In 1897, the Cape Government Railways placed six 4th Class tender locomotives with a 4-4-2 Atlantic type wheel arrangement in service on the section from Kimberley southwards.

[1][2] In 1896, at the time that an urgent requirement arose on the Cape Government Railways (CGR) for more locomotives for the section of the Western System from Kimberley to the south, locomotive production by the usual British suppliers was being disrupted by strikes which made delivery time uncertain.

[4] They were of typical American design at the time, with bar frames, spacious cabs and high running boards.

In service, they were found to be free steaming, excellent and smooth runners and low on maintenance costs.

These qualities, with their roomy cabs and general handiness, made them popular with the enginemen, who nicknamed them Hatracks.

In 1912, the Baldwin-built Atlantics were considered obsolete by the SAR, designated Class 04 and renumbered by having the numeral "0" prefixed to their existing numbers.