA tender|type ZA tender]]. All the locomotives illustrated below are equipped with [[South African type ZC tender|type ZC tenders]] <gallery mode=packed heights="200px"> File:SAR Class 7 950 (4-8-0) ex CGR 315.JPG|Midland no. 315, SAR no. 950, plinthed at Upington, Northern Cape, 14 May 2006 File:SAR Class 7 970 (4-8-0) ex CGR 703.JPG|Midland no. 325, Eastern no. 703, SAR no. 970, Riversdale, 20 October 2009 File:SAR Class 7 976 (4-8-0) ex CGR 345 (or SAR 980 ex CGR 332-707).JPG|Midland no. 345, SAR no. 976, plinthed at Klerksdorp Station, North West, 20 September 2009 File:ZSR & SAR Class 7 955 (4-8-0) ex CGR 322.JPG|Midland no. 322, SAR no. 955, Zambesi Saw Mills (ZSM) at Livingstone in Zambia, 11 September 1997 </gallery>

==References== {{Commons category|South African Class 7 (4-8-0)|South African Class 7 4-8-0|position=left}} {{Reflist}} {{Locomotives of the Cape Government Railways}} {{Locomotives of South Africa}} {{Steam locomotive tenders}}

[[Category:Steam locomotives of South Africa|1450]] [[Category:H.M. Beatty locomotives|1450]] [[Category:4-8-0 locomotives]] [[Category:2D locomotives]] [[Category:Dübs locomotives]] [[Category:Neilson locomotives]] [[Category:Cape gauge railway locomotives]] [[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1892]] [[Category:1892 in South Africa]] [[Category:Freight locomotives]]