In 1914, the South African Railways placed twelve Class 16 steam locomotives with a 4-6-2 Pacific type wheel arrangement in passenger train service.

This made the Class 16 the most powerful express passenger locomotive design yet to have been built in Great Britain at the time.

[7] During the 1930s, many serving locomotives were reboilered with a standard boiler type designed by A.G. Watson, CME of the SAR from 1929 to 1936, as part of his standardisation policy.

[3][5][6] The Class 16 was intended for fast passenger trains in Transvaal, the Orange Free State and the upper sections of Natal where the gradients were not as severe.

800 at Braamfontein c. 1930, as built with a Belpaire firebox and Type MP1 tender, on interurban service with a destination board for Pretoria below its headlight.