In South Africa,  as elsewhere in the world, the railways played a huge part in development and growth on nearly all terrains in the country. Conversely, events in South Africa and its neighbours over the years had a huge influence on the development of railways.

When the articles on the locomotives of South Africa are read sequentially in the order of their years of entering railway service, much of the history of the country becomes apparent between the lines. At the same time, the development of steam locomotives can be followed from the basic 0-4-0 to the mighty 4-8-4 wheel arrangements, and articulated steam locomotives from the Fairlies and the Kitson-Meyer to the Mallets and ultimately to the Garrats. 

On 8 September 1859 the first railway locomotive arrives in South Africa.

The Cape Town Railway & Dock 0-4-2 of 1859 was a South African steam locomotive from the pre- Union era in the Cape of Good Hope, and the first locomotive in South Africa.