Steam locomotive NG15 No. 134 ‘Kalahari’ At Porthmadog... Thursday 28th May 2026

What a fabulous locomotive... !! Seen here arriving from Caernarvon, moving around the Station and heading back a couple of hours later. The NG15 No. 134 "Kalahari" 2-8-2 (Mikado) is a standout narrow-gauge steam locomotive operating on the Welsh Highland Railway (WHR) in North Wales. Managed by the Cymdeithas Rheilffordd Eryri (Welsh Highland Railway Society), the engine is celebrated as the largest non-articulated locomotive in the fleet of the joint Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways To transition the locomotive from the wide-open spaces of South-West Africa to the winding mountain tracks of North Wales, the volunteer restoration team undertook extensive engineering modifications: Track Gauge Reduction: Re-gauged from the original South African 610 mm (2 feet) down to the standard British 600 mm narrow gauge. Tight Curve Handling: To successfully navigate the Welsh Highland's sharpest bends, the team thinned the wheel flanges on the third driving axle and completely rebuilt a bent front pony truck. Modified Boiler Placement: The newly manufactured boiler by Locomotive Maintenance Services was installed with its dome shifted one ring backward. This engineering tweak ensures the water levels over the firebox remain perfectly safe while tackling the steep, bi-directional gradients of the Welsh mountains.